© 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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Groove-cheek Goby / Grooved-cheek Goby / Groovecheek Goby

Family Name:	Gobiidae
Scientific Name:	Nesogobius sp. 4 (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994) Nesogobiussp. 7 (in Kuiter, 1996b; and Australian Museum, 2003b)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient, possibly Least Concern
Rationale:  The species is included here because (i) Groove-cheek Goby is found over a narrow depth range in upper continental shelf waters, and is known in S.A. from few records (likely due to lack of targeted sampling for small, cryptic benthic fishes); (ii) populations may be threatened by habitat degradation in some parts of the range (particularly urbanised areas), but there are no specific data; and (ii) gobies are typically benthic nest spawners and egg guarders, and hence populations may be vulnerable to localised / site specific impacts. Despite the vulnerable population characteristics, the species may be of Least Concern, if future surveys indicate that the Groove-cheek Goby is more widespread and abundant in S.A. than the current few records suggest.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

There are no formal listings, but Hoese and Larson (in Gomon et al., 1994) considered Groove-cheek Goby to be a rare species. It is noted that the apparent rarity of the Groove-cheek Goby may relate more to lack of records due to the cryptic nature of the species.
 

Distribution

Southern Australia

Known from the N.S.W. central coast, around the southern coast to Victoria (e.g. Port Phillip Bay); S.A.; and south-western W.A. (e.g. Perth area; Rottnest I., Recherche Archipelago and other locations) (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994; Australian Museum 2003b; Hutchins, 2005).
 

South Australia

The distribution within S.A. is not well known, due to lack of targeted surveys for small, cryptic fishes such as Nesogobius species. Examples of locations where the species has been recorded include Port Lincoln jetty; metropolitan Gulf St Vincent (e.g. Grange, Glenelg, Kingston Park, Seacliff, Marino Rocks, Hallett Cove); Fleurieu Peninsula (various sites along the coast, such as Normanville, to at least Rapid Bay Jetty); Encounter Bay (e.g. Screwpile Jetty at Granite I.) and also the Kangaroo I. coast, including a wreck site near the western end, and American River in the north-east (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994; Muirhead, 2002b; Hall, 2003; D. Muirhead, pers. comm., 2005; K. Smith, unpubl. data, 2005; gillanders et al., 2008).
The species is cryptic, and is likely to be more widespread than limited records suggest.
It is noted that a Nesogobius species was recorded in northern Spencer Gulf during recent trawl surveys (P. Jennings, SARDI, unpubl. survey data, 2003), but not identified to species level.  

Habitat

Groove-cheek Goby is found on sand in coastal bays, and also enters estuaries (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996b; Australian Museum, 2003b). The species is often found off exposed sandy beaches (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994), and occurs in more exposed habitats than most other local goby species. It is most often seen in deep coastal bays (Edgar, 2000). Divers in South Australia have recorded the species on coarse shelly sand.
Kuiter (1996b) also reported the species as occurring along the edges of reefs. In south-western Australia, the species has been recorded occasionally on reefs at the Recherche Archipelago, and on reefs in mainland bays (Hutchins, 2005).
There are various estimates for the depth range, most of which are similar. One of the more recent reports is 2m – 20m (Australian Museum, 2003b). Hoese and Larson (in Gomon et al., 1994) reported that the species is normally found between 2m – 15m. Kuiter (1996b) reported a usual depth range of 10m – 30m, and Edgar (2000) reported the depth range as being 8m – 30m.
 

Notes on the Biology

The Groove-cheek Goby grows to about 8.5cm (Kuiter, 1996b; Edgar, 2000).
Members of the family are typically nest spawners, with males guarding the eggs (Hoese, 1998).
 

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species, and Threatening Processes

The Groove-cheek Goby has a narrow depth range in the shallow subtidal, being associated with shallow coastal bays. In both urban and rural areas, shallow coastal bays are subject to numerous land-based impacts, which may reduce the quality and spatial extent of habitat in which this species lives (see Baker, 2004, for a summary of some of the nearshore coastal impacts in various bays of the S.A. gulfs region). The Groove-cheek Goby is also associated with estuaries, which are often subject to many pollutants, and other impacts that degrade water quality and habitat. Polluted estuarine areas can take a long time to recover as toxicants accumulate in their sediments (Pogonoski et al., 2002). The fact that most population centres in Australia are located within close proximity to coastal and/or estuarine environments means that estuarine habitats and their associated communities are often vulnerable to the effects of habitat degradation, and overexploitation by humans (Pogonoski et al., 2002). There are few pristine or near pristine estuaries remaining in South Australia, and most are subject to numerous impacts (see Bucher and Saenger, 1989; Lewis et al., 1998; Barnett, 2001; GeoScience Australia, 2001; Bryars, 2003; Baker, 2004; DEH, 2005; EPA – SA, 2006). A more recent and equally significant stress on estuaries in S.A. (and therefore on estuarine inhabitants) is likely further reduction in freshwater inflows 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 impacts on habitat.
 

Research Requirements

Both the distribution and relative abundance of this species in South Australia are not well known, due to lack of targeted sampling to find small, cryptic species such as gobies.  Targeted surveys of small benthic fishes in shallow subtidal reef and sand habitats may help to increase knowledge of the distribution and relative abundance species such as the Groove-cheek Goby.
Specimens in the Nesogobius collection at South Australian Museum should be identified to species level where possible, to increase the number of locations known for the various species in this genus. 
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

Generally, ongoing measures are required to protect (from further degradation) estuaries, and shallow subtidal reef and sand habitats in South Australia.