[Abridged summary of daily activities follow]
Field notebook Cervantes-Jurien->Guilderton Loisette Marsh, Gary Morgan, Clay Bryce & Andy Williams CALM (Wildlife).
Tuesday 28-IV-87
[Perth -> Cervantes Caravan Park]
Accommodated in Caraven No 2. - got settled, Clay & Gary pumped up tanks, Loisette & I went through gut contents of fish caught by locals about 15km off coat. These included a Queen snapper & so guts yielded a variety of molluscs including Pseudostomatilla, Gena, olives, bubble shells etc. We also collected a few very small urchins like those Loisette has recieved previously from Esperance area (Alan Longbottom).
Wednesday 29-IV-87
Left caravan park about 8.30 - bought fuel for outboard motors of Sepia & launched boat off beach south of main anchorage. Conditions fine & calm in shelter of reegs but moderate swell offshore.
Station #1 Approx 32°31.4'S, 115°02.6'E, seaward of reef between Cervantes Islands - low rocky reef in seagrass & algal beds; 5-6m. Visibility poor. Dived with Loisette in 9.50 out 10.45am, strong surge.
Variety of algae great - mostly reds and greens (About 5 species of Caulerpa). Dominant form probably Laurencia spp. with many Gelidiales. Agal growth lush. Sand pockets in rock crevisces. Campanile abundant & live; Turbo jourdani - few seem live but many seen dead - including places where opercula were like gibber stones covering bottom.; fewer T. pulcher & T.; one operculum of Euninella sp found v few dead shells of Phasianella. Dicathais present but not abundant as was Agnewsia. Euplica conspicuous by its absence. Few Tentimitrella on weeds. Plenty of dead but few live Scutus - some large. Plenty of dead Haliotis elegans & H. scabris but no live ones found. Many Heliocidaris, fewer slate pencil urchins. Petricia only starfish found. Very few fish seen & then only weed fish. Diversity of molluscs apparently low. few chewed Lassariids, few Dicathais. few Hipponyx. Most common bivalve was Arcopagia !victoriae with a few broken Septifer shells. No lucinids seen. No trochids seen, few v dead creepers (Cerithium vertagus?) (with with nodules) seen.
Stn#2 approx 30°30.8'S 115°02.8'E. WSW of Thirsty Point, Cervantes, WA. 0-3m. Seagrass (Amphibolus & Halophila mainly) beds & low rocky reef with algae, sponges & ascidians. Seagrass beds show signs of past blowouts but plant growth has regenerated with Halophila & species of Caulerpa dominant. On the rocky reefs red algae were dominant with large dense patches of Caulerpa? longifolia. Locally there were reasonable growth of coral & articulated (hydroid-like) orange bryozoa. The molluscan fauna was muchas at Stn#1 but fewer T. jourdani. Some very large, thick & hoary shells of Scutus were found. Haliotids (H scalaris & H elegans) present but not so abundant.
Thursday 30-IV-87
Rain overnight - winde moderate - forecast of 35 knots during day. Departed Caravan Park about 8.30am - sea too choppy with moderate swell to plan diving - too turbid. So went dredging to south of Anchorage between 30°30.4' & 30°32.2'S, 115°03.1' & 115°03.6'E.
Cervantes South; Drege #1; WNW of Thirsty Point; ?2m; sand & little seagrass - mostly Halophila; live Pennatulid ? striatularis; Live Glycymeris - many; live Gomphina many - small -> med size; live Myodora - 1 only (few dead); live Oliva australis 1 only.
Dead: Patella peroniil; Patelloida nigrosulcata; Phasianotrochus irisodontes (2) - small and slender; Granata imbricata 1; Thalotia conica many; Prothalotia lehmanni many; Canthaidus lepidus many; Thalotia chlorostoma 3; Turbo torquatus piece; T. pulcher piece; Phasianella australis - many pieces few shells; cerithiid (small - sheltered water) 1; Sabia conica 1[2?]; Antisabia foliacea 1; Strombus mutabilis piece; Natica gualteriana 3; Bursa granularis piece; Pyrene bidentata; Barbatia (Acar) sp 1 valve; Brachidontes ustulatus; Cavatidens 1 valve; ?Pseudolucinisca lacteola; Fragum erugatum; Leptonid; Mactra ?pura 1; siphonariid; Bulk botanica
Seaweeds: Haloplegina (Thuretia ?quercifolia) - spongy but with midrib; Amphibolus; ?Gracilaria; ?Zonaria spiralis; ?Lenormanolia (midrib & side ribs (but at acute not obtuse angle) & grows from edges)
Cervantes South; Dredge Stn#2
Sand & seagrass - (Halophila & Amphibolus). live: Glycymeris; Phasianotrochus irisodontes. Dead: Mactra; Gomphina; Livela; Cavatidens; Tellina; Thalotia conica; Thalotia chlorostoma; Prothalotia lehmanni; Phasianella australis.
Cervantes South, Dredge Stn#2, to south of Thirsty Point & NNW of Hansen Head.
Pennatulids. Live: Mactra ?pura; Myadora; Solemya; Nassarius particeps; ? Asteracmea. Dead: Fissinella 1; Prothalotia lehmanni - many; Thalotia conica - many; Cantharidus lepidus - many; Phasianotrochus irisodontes - 5; Bankivia (or Leiopyrga) -few; ? Munditia -1; Phasianella australis - few; Phasianella ventricosa -1; Nassarius particeps -1; Cominella eburnea -1 juv; Herpetopoma; Turbo sp. juv; Cerithiid 2 (small sheltered waters); Rhinoclavis bituberculata -piece; Pyrene bidentata -3; Bulla botanica; 1 acmeaid 2; 2 other small narrow asteracmeid limpds 5T3; 1 siphonarian; Arcids ?Barbatia (Acar) 3x1/2; Gomphina 8x1/2; Cavatidens 3x1/2; Myadora [sketch]; ?Myochamid ?Hinkydora? 12x1/2; Tellin 6x1/2; ? Mantaculid 8x1/2 int lig, large R tooth (card?), 2 L lats (?) Pristes?; Lepton ? sand flat; lucinid [sketch]; Brachidontes - piece; Fragum erugatum; Carditid v juv; Pinna sp. -piece; Antisabia; small cone; Rissaid; muricid; Bubble shells (Haminaea?)
Cerrantes South Dredge Stn#4: ? 3m; W of Hansen Head. Live: Tivela; Phasianotrochus irisodontes. Dead: Thalotia conica; Prothalotia lehmanni; Bankivia; Phasianotrochus irisodontes; Phasianella australis; Phasianella ventricosa; ?Naccula; Nassariid juv (Niotha?); Musculus; Lucinid oblique; Lepton (Rustes?)
Cervantes South. Dredge Stn #5: - drift seaward. SW of Hansen Head & ESE of S tip of Southern Cervantes I. live Thalotia conica.
Processed in afternoon & evening. No further work possible because of gale force winds from NW.
Friday 1-V-87
Gale force winds & rain all night - no point in going diving (too turbid) no hope of dredging (too rough). Went S of Cervantes to Hansen Bay to have a look but wind had swung from NW to W & so this area was no longer protected. Then went N (by vehicle) towards Black Point - couldn't get right through to Black Point so went beach collecting between Twin Banks (ie N of Cervantes Marker Beacons opposite southern half of Sand Drift (approx 30°28'S). Dead: Tellins 2 spp; Hemicardium; Donacid; Deltachion; ?Donax columbella?; Glycymeris - v many; Gomphina - many; ? Hunkydora; Sunetta; Ungulinid ?Zemysia. Collected small molluscs wind blown onto Sand Drift: Gomphina; arcid ?Barbatia (Acar); Glycymeris; ?Hunkydora; Sunetta; Mysella donaciformis.Collected just inland of dune on flat land c scrub obviously flooded - on occasions only fossilised specimens: Large donacid; Deltachion; Gomphina; Hemidonax; Glycymeris; Sunetta. Processed all afternoon. Far too rough to do further work.
Saturday 2-V-87
Winds abated overnight after shifting to S. In morning winds from east but moderate swell. Went dredging in Black Point area between 30°27'S-30°28.6'S & 115°03.2'E - 115°03.8'E.
Dredge Stations #1  on S Bank of Twin Banks just N of Cervantes beach with #2 just N of #1. Depth 1-2m. approx. 30°28.4'-30°28.6'S; 115°03.3'-115°03.5'
Cervantes North Dredge Stn#1&2; Twin Banks, N of Cervantes, WA. - along southern bank. Depth 1-2m; sand. approx 30°28.4'S to 30°28.6'S, 115°03.3'E to 115°03.5'E.
Live: Sunetta many; Glycymeris - fair number; Gomphina - fair number; Oliva australis 2; Some Glycymeris & Gomphina with green algae growing on posterior ends. Loisette got small specimen of Astropecten. Dead: Mactra pura; Ctena bella; Hemicardium; Hemidonax; Pseudoarcopagia victoriae; Myadora; Barbatia ? fusca ; Barbatia (Acar); Irus; Timoclea (Glycodonta); Haliotis scalaris; Phasianella australis; Hipponix conicus; Sabia foliacea; Thalotia (Nthn sp)
Cervantes North Dredge Stn#3 & 4:
Twin Banks N of Cervantes WA - in area between banks. Depth 3-4m. Drift weed & seagrass (? living weed in situ). Live: Olica australis; Akera soluta; (? Sepiadarium?) lineolatal Armina; Umboniium; Dentalium; Thalotia conica; Gomphina; Lucinid ?Wallucina; Myadora; Phasiomotrochus irisodontes; Olivella. Dead: Mactra pura; Ungulinid -? Zemyria; Nassarius particeps; Mactra sp (small c colour pattern); ? Pristex; Timoclea (Glycodonta); ?Hunkydora; Prothalotia lehmanni; Natica gualteriana
Cervantes North Dredge Stn #4 (see above) (slightly to N of #3):
Live: Chitons; Glycymeris; Gomphina; Myodoral ?Hunkydora; ?Cuna?. Dead: ?Naccula; Dentimitrella; Hunkydora; Glycymeris; Nassarius particeps; Amblychilepas nigrita; Phasianella ventricosa; Cantharidus lepidus; Natica gualteriana; Euplica; Dentimitrella; Tellina (small); ?Zemysia; Hipponyx conicus; ?Pristes; Macrochisma; Diala; limpet.
Cervantes North Dredge Stn#5, Twin Banks, N of Cervantes WA - southern bank, 1-2m, sand:
Live: Sunetta; Gomphina. Dead: Glycymeris; Phasianella australis; Prothalotia lehmanni.
Cervantes North Dredge Stn#6; Black Point, N of Cervantes WA - inshore sand area with weed (Halophila)
Live: Thalotia conica; Phasianotrochus irisodontes; Gomphina; Dentalium; Nassarius; Chitons. Dead: Mactra; Phasianella australis; P. ventricosa; Agnewsia; Dentimitrella; Bulla; Euplica; Bittium; Brachidontes; Conus ? anemone; vermetid; Mactrid (elongate); Chloridiloma.
Cervantes North Dredge Stn#7; Cervantes WA - off fishermens jetties - weed beds (Amphibolus with epiphytic red algae)
Live: Euplica bidentata; Phasianotrochus irisodontes - v many; Cantharidus lepidus - v many. Very few dead gastropods & of these v v few with hermit crabs - Odd! Sue arrived with Andrew Williams about 1.30pm - had lunch & she & Gary departed about 2.30. The rest of us spent the afternoon sorting - processing the mornings catch. Weather moderating - fine - cooler. In view of variability of molluscan assemblages over small areas inshore, decided to concentrate on this area & perhaps Jurien- Sandy Head for most of trip.
Sunday 3-V-87
Cold overnight - fine but high cloud - forecast of easterly einds tending to south, slight seas, mod swell. Went out near to outer reef but too rough - too much swell - so went to SE end of Southern island of Cervantes Islands. Chart showed area to 7m but we could find areas of only about 3m depth. Amphibolus beds with v little Zostera near reefs & v little Halophila in blowouts. abundant epiphtic algae (mostly red but large bunches of Cladophora?) & abundant & diverse red algae on sides & top of reefs which rise to about LWS & have vertical sides with some undercuts (sandy floors) near substrate level. Swell was still evident & siltation on algae etc was obvious.
Station #3; Cervantes Islands, WA; SE corner of southern island; ? 3m depth, rocky reefs & weed beds. Dive with L. Marsh, 1 1/4 hours 10.45-12.10:
Live: Mactra pura (in sand in undercut of reef); Barbatia; ? Fasciolariid types - beige; Acmaea large on rocks browns - on articulated (?onychitis) coralline; Astraea squamifera - leptonids & other (q. v.). Dead: Haliotis semiplicata; H. scalaris; H. elegans; Stomatella imbricata; Conus dorreensis; Bailer shell; Agnewia; Cerithium; Phasianella australis; Ctena bella; Conus anemone; Scutus; Pseudarcopagia victoriae; Dicathais; Ninella torquatus; Septifer; Sabia foliacea; Mitre; Vexilium; Lucinid -?Montifora; Olive (same subfam? as Acillista); Tellin (Tellinella?); Amblichilepas sp; Rissoina; Barbatia (?Acar); Terebrid juv.; Acmaea small c [?]; Prothalotia lehmanni; Bittium; Acmeid large ? onychitis on rock; Astraea sq.
Then we came in to Hansen Bay & dived in sandy area in NE corner.
12.30-13.20.
tn 4. Cervantes WA - NE corner of Hansen Bay - 2-3m. sand with Caulerpa spp Penecillium & Halophila occasional Posidonia (abrupt change to dense weed Amphibolus (twisted!) inshore - anemones, pennatulids on S area; sand disturbed by predators (?rays) many Peronella seemingly disturbed by heavy seas - abundant on top of sand & weed. Ammotrophus 1 dead specimen (Did not swim over weed beds). Live: Mactra pura; Cantharidus lepidus (few juv.); Clay caught Elysia on sand among Caulerpa (of the same type as C. remotifolia). I caught a specimen of Melibe sp (cf M. mirifica) - large & brown & few cerata & wide mouth - lost it; Chitons on Amphibolus Ischochiton; Chitonson dead shells more oval [sketch]. Dead: Bailer shells; many Phasianella australis; Gomphina; Glycymeris - cracked & broken; Bulla; Oliva australis; Acmaea (crass[?]); Natica gualteriana - egg mass? - sand collar; Diplodontid; Zemysia; Myadora; Leiopyrga?; Nassariids (Parcanass?). Spent rest of afternoon (overcast) & evening sorting & processing - clouds cleared during evening - cold.
Monday 4-V-87
Fine morning - not as cold as yesterday - forcast as yesterday at 9.03am. Wenr out to Outer Rocks north of Cervantes. Swell ha decreased & wind was from the east. Decided it was calm enough to dive to the west of Outer Rocks Loisette & I dived first.
Station #5: W of Outer Rocks. Cervantes, WA. approx. 30°26.5'S 114°59.1'E. Depth 12-16m. Mobile Sand with rocky reefs covered with algae, seagrasses, sponges ascidians etc. In 10.55am out 11.40am. Sand was very mobile - no seagrasses or algae. Rocky reefs were about 1-2m high above substrate. Algae diverse & abundant - kelps, Amphibolus (serrated edge of young leaves), Posidonia Caulerpa spp (mainly scalpelliformis) numerous reds including Eucheumna & a Siphonodadiales [sketch] pinkish red but mottled - pustules on outer part also Siphoniales few (green) [sketch] (Martensia) twisted reds (?browns). Tops of reefs with small but colourful bright pink, sulphur yellow etc sponges & ascidians. Sides of reefs covered with simple but usually compound ascidians, sponges (sponge paradise) hydroids, bryozoans (curly orange, brittle perforated dar grey, lacy orange-pink etc). No pycnogonids seen (or later found) on curly bryozoan colonies but a couple of large bright orange, very active pycnogonids seen on & collected from bunches of red algae. Swell was strong- continually swished backwards & forwards. particularly in crevises between reefs. (one with overarching "bridge"). Very few molluscs found (or seen). No urchins; 1 species starfish (yellow) Austrofromia polypara. Live: Malleus; Turbo pulcher (one crushed); Dicathais; Barbatia; Phyllidia pair; & very few dead shells in shifting sand. In going though lumps of encrusting material (collected for hydroids etc) small but very colourful Phasionella ?ventricosa with red animal (& sometimes red shell) were found - anterior end of foot acts as if bifurcated (see photos of similar animals from outside Gordon I - Mewstone Rocks etc).
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