SPC CoFish Invertebrates Observations Palau 2007

Study Extent

Koror, Ngarchelong, Ngatpang and Airai in Palau

Sampling

Diversity and abundance of invertebrate species were determined using a range of survey techniques, including broad-scale assessment (using the manta-tow technique) and finer-scale assessment of specific reef and benthic habitats. Broad-scale assessments were used to record large sedentary invertebrates; transects were 300 m long × 2 m wide, across inshore, midshore and more exposed oceanic habitats. Fine-scale assessments were conducted in target areas (areas with naturally higher abundance and/or the most suitable habitat) to specifically describe resource status. Fine-scale assessments were conducted of both reef (hard-bottom) and sandy (soft-bottom) areas to assess the range, size, and condition of invertebrate species present and to determine the nature and condition of the habitat with greater accuracy. These assessments were conducted using 40 m transects (1 m wide swathe, six replicates per station) recording most epi-benthic resources (those living on the bottom) and potential indicator species. For trochus and bêche-de-mer fisheries, searches to assess aggregations were made in the surf zone along exposed reef edges. On occasion, when time and conditions allowed, dives to 25–35 m were made to determine the availability of deeper-water sea cucumber populations. Night searches were conducted on inshore reefs to assess nocturnal sea cucumber species See http://purl.org/spc/digilib/doc/pfj5w

Method steps

1. Multiple observations for the same species aggregated by replicate. For replicates with a start and end positions (manta tow), the position provided is the middle point.

1. Acanthaster planci
2. Actinopyga echinites
3. Actinopyga lecanora
4. Actinopyga mauritiana
5. Actinopyga miliaris
6. Actinopyga palauensis
7. Actinopyga sp.
8. Anadara antiquata
9. Anadara sp.
10. Arca sp.
11. Astralium sp.
12. Atrina sp.
13. Atrina vexillum
14. Barbatia sp.
15. Beguina semiorbiculata
16. Bohadschia argus
17. Bohadschia marmorata
18. Bohadschia vitiensis
19. Bursa bufonia
20. Cassiopea andromeda
21. Cassiopea sp.
22. Cassis cornuta
23. Cerithium nodulosum
24. Cerithium sp.
25. Chama sp.
26. Charonia tritonis
27. Chicoreus brunneus
28. Chicoreus sp.
29. Choriaster granulatus
30. Conomurex luhuanus
31. Conus bandanus
32. Conus capitaneus
33. Conus consors
34. Conus distans
35. Conus eburneus
36. Conus emaciatus
37. Conus flavidus
38. Conus imperialis
39. Conus leopardus
40. Conus litteratus
41. Conus lividus
42. Conus marmoreus
43. Conus miles
44. Conus miliaris
45. Conus pulicarius
46. Conus quercinus
47. Conus rattus
48. Conus sanguinolentus
49. Conus sp.
50. Conus striatus
51. Conus vexillum
52. Coralliophila sp.
53. Culcita novaeguineae
54. Cypraea sp.
55. Cypraea tigris
56. Diadema savignyi
57. Diadema setosum
58. Diadema sp.
59. Dolabella auricularia
60. Drupa rubusidaeus
61. Drupina grossularia
62. Echinometra mathaei
63. Echinothrix calamaris
64. Echinothrix diadema
65. Entacmaea quadricolor
66. Erosaria erosa
67. Erosaria helvola
68. Etisus splendidus
69. Filifusus filamentosus
70. Gafrarium sp.
71. Gibberulus gibberulus gibbosus
72. Haliotis asinina
73. Harpago chiragra
74. Heterocentrotus mamillatus
75. Hippopus hippopus
76. Hippopus porcellanus
77. Holothuria atra
78. Holothuria coluber
79. Holothuria edulis
80. Holothuria flavomaculata
81. Holothuria fuscogilva
82. Holothuria fuscopunctata
83. Holothuria hilla
84. Holothuria nobilis
85. Holothuria pervicax
86. Holothuria scabra
87. Holothuria sp.
88. Hyotissa sp.
89. Lambis lambis
90. Lambis truncata
91. Latirolagena smaragdulus
92. Lentigo lentiginosus
93. Linckia guildingi
94. Linckia laevigata
95. Lopha cristagalli
96. Luria isabella
97. Lyncina lynx
98. Lyncina vitellus
99. Lysiosquillina maculata
100. Lysiosquillina sp.
101. Malleus sp.
102. Mauritia arabica
103. Mespilia globulus
104. Monetaria annulus
105. Monetaria caputserpentis
106. Monetaria moneta
107. Nardoa sp.
108. Octopus cyanea
109. Octopus sp.
110. Ovula ovum
111. Panulirus penicillatus
112. Panulirus sp.
113. Panulirus versicolor
114. Pearsonothuria graeffei
115. Periclimenes sp.
116. Pinctada margaritifera
117. Pinna sp.
118. Pleuroploca sp.
119. Portunus sp.
120. Protoreaster nodosus
121. Pteria penguin
122. Saron sp.
123. Spondylus sp.
124. Stenopus hispidus
125. Stichodactyla sp.
126. Stichopus chloronotus
127. Stichopus hermanni
128. Stichopus horrens
129. Stichopus vastus
130. Synapta maculata
131. Synapta sp.
132. Talparia talpa
133. Tectus conus
134. Tectus niloticus
135. Tectus pyramis
136. Tectus sp.
137. Tectus triserialis
138. Thais sp.
139. Thalassina sp.
140. Thelenota ananas
141. Thelenota anax
142. Toxopneustes pileolus
143. Tridacna crocea
144. Tridacna derasa
145. Tridacna gigas
146. Tridacna maxima
147. Tridacna sp.
148. Tridacna squamosa
149. Tripneustes gratilla
150. Trochus maculatus
151. Trochus sp.
152. Turbo argyrostomus
153. Turbo chrysostomus
154. Turbo crassus
155. Turbo setosus
156. Tutufa bubo
157. Tutufa rubeta
158. Tylothais aculeata
159. Vasum ceramicum
160. Vasum sp.
161. Vasum turbinellus

Koror, Ngarchelong, Ngatpang and Airai in Palau