Something fishy is happening in Jervis Bay and it’s because the water is getting warmer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
More tropical species are now appearing in the traditional temperate Jervis Bay.
David Booth, a Professor of Marine Ecology and Director of the Centre for Environmental Sustainability at UTS and President of the Australian Coral Reef Society, is aware of the changes.
Prof Booth said around 150 species including butterflyfishes, damselfishes, surgeonfishes, Moorish idols and wrasses (cleaner wrasses) are now in Jervis Bay.
Reports showing more tropical species are being found in Jervis Bay have been compiled.
Prof Booth with colleague Will Figueira released a report titled ‘Increasing ocean temperatures allow tropical fishes to survive over winter in temperate waters.’
They found the southeast coast of Australia is a global hotspot for increasing ocean temperatures due to climate change.
Their report showed the average water temperature had increased over the last 90 years, meaning the type of water which a tropical fish can survive became increasingly more common.
The new species don’t appear to be doing any damage.
“They temporarily increase local species diversity and possibly food competition but as most are small they usually would be prey rather than predator,” Prof Booth said.
Jervis Bay does not seem to be suffering as much as other waters.
Concerning events in other parts of the east coast are being monitored by scientists.
Irukandji jellyfish, due to warmer sea temperatures, are drifting further south along Queensland’s coastline, while almost the entire green turtle population in parts of the northern Great Barrier Reef is now female as warmer temperatures generally produce more female hatchlings.
Prof Booth has published over 100 papers in reef-fish ecology, climate change and other anthropogenic impacts on fishes and fisheries, in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Great Barrier Reef, and studies how tropical fish travel down the East Australian Current past Sydney.
He researches fishes in estuaries around Sydney, the ecology and behaviour of threatened fishes such as seadragons, black cod and white sharks and the ecology of the deep sea.
He is also a strong advocate of sustainable fisheries and marine parks.
Say hello too ….
Butterfly fish
The butterfly fish is a generally small-sized species of marine fish, found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs. The butterfly fish is well known for its brightly coloured body and elaborate markings.
Damselfish
Damselfish, also called demoiselle, any of about 250 species of small, primarily tropical marine fishes of the family Pomacentridae (order Perciformes) found in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans.
Surgeonfishes
Surgeonfishes - any tropical, coral-reef fish of the family Acanthuridae, with one or more sharp spines near the base of the tail fin.
Moorish idols
Moorish idols - A common inhabitant of tropical to subtropical reefs and lagoons, the Moorish idol is notable for its wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Cleaner Wrasse
Cleaner Wrasse – Members of the Labridae family have greatly varied habitats, such as tidal pools, grass beds, rocky or coral reefs and even the sea-floor. They can be found in tide pools, shallow coral outcrops and rocky areas on the coral reef.
