100s of new species discovered of Australia Coast

[Steve9347]

Should interest quite a few on this board...

 

Article

 

New Species Slideshow

 

100s of new creatures found on Australian reefs

 

SYDNEY, Australia – Marine scientists have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters, including brilliant soft corals and tiny crustaceans, according to findings released Thursday.

 

The creatures were found during expeditions run by the Australian chapter of CReefs, a global census of coral reefs that is one of several projects of the Census of Marine Life, an international effort to catalog all life in the oceans.

 

"People have been working at these places for a long time and still there are literally hundreds and hundreds of new species that no one has ever collected or described," said Julian Caley, a scientist from the Australian Institute of Marine Science who is helping to lead the research.

 

"So in that sense, it's very significant in that if we don't understand what biodiversity is out there, we don't have much of a chance of protecting it," he said.

 

Scientists at several Australian museums have begun the complex process of working with the samples for genetic barcoding and taxonomy, the formal system of naming living things. That work is expected to take years, Caley said.

 

Among the creatures researchers found were about 130 soft corals — also known as octocorals, for the eight tentacles that fringe each polyp — that have never been described in scientific literature, and scores of similarly undescribed crustaceans, including tiny shrimp-like animals with claws longer than their bodies.

 

The 10-year census, scheduled for final publication in 2010, is supported by governments, divisions of the United Nations and private conservation organizations.

 

The Australian researchers conducted three expeditions, one each in the waters off the Great Barrier Reef's Lizard and Heron islands, and one in the Ningaloo Reef, on Australia's northwest coast. Thousands of samples were collected during the three-week research trips, which took place between April and September.

 

Researchers plan to explore the three sites annually for the next six years to learn more about soft corals, which are poorly understood, despite making up a large part of the Great Barrier Reef. Scientists are also looking to catalog how many animal species live on Australia's coral reefs, how many are unique to the reefs and how they respond to human disturbance.

 

Researchers also pegged 36 plastic house-like structures to the ocean floor in various locations around the three sites. Animals are likely to be attracted to the structures and make them their home. Researchers will go back and study the life inside each house over the next few years. The structures will also be placed in reefs in other parts of the world, providing a standardized method for studying marine life internationally, Caley said.

 

The project marks the first time any group has made a concerted effort to understand the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef, said Ron Johnstone, a marine science professor at the University of Queensland who is familiar with the research.

 

The scientists' findings could have direct benefits for humans, Johnstone said. Marine life is used in medicines, and the creatures could also provide clues as to how they cope with climate change and pollution — issues people wrangle with as well.

 

"Some people say, 'Going out and collecting samples — of what value is that?'" he said. "It's a bit like saying we don't know what we have in the shop so we don't know what we can use to survive, and at the same time we don't know what bits of the machine fit together to make it work."

[shipps]

The tiny shrimp like creatures with claws longer than their bodies sound DELICIOUS.

[DBAHO]

The tiny shrimp like creatures with claws longer than their bodies sound DELICIOUS.

They'll become an endangered species soon enough if we bring you down there I think.

[shipps]

They'll become an endangered species soon enough if we bring you down there I think.

 

They became endangered the second I found out they existed.

[Kyyle23]

They became endangered the second I found out they existed.

 

its like the best of both worlds, shrimp tails and lobster claws.

 

 

where is the butter dip

[Texsox]

Big deal, they could have found that many in the back of my fridge if they moved the beer.

[shipps]

I would love to be the one in charge of naming these new species.

[southsider2k5]

I would love to be the one in charge of naming these new species.

 

"lunch" probably isn't what they were looking for as a name...

[Texsox]

"lunch" probably isn't what they were looking for as a name...

 

[DBAHO]

The way the Great Barrier Reef coral is eroding over time though due to Global Warming, these little creatures are probably in trouble anyways (back me up here FlaSoxxJim).

[FlaSoxxJim]

Kool Beanz indeed. Sadly, with a growing number of biologists suggesting the GRB may be largely dead by 2050 if we don't figure out how to halt ocean acidification, this may ultimately amount to cataloging new species just in time to know what names to put on the tombstones.

 

The institute I work at has been involved in some Census of marine Life work as well, studying fish biodiversity on the Mid-Atlantic ridge. That work has turned up a good many species that are new to science as well.

[FlaSoxxJim]

The way the Great Barrier Reef coral is eroding over time though due to Global Warming, these little creatures are probably in trouble anyways (back me up here FlaSoxxJim).

 

Right you are, although it's a combination of warming waters and acidifying waters (both are the result of global climate change) that is of most concern.

[DBAHO]

Right you are, although it's a combination of warming waters and acidifying waters (both are the result of global climate change) that is of most concern.

I must say also, if you've never seen it before, it is truly a remarkable sight.

 

Definitely recommend doing it, if you ever go down to Australia, it's the nicest area we have with the surrounding holiday islands for sure.

 

But yes, hopefully a solution can be found.

[FlaSoxxJim]

I must say also, if you've never seen it before, it is truly a remarkable sight.

 

Definitely recommend doing it, if you ever go down to Australia, it's the nicest area we have with the surrounding holiday islands for sure.

 

But yes, hopefully a solution can be found.

 

I went in 1999, and spent a week in Cairns, Queensland and absolutely fell in love with the place. Diving on GBR remains one of the thrills of my life. I also got to tour several Queensland DPI fish hatcheries and spend some time in the Kuranda rain forest, and get over the mountains and and into the outback for a bit. Spent a week in NSW as well, mostly in Sidney but got up into the mountains as well.

 

I'm dying to get back there, but last time it was on work's dime and I don't think i can get them to spring for another trip.