© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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Glovers’ Tasman Goby / Glover’s Tasmangoby / Marine Goby

Family Name:	Gobiidae
Scientific Name:	Tasmanogobius gloveri  Hoese, 1991
Recommended Status in S.A:	possibly Rare D(i) and/or E(i)
Rationale:  Glover’s Tasman Goby is included here because (i) South Australia is the western edge of the geographic range, and in S.A., the species has been found to date only in a geographically limited area; (iii) the species is associated with estuaries, which are few in number in S.A., and many are significantly degraded, and /or subjected to significant and ongoing threats; and (iv) gobies are typically benthic nest spawners and egg guarders, and hence populations may be vulnerable to localised impacts; (iv) there is a paucity of data about the full distribution, and relative abundance of this species in S.A.; (v) there is little  information about the preferred habitat and depth range in S.A., but it is likely to occur mainly in shallow estuaries of low number and restricted distribution; and (vi) there are no specific data on the impacts of estuarine degradation in S.A. on Glover’s Tasman Goby populations, but possible threats to populations due to reduced water quality (and seagrass decline) have not been ameliorated, and are likely to continue in future.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No formal listings to date, but Tasmanogobius gloveri is considered to be of conservation significance at State level (S.A.), due to its limited geographic distribution in this State, and rarity in surveys (M. Hammer, pers. comm., 2007).
 

Distribution

South-Eastern Australia

The published distribution is from Victoria (Port Phillip Bay) to South Australia, including Tasmania (Kuiter, 1993, 2001; Hoese and Larsen, in Gomon et al., 1994).
In Victoria, there are records from Port Phillip Bay (Kuiter, 1993), Western Port (Edgar and Shaw, 1995b; Museum of Victoria data, cited in OZCAM, 2007), and Corner Inlet (e.g. O’Hara et al., 2002).  
Tasmanogobius gloveri was previously listed as an indicator species for the Tasmanian biogeographic province (IMCRA Technical Group, 1996). There are few published records from Tasmania, and these include the D'Entrecasteaux Channel (Australian Museum record; Museum of Victoria record, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).  
 

South Australia

There are few records from South Australia, and to date all of these are from the bays and lagoons of north-east Kangaroo Island. Examples include a number of South Australian Museum records from Pelican Lagoon (Kangaroo Island), which is the type locality (Hoese, 1991; S.A. Museum data, cited in OZCAM database, 2007), and survey data from Bay of Shoals (Kangaroo Island) (data by R. Browne, 2007). 
The species has not been recorded in a number of surveys in suitable habitat around S.A., and may be rare in areas other than Kangaroo Island (M. Hammer, pers. comm., 2007).
 

Habitat

This species is found in shallow estuaries, on silty sand or mud, or in burrows under rocks (Kuiter, 1993).
In Victoria, gobies reported to be this species have been recorded in seagrass beds (O’Hara et al., 2002).
 

Notes on the Biology

The species grows to 5.5cm (Hoese and Larsen, in Gomon et al., 1994)  or 6.5cm (Kuiter, 1993).
Members of the family are typically nest spawners, with males guarding the eggs (Hoese, 1998).
 

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species and Threatening Processes

Tasmanogobius gloveri may be of conservation significance in South Australia, due to its apparently limited geographic range in this State (M.. Hammer, pers. comm., 2007).
In S.A., this species has been found to date in a small number of estuarine and shallow bay areas at north-eastern Kangaroo Island, including the American River estuary, which is considered to be in modified condition and under high to very high pressure (NLWRA, 2001, cited by Baker, 2004 and Kinloch, 2005). There are numerous land-based inputs to the inshore marine environment of north-eastern Kangaroo Island that may be a source of nutrients, sediment and turbidity, including agricultural run-off from rivers; overflow of effluent from the sewage treatment ponds; septic tank overflows (e.g.  Penneshaw and the townships of Island Beach, Baudin Beach, Nepean Bay, American River); stormwater outfalls at Kingscote, American River and Penneshaw; and fish processing effluent discharges at Kingscote (Kinloch, 2005). Along the north-eastern coast of the island, water circulation (and hence dilution and flushing) is limited (Kinloch, 2005). A primary detrimental impact of elevated nutrient levels is the smothering (with epiphytic growth) and eventually die back of seagrass meadows. Seagrass decline from various impacts (principally nutrient pollution) in part of the north-eastern KI bays area (e.g. Nepean Bay) is a significant issue (Edyvane, 1997; Southgate, 2004).  
In estuarine areas, it is likely that further reduction in water quality (including possible reduction in freshwater inflows) will occur in the coming years, due to expansion of urban populations and rural developments in some areas, and also due to the effects of climate change in South Australia
Gobies are benthic nest spawners and egg guarders, a population characteristic that increases their vulnerability to site-specific habitat impacts.
 

Research Requirements

There is little information on the distribution and relative abundance of this species in parts of S.A. other than the Kangaroo Island region. The full distribution and relative abundance of this species in S.A. is not defined, nor is the westernmost extent of the distribution in S.A., the edge of the geographic range.
Those undertaking future surveys of estuaries and shallow bays in parts of S.A. other than Kangaroo Island should be conscious of the potential presence of goby species such as T. gloveri and such species should be recorded when found.    
When the less commonly known goby species are recorded in surveys, fish taxonomy experts should be sought to provide species-specific determinations. Voucher specimens and/or photographs should be taken.
 

Management Requirements

An assessment of the possible impacts of estuarine and shallow bay degradation in S.A. on Glover’s Tasman Goby populations is required. Determination of the impacts of reduced water quantity and quality on goby populations will help to better determine the conservation status of these species in S.A., and will assist with the development of recovery plans for small estuarine fish species.
Ongoing programs to protect and restore estuarine function (and reduce pollutant input into shallow bays) may benefit small, site-associated estuarine species such as Glover’s Tasman Goby. 
 

Management Notes

To address the problem of significant seagrass decline in Nepean Bay, the Kangaroo Island Integrated Catchment Management Committee in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Authority is investigating the sources of nutrient pollution and estimating nutrient load entering the marine environment of Western Cove. Water samples have been collected from river flows (during the months of most rainfall), and also from bores around Septic Tank Effluent Disposal (STED) ponds. Also, the EPA has collected water samples from sites in Nepean Bay (Bay of Shoals and Western Cove) on a monthly basis (Kinloch, 2005). Samples have been analysed for a various nutrients indicative of eutrophic conditions, as well as temperature, turbidity, microbial concentration and chlorophyll “a” (Gaylard, 2005, cited by Kinloch, 2005).