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Marine Protected Species Identification Guide 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The Western Australian aquatic environment is home to a number of species that are protected under international agreements and national or state legislation. Many of these species occur in areas where fishing takes place, sometimes resulting in interactions between fishers and protected species. An interaction is considered to be any physical contact between a person, fishing vessel or fishing gear and a protected species, including captures, entanglements and collisions.

This guide has been developed to help you identify some common marine protected species in Western Australia that you may encounter while fishing.

It has been divided into 5 sections:

• …

А Review Of Scorpiofauna Of China: Nomenclatural Notes And Updated Faunistic Catalogue (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Victoria Tang

Euscorpius

Two genera associated with the Chinese scorpiofauna are reviewed, Razianus Farzanpay, 1987 and Reddyanus Vachon, 1972. Holotype female of Razianus xinjianganus Lourenço et al., 2010 is presumed to be lost, as well as all type material of other Chinese scorpions described before 2020. Comments are given on the species composition of genus Reddyanus with a new synonym: Isometrus (Reddyanus) tibetanus Lourenço & Zhu, 2008 = Reddyanus assamensis (Oates, 1888) syn. n. Reddyanus kanak Lourenço, 2023 is tentatively considered as a nomen dubium. An updated catalogue of Chinese scorpiofauna is provided, including their type locality and type depository, protonym, synonym(s), …

Measuring Spatial And Temporal Variation In Species Composition Of Ephemeral Pond Amphibian Assemblages Using Metabarcoding, Elizabeth Strasko

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Amphibian populations worldwide face severe threats, heightening the need for reliable monitoring methods. In this thesis, I explored and tested environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding protocols to survey amphibian assemblages in ephemeral ponds of the the Green River Preserve in central Kentucky, USA. First, I evaluated whether the commonly used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene could effectively capture species-level variation in local amphibians for eDNA metabarcoding. Extensive primer design and testing revealed significant challenges in amplifying fragmented eDNA from water samples. In a second study, I applied a metabarcoding approach using the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (12S) gene …

Navigating Cultural Differences In Community-Based Conservation: A Malagasy Case Study, Austin J. Cheng

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

This SIP explores the tension between avoiding cultural imperialism and remaining true to ideals, particularly of gender equality in the creation and funding of community-based conservation organizations in patriarchal societies. To tether these loftier ideas to practice, I use my internship with Planet Madagascar in Ankarafantsika National Park as a case study, and explore it through the lenses of feminist, pragmatist, and post-colonial philosophers.

A Systematic Study Of The Highly Endemic Spider Beetle Fauna (Coleoptera: Ptinidae: Ptininae) Found In The Coastal Deserts Of Perú, Marlena Askren

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Spider beetles are small, often flightless insects that occur in hyperarid environments around the world. They exhibit interesting morphology and behavior that allows them to conserve water they obtain from plant material, dung, and other detritus. One hyperarid region in which they are found is the Pacific coast of Perú and northern Chile. The Sechura Desert, Peruvian Coastal Desert, and Atacama Desert make up the arid coast where spider beetles occur from north to south. Through multiple years of field work and museum collections, populations of spider beetles were found along the coast in isolated pockets of vegetation, separated by …

Diversity And Phylogeny Of Spider Beetles (Ptinidae: Ptininae) In Coastal Chile And Peru, Jacob Bowen

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Spider beetles of South America have historically received little systematic study, though now they are the subject of recent diversity surveys and documentation. This investigation contributes to the ongoing exploration of spider beetle diversity in South America by adding records for the recently described Cordielytrum and the yet to be described Furcillifer, as well as constructing phylogenies with new genetic material. MaxEnt was used to create an ecological niche model revealing habitat suitability in Chile and Peru for Cordielytrum, a genus of flightless spider beetles currently known only from Peru. Even with few occurrence records, a model with …

Distribution And Ecology Of The Cedar Keys Mole Skink (Plestiodon Egregius Insularis), Kevin M. Enge, Louis A. Somma, Paul E. Moler, Travis M. Thomas, Matthew T. Fedler, John M. Matter, Dennis C. Haney

Papers in Herpetology

We conducted surveys for the Cedar Keys Mole Skink, Plestiodon egregius insularis (Mount), during 1989– 1999 and 2015–2024, examined museum vouchers, and compiled personal observations from others to determine the status and distribution of this subspecies, which has the smallest geographic distribution of the five subspecies and is being considered for federal listing. We observed Cedar Keys Mole Skinks on Airstrip Island, Atsena Otie, Cedar Point, Deer Island, North Key, Scale Key, Seahorse Key, Snake Key, and possibly Dog Island. We have anecdotal reports of Mole Skinks on Way Key, which contains the most potential habitat and is the main …

Potential Impacts Of Construction On Bat Populations In Warner Parks, Nashville, Tennessee, Jackson Whiteside, Wyatt Fooks, Jeremy Little

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Human development continues to alter natural landscapes, often with significant consequences for wildlife populations. Among the most sensitive taxa to such disturbances are bats, which serve vital ecological roles as insect predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers. Because bats depend on specific roosting and foraging habitats, even minor environmental changes can strongly influence their activity and diversity. A new road is proposed through an area of Warner Parks, Nashville, Tennessee which is otherwise untouched. This may affect the biodiversity and the populations of bats as a result. Wildlife Acoustic MiniBat 2 acoustic monitoring equipment was used to gather echolocation calls of …

New Host Record Of Dahlibruchus Bridwell, 1931 On Cultivated Dahlia Cav. In Mexico And Description Of Two New Species (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), Jesús Romero Nápoles

Insecta Mundi

Dahlibruchus Bridwell is a genus in the family Bruchidae (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea) and all species have as host plants species in the genus Dahlia Cav. (Asteraceae). Usually they arrive on hosts when flowers appear and start feeding on nectar and pollen; later females lay eggs on bracts, and a few weeks later the adults emerge. Presently, the genus Dahlibruchus contains three species. The description of two new ones (Dahlibruchus castroi, new species and Dahlibruchus ruizi, new species) brings this number to five. A key to all species is presented. Dahlibruchus conradti Bridwell is recorded for the first …

Habitat Definition For Pepsis Elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae), Frank E. Kurczewski

Insecta Mundi

Recent (2024) photographs of Pepsis elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) females searching through plant litter disclosed no clues about its nesting behavior or host spider. However, coupled with geographic site locations, they reveal important habitat information. The various site locations are specifically defined as part of the Eastern Temperate Forests Level I Ecoregion of North America, numerous Level III Ecoregions of the Continental United States, several United States Forest Type Groups, and natural habitat designation of mesic open woodland.

Checklist Of The Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) Of Panama, Alfredo Lanuza-Garay, Miguel A. Monné

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

A checklist of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) of Panama is provided, including 1,031 species and subspecies distributed in 433 genera, 63 tribes and subtribes, and five subfamilies. In addition, provincial distribution data are provided for each species. The following new country records for Panama are reported: Ischioloncha lineata Bates, 1885 (Panama and Colon Province) (Lamiinae: Apomecynini), Oncideres macra Thomson, 1868 (Panama and Panama Oeste Province), Oncideres minuta Thomson, 1868 (Panama province, San Blas Comarca), Oncideres ochreostillata Dillon and Dillon, 1952 (Barro Colorado Island) (Lamiinae: Onciderini). A new province record is presented for Rileyellus panamensis Wappes and Santo-Silva, 2020 (Darien Province) …

Descriptions Of Four New Species Of Leptophloeus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) From The United States, Michael C. Thomas, Kyle E. Schnepp

Insecta Mundi

Four new species of Leptophloeus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) are described: L. barbarus Thomas and Schnepp is described from Florida; L. glacialis Thomas and Schnepp is described from Alaska; L. peregrinus Thomas and Schnepp is described from Hawaii; and L. shoshone Thomas and Schnepp is described from Wyoming. Diagnoses and figures are provided for the new species.

A Review Of The Genus Necydalis Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) From North America With Proposed Subgeneric Reclassification, Daniel Heffern, Tatsuya Niisato, Ronald Alten

Insecta Mundi

All North American species of Necydalis Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are removed from the nominotypical subgenus with species allocated into four subgenera: Neodalis Niisato new subgenus, Heterodalis Niisato new subgenus, Mesodalis Niisato new subgenus and Necydalisca Plavilstshikov, 1936. Neodalis and Heterodalis are endemic to the Nearctic, whereas Mesodalis and Necydalisca also occur in the Palearctic. Necydalis (Neodalis) copei Niisato, Heffern and Alten new species is described from Nevada, USA. Necydalis californica Linsley, 1940 new status is elevated from a subspecies of N. diversicollis Schaeffer, 1932 to full species status. Male terminalia of all species are …

New State And Adult Host Records For Species Of Anthaxia Degeer And Melanophila Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) In The Western United States, Richard L. Westcott, Luc Leblanc

Insecta Mundi

New state records are provided for one species of Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) Reitter, six species of Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) Richter, and one species of Melanophila Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the Western United States. One new adult host record is provided for Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) aeneogaster Gory and Laporte, two are provided for Melanophila atropurpurea (Say), and one for Phaenops intrusa (Horn).

The First Species Of Prococcophagus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) From America North Of Mexico, Zachary Lahey, Alvin M. Simmons, Sharon A. Andreason

Insecta Mundi

Prococcophagus tobiasi (Myartseva) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is newly recorded from the state of Florida. This represents the first record of the genus Prococcophagus Silvestri in the United States. Amendments are made to the original description based on the newly collected specimens, and the species is placed in the context of the genus based on a phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA. The status of the specimens comprising the type series is discussed and notes are made on the unusual coloration exhibited by living specimens.

A New Species Of Allotriopsis Champion From Guatemala (Coleoptera: Elateridae), E. R. Fuller

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

Allotriopsis schusteri Fuller (Coleoptera: Elateridae), new species, is described from cloud forest habitat in Zacapa Department, Guatemala, and compared with Allotriopsis nasalis Champion from Quezaltenango Department, Guatemala.

Resumen

Se describe Allotriopsis schusteri Fuller (Coleoptera: Elateridae), nueva especie, del hábitat del bosque nuboso en el departamento de Zacapa, Guatemala, y se compara con Allotriopsis nasalis Champion del departamento de Quezaltenango, Guatemala.

First Report Of Corn Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) In The Usa Midwest Suction Trap Network, Doris M. Lagos-Kutz, Isabel Plasencia, Christopher H. Dietrich, Joseph Laforest, Brian Mccornack, Erin Hodgson, Raul T. Villanueva, Nicholas J. Seiter, Anthony M. Mcmechan, Michael S. Crossley, Steven J. Clough

Insecta Mundi

Corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is native to Central and South America, but invasive in the United States. This species is a threat to corn, Zea mays L., one of the main crops of economic importance in the US, because it is also a vector of three pathogens responsible for corn stunt diseases complex: corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS), maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBSP), and maize rayado fino virus (MRFV). Therefore, monitoring the dispersal of this pest is necessary to document its geographic expansion and anticipate the incidence of corn stunt disease. Based on trap catches obtained …

Three New Species Of Lepidocyrtus Bourlet (Collembola: Entomobryidae) From Florida, Usa, And Descriptive Notes On Lepidocyrtus Floridensis Snider, Felipe N. Soto-Adames, Emily Jenks, Kathryn M. Daly

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

In North America, the genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet (Collembola: Entomobryidae) is represented by 18 species, but only three (L. floridensis Snider, L. millsi Snider, and L. pallidus Reuter) have been reported from Florida. We investigated species diversity in leaf litter samples from counties in the north-central and southern part of the state, as the reportedly low species diversity in Florida may be due to under-sampling. As a result, in this contribution we describe three species of Lepidocyrtus new to science: L. bobwoodruffi Soto-Adames, Jenks and Daly, new species, L. brambilae Soto-Adames, Jenks and …

The Effect Of Zebra Mussels On Minnesota Fish Communities, Benjamin D. Strei

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an aquatic invasive species that has been spreading quickly throughout Minnesota water bodies since 1989. Zebra mussels are known to change certain morphological conditions in lakes such as turbidity, phytoplankton abundance, and aquatic invertebrate populations. However, studies showing impacts of the infestation of zebra mussels on the health of a fish community have been hard to prove due to a lack of repeated surveys and a suite of other confounding variables such as natural and seasonal variability, plant community, and lake morphometry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether zebra mussels have …

How Individual Traits Predict Distribution Patterns And Community Convergence, Zachary K. Lange

Biology Dissertations - Archive

One of the fundamental questions in biology is whether natural conditions lead species and communities toward predictable outcomes. Answering this question requires understanding how traits of individual organisms are connected to species- and community-level patterns. In Chapter 2, I examined how thermal physiology and environmental temperatures interact to determine the distribution patterns of Anolis lizards on the Greater Antilles. I combined lab-measured thermal traits (critical thermal minimum: CT_min, critical thermal maximum: CT_max, thermal preference: T_pref) with occurrence and abundance data from 21 species of Anolis lizards collected from extensive mark-resight surveys of communities across …

Microsatellites Reveal The Population Genetic Structure Of Yellow Perch In Minnesota, Megan Boche

Journal of Earth and Life Science

When analyzing a population’s genetic makeup, looking at variation of individuals and populations is a crucial factor. The management of yellow perch will be aided by this information particularly in regard to stocking or relocation. Microsatellite loci were used to analyze the genetic population structure of yellow perch Perca flavescens within and among 29 sampling areas throughout Minnesota’s basins. Seven microsatellite DNA loci were evaluated, with heterozygosities ranging from 0.41 to 0.78. The Lower Mississippi basin samples showed higher numbers of alleles per locus and greater expected heterozygosities compared to other basins, with Lake Pepin (PEP) exhibiting the highest average …

Correction On The Status Of Nematodes Pavidus Horn, 1886 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Dromaeolinae: Dromaeolini), With Redescriptions Of Two Species From The Southeastern United States And The Caribbean, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

The status of Nematodes pavidus Horn (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), in relation to Nematodes punctatus LeConte and Nematodes teres Horn is being questioned after Muona (2000) revised the family in the Nearctic region. Investigations into the status of N. pavidus included explorations of the histories among these three species and examining images of the types through the Museum of Comparative Zoology’s website. It has been confirmed that Muona erred by synonymizing N. pavidus with N. teres before transferring both N. punctatus and N. teres to Dromaeolus Kiesenwetter. A correction has been made by transferring N. pavidus …

Living A Lie: The Truth Behind Isohydnocera Curtipennis (Newman) And Other Historically Confused Species Of Phyllobaenus Dejean, With The Description Of The New Genus Neohydnocera (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae: Hydnocerini: Hydnocerina), John M. Leavengood Jr.

Insecta Mundi

Taxonomic changes in the New World Hydnocerina (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae: Hydnocer­ini) at the species and genus level are presented. Phyllobaenus suturalis (Klug, 1842) and Hydnocera limbata Spinola, 1844 are designated junior synonyms of P. pallipennis (Say, 1825), new synonymy. Phyllobaenus nigrescens (Schaeffer, 1909) is designated a junior synonym of P. verticalis (Say, 1835), new synonymy. Iso­hydnocera curtipennis (Newman, 1840), P. lineaticollis Spinola, 1844, and Clerus brachypterus Klug, 1842, are re-established as junior synonyms of P. verticalis (Say, 1835), status reinstated, and I. curtipennis is accordingly reassigned to Phyllobaenus Dejean as P. curtipennis …

On The Paratypes And Distribution Of Hemipeplus Quadricollis Pollock, 1999 (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Hemipeplinae): Does It Occur In Peru?, Sajan Kc

Insecta Mundi

Hemipeplus quadricollis Pollock, 1999 (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Hemipeplinae), was originally described from Rondonia State, Brazil, as its type locality, with 10 paratypes: eight from Brazil (Rondonia State) and two from Peru (Madre de Dios and Loreto departments). However, one of the paratypes from Peru (Madre de Dios) was later identified as a cryptic species, Hemipeplus pseudoquadricollis KC and Pollock, 2025. This raises questions about the single remaining paratype from Peru—whether the species truly occurs in Peru—and how many of the paratypes of H. quadricollis are actually H. quadricollis. In this study, all seven remaining paratypes of H. …

Unveiling The Bacterial Communities Of Aphaenogaster: Taxonomic Composition, Developmental And Species Influences, And The Impact Of Climate Change, Lily Kelleher

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Ants are vital keystone species in many ecosystems because they provide ecosystem services such as: seed dispersal, soil bioturbation, and pest control. However, ant bacterial symbioses remain largely unstudied, but these interactions are crucial because microbes play a vital role in the ants’ overall health. Today, global climate change is impacting our biodiversity, and we can use information about how changing temperatures impact the symbiotic bacterial communities associated with ants to predict future impact. Aphaenogaster rudis and A. fulva remain understudied in terms of their bacterial community and are important North American species. For this study, ants from several colonies …

Tetraleurodes Gilli (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae), A New Whitefly Species On Quercus L. From California, Natalia Von Ellenrieder

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

A new species of Tetraleurodes Cockerell (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae), T. gilli, occurring on Quercus L. (Fagaceae) in California is described and illustrated based on its puparium, adults, and nymphs. The puparium of the new species can be recognized from that of other black whiteflies devoid of dorsal wax that occur on oaks by the combination of a filamentous marginal wax fringe as wide as a third to full width of puparium, cephalothoracic setal formula 1 0 1 1, longitudinal suture margined by tubercles, presence of eyespots, a concentric dorsal submarginal fold, ventral spinules medially to legs decreasing …

Aquatic Invertebrate Populations In Roadside Wetlands In Relation To Water Characteristics, Ellen P. Isakson

Journal of Earth and Life Science

The continual habitat destruction and draining of wetland systems makes the need to understand the ecology of roadside wetlands all the more necessary. Roadside wetlands provide valuable habitat to countless aquatic invertebrates, which can provide insight into the health of the wetland system due to their diversity. The objective of this study was to analyze the populations of aquatic invertebrates in roadside wetlands in relation to water characteristics such as pH, salinity, conductivity, water depth and temperature, and dissolved oxygen. This was done by collecting samples of invertebrate populations from roadside wetlands, in addition to data on water quality characteristics …

Diversification Of Avifauna In The Darién Highland Region: Ecological Niche Modeling, Phylogeography And Morphology To Explore Speciation In The Montane Species Myadestes Coloratus, Chlorospingus Tacarcunae And Margarornis Bellulus., Jorge L. Garzon Vasquez Mrs

Theses and Dissertations

Montane regions in the Neotropics are hotspots of endemism and biodiversity, yet their species are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and geographic isolation. This thesis investigates the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of three bird species endemic to the Darién Highlands of eastern Panama: Myadestes coloratus, Chlorospingus tacarcunae, and Margarornis bellulus. Through an integrative approach combining ecological niche modeling, morphometric analysis, and genomic data from ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and mitochondrial DNA, the study explores the historical biogeography, current distribution patterns, population structure, and phenotypic differentiation of these montane taxa. Ecological niche models revealed that suitable habitat …

Examining The Effects Of Songbird Nest Boxes And Habitat On Avian And Arthropod Communities In A Vineyard Ecosystem, Eleanor Macdonald

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Agricultural expansion threatens biodiversity, but integrating insectivorous birds into vineyard ecosystems may support both conservation and ecosystem services. We tested how nest boxes and habitat composition influence avian and arthropod communities in Napa Valley vineyards using a before-after, control-impact experiment across 20 sites. During the 2023-2024 breeding seasons we conducted avian point counts, sampled key pest and beneficial arthropods, and collected fecal samples from adult and nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) to detect vineyard pest DNA. Nest boxes significantly increased swallow and bluebird abundance within one year; swallow responses were strongest …

Investigating The Refugial River Mouth Hypothesis: Assessing The Effects Of Low Salinity Conditions On The Microscopic Life Stages Of Nereocystis Luetkeana, Duncan Jackson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Populations of Nereocystis luetkeana (bull kelp) have experienced localized extinction events in northern California since 2014 due to multiple stressor events, including the area’s most severe marine heatwave (MHW) to-date. Previous surveys in the region observed that bull kelp recovered and persisted at river mouths following the 2014-2015 MHW, suggesting that river mouths may serve as refugia – the refugial river mouth hypothesis. My study aimed to assess this hypothesis and the long-term stability of these refugia by studying how freshwater influences communities at these sites and bull kelp recruitment. Field surveys of salinity fluctuation and kelp and sea urchin …