SPC CoFish Invertebrates Observations Cook Islands 2007

Study Extent

Rarotonga, Palmerston, Mangaia and Aitutaki in Cook Islands

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 mauritiana
3. Astralium sp.
4. Bohadschia argus
5. Bursa bufonia
6. Bursa granularis
7. Cantharus sp.
8. Carpilius maculatus
9. Ceraesignum maximum
10. Cerithium nodulosum
11. Chama sp.
12. Charonia tritonis
13. Conus chaldaeus
14. Conus coronatus
15. Conus ebraeus
16. Conus emaciatus
17. Conus flavidus
18. Conus frigidus
19. Conus lividus
20. Conus miliaris
21. Conus pulicarius
22. Conus rattus
23. Conus sanguinolentus
24. Conus sp.
25. Conus sponsalis
26. Conus vexillum
27. Culcita novaeguineae
28. Cymatium sp.
29. Cypraea tigris
30. Dendropoma sp.
31. Diadema savignyi
32. Diadema sp.
33. Distorsio anus
34. Dolabella sp.
35. Drupa rubusidaeus
36. Drupa sp.
37. Drupella sp.
38. Echinometra mathaei
39. Echinothrix calamaris
40. Echinothrix diadema
41. Entacmaea quadricolor
42. Filifusus filamentosus
43. Gonodactylus sp.
44. Grapsus grapsus
45. Harpago chiragra
46. Heteractis sp.
47. Heterocentrotus mamillatus
48. Heterocentrotus trigonarius
49. Holothuria atra
50. Holothuria cinerascens
51. Holothuria difficilis
52. Holothuria fuscogilva
53. Holothuria hilla
54. Holothuria impatiens
55. Holothuria leucospilota
56. Holothuria nobilis
57. Holothuria pervicax
58. Holothuria sp.
59. Lambis truncata
60. Lentigo lentiginosus
61. Linckia guildingi
62. Linckia laevigata
63. Lyncina schilderorum
64. Mancinella armigera
65. Mauritia maculifera
66. Modiolus sp.
67. Monetaria annulus
68. Monetaria caputserpentis
69. Monetaria moneta
70. Nodolatirus nodatus
71. Octopus sp.
72. Panulirus penicillatus
73. Parribacus caledonicus
74. Pinctada margaritifera
75. Pinna sp.
76. Saron sp.
77. Scutarcopagia scobinata
78. Spondylus sp.
79. Stenopus hispidus
80. Stichodactyla sp.
81. Stichopus chloronotus
82. Stichopus horrens
83. Stichopus monotuberculatus
84. Synapta sp.
85. Tectus niloticus
86. Thais sp.
87. Thelenota ananas
88. Tridacna maxima
89. Tridacna squamosa
90. Tripneustes gratilla
91. Trochus sp.
92. Turbo argyrostomus
93. Turbo setosus
94. Tylothais aculeata
95. Zosimus aeneus

Rarotonga, Palmerston, Mangaia and Aitutaki in Cook Islands