© 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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Kelp Weedfish

Family Name:	Clinidae
Scientific Name:	Heteroclinus eckloniae (McKay, 1970)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Kelp Weedfish is included here because (i) the species is strongly site-associated in nearshore habitats, may occur over a narrow depth range, and may thus be vulnerable to habitat impacts in some areas (such as degradation of nearshore reefs and seagrass beds), but there are no specific data; (ii) Clinids reproduce at a small, site-associated scale (and have live young), characteristics that may increase the species vulnerability to population decline; (iii) there are few records of the species, and little information on the habitat and full depth distribution; (iv) there is no knowledge of population sizes within the range (including in South Australia), and very little is known of the biology and population dynamics.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Southern Australia

Occurs along the southern coast of Australia, and the distribution includes northern Tasmania (Kuiter, 1993, 1996b; Hoese, in Gomon et al., 1994).
There are few published records, particularly recent ones.  Examples of locations where the species has been reported (with records ranging from 1959 and 1984) include Geographe Bay (W.A.), northern Kangaroo Island (S.A.), locations in and around Port Phillip Bay, and also western Victoria, and northern Tasmania (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994; West Australian Museum records, Australian Museum records, Museum of Victoria records, cited in OZCAM database, 2008).
The holotype was collected from Albany in W.A. (Western Australian Museum record, identified in 1969, cited in OZCAM database, 2008). The paratype was collected from Rottnest Island (B. Hutchins, W.A. Museum, pers. comm., 2007). The species has also been recorded from the Recherche Archipelago (Hutchins, 2005).

South Australia

Examples of locations in South Australia where the species is reported to have been recorded include northern Kangaroo Island, and the Outer Harbour area in Gulf St Vincent (Fairhead et al., 2002b; Australian Museum records, cited in OZCAM, 2008).

Habitat

Kuiter (1996b) reported that the Kelp Weedfish is usually found in dense macroalgae beds (including Ecklonia and other kelp, on reefs) in shallow coastal areas.
The species has also been found in tide pools, associated with macroalgae and rocks (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994).
It is noted that at two sites in Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, Hindell et al. (2001) recorded in low numbers, in seagrass and unvegetated sand habitats, a Heteroclinus species that was identified as H. eckloniae.

Notes on the Biology

Growth

H. eckloniae grows to around 11cm (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996b).
No estimates of longevity were found for this report; however, it is noted that post-settlement growth is rapid, and a study of 12 weedfish species in south-eastern Australia showed that most of the reproductive populations consist of fishes in the 1 + year-class (Gunn and Thresher, 1991).

Reproduction

Temperate weedfishes are viviparous, many are “super-foetate” (simultaneously developing multiple batches of eggs and/or embryo) and reproduce over several months in spring and summer (Gunn and Thresher, 1991). Maternal investment in the nutrition of the young is high. After parturition, the larvae spend from 3 to 7 weeks in the plankton, primarily in in-shore waters (Gunn and Thresher, 1991).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species and Threatening Processes

Members of the Clinidae are strongly site-associated in coastal areas of seagrass and macroalgae, and processes which damage such habitats may adversely affect populations of clinid species.
Members of the family are viviparous (bear live young), and therefore reproduce at a local, site-associated level, and have low dispersive ability, characteristics that can increase vulnerability to processes causing population decline.

Research Requirements

Considering the broad geographic range of this species across southern Australia, there are very few published records. Nearshore fish surveys (in kelp beds and other macroalgae habitats, and seagrass beds) should be aware of the potential presence of site-associated Clinids such as H. eckloniae, and when found, the presence of such species should be recorded. Weedfish are difficult to identify in situ, and a photographic record should be taken where possible.
More information is required on the habitat and depth distribution of this species. There is no knowledge of population sizes within the range (including in South Australia), and very little is known of the biology and population dynamics.  Information on the distribution, relative abundance, habitat requirements and biology may help in better determining the susceptibility of weedfishes to threats such as habitat degradation. However, the difficulty of determining distribution and relative abundance of small, cryptic, benthic species such as weedfishes is noted.

Management Requirements

Kelp Weedfish is site-associated in nearshore habitats. Habitat protection is required from processes that degrade the quality of nearshore reefs (and associated macroalgae) and seagrass beds (e.g. physical damage; eutrophication; siltation etc).