© 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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Southern Gulfs Pipefish / Gulf Pipefish

Family Name:	Syngnathidae
Scientific Name:	Stigmatopora narinosa (Browne and Smith, 2007)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Near Threatened, possibly VU B1b(ii)(iii)
Rationale:  Southern Gulf Pipefish is included here because (i) it is a species of syngnathid, from a family whose members are considered to have vulnerable population characteristics; (ii) it appears to be endemic within South Australia (and is known particularly from the gulfs region), and may have a restricted geographical range, as well as specific habitat requirements over a narrow depth range; (iii) little is known of the full distribution, relative abundance, biology, population dynamics and ecology of this species; and (v) in some areas, alteration and degradation of inshore habitats may be a potential threat to the survival of this species, and examples may include dredging of channels (for maintenance etc), coastal developments, trawling / netting in seagrass beds, and power boating (and consequent disturbance of benthic habitat, and siltation) in shallow waters where the species is present, and industrial, rural and residential discharges into the coastal waters, from point sources and diffuse sources. It is possible that the species qualifies for listing as Vulnerable (according to the modified IUCN / TSSS criteria used for assessment in S.A.), but more data are required, including an assessment of current impacts on known populations.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

All syngnathids are subject to the export controls of the Commonwealth Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 from 1 January 1998.
All syngnathids and solenostomids are listed as marine species under s.248 of the EPBC Act 1999.
Since January 2006, fishes in the Syngnathidae (seadragons, pipefish, pipehorses) have been formally protected in South Australia, under the Fisheries (General) Variation Regulations 2006 of the South Australian Fisheries Act.
 

Distribution

Southern Gulf Pipefish is closely related to the common S. nigra. Prior to a study by Brown and Smith (2007), it had not been formally described. The species was previously confused with other species in the Stigmatopora complex (Kuiter, 2000, 2003) (see Other Information).
The species appears to be found mainly in the S.A. gulfs region (i.e. Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf), but appears to be common in inshore areas in some parts of the known range. Records and possible sightings (including large aggregations in some areas) have come from the southern metropolitan area (e.g. Seacliff) and upper Fleurieu; western GSV (e.g. Wool Bay); the “foot” of Yorke Peninsula (e.g. Edithburgh, and other locations); north-eastern Kangaroo Island, and mid-eastern (e.g. Port Hughes, Port Victoria, and other locations) and south-eastern Spencer Gulf (K. Smith, unpubl. data, 2003 – 2004; Browne, 2003; data by K. Smith, cited by Browne, 2004; Dragon Search records, cited in Baker 2005a,b; Browne and Smith, 2007; photographs by J. Lewis, 2003-2007).
In 2005, large numbers of Gulf Pipefish were seen and photographed at Port Victoria, Spencer Gulf (data by D. Teubner, cited by Smith, 2005).
 

Habitat

Southern Gulfs Pipefish appears to be restricted to moderately sheltered, shallow coastal water habitats, probably between 1-5m deep, in seagrass, and in mixed habitats - including patches of brown macroalgae and rubble/rock substrate within seagrass; also small patches of seagrass (Zostera, Posidonia and Amphibolis) in sand, amongst stands of brown macroalgae (Kuiter, 2003; data by K. Smith, cited by R. Browne, pers. comm., 2005; Browne and Smith, 2007; photographs by J. Lewis, 2003-07).  This species has been recorded and photographed (by K. Smith) in various areas of coarse, sandy, broken bottom and rubble substrate, with brown macroalgae, and Zostera / Heterozostera and Posidonia seagrass (including decaying seagrass) and coralline algae.   
The preferred habitat is restricted, and occurs mainly along limited sections of the Southern Gulf Pipefish’s known range of Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent (Browne and Smith, 2007, cited in Baker, 2006b).
Both juvenile and breeding adult southern Gulf Pipefish have been found in shallow (1.5 to 2m) seagrass (Zostera / Heterozostera and Posidonia) seagrass beds in South Australia (data by K. Smith, cited by Browne, 2004).

Notes on the Biology

Numerous juveniles of this species (60 to 80 mm) have been observed inshore in parts of the S.A. gulfs region, including southern Yorke Peninsula (data by K. Smith, cited by Browne, 2004, 2006).
A male Southern Gulfs Pipefish was observed to be brooding  at 154 mm TL (data by K. Smith, cited in Browne and Smith, 2007).  Males have a greater number of eggs (e.g. 98, in one specimen) compared with other species in South Australia (Browne and Smith, 2007). 
Hatching larvae of the Southern Gulf Pipefish are about 18 mm long (Browne and Smith, 2007).
 

 Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species, and Threatening Processes

The species appears to be less common than some others in the group (e.g. S. argus, S. nigra) (Browne, 2004), and has a geographically restricted known range. 
The limited known geographic distribution and depth range of this species (i.e. shallow nearshore habitats in S.A. gulfs) may render populations susceptible to decline, particularly due to effects of habitat damage. Both S.A. gulfs are subject to numerous impacts that affect water quality and/or nearshore habitat quality (e.g. coastal developments; channel dredging; shallow water trawling / netting in seagrass beds; power boating; industrial, rural and residential discharges into the coastal waters, from point sources and diffuse sources etc). Examples of location-specific threatening processes for nearshore fishes in the S.A. gulfs are provided in Bryars (2003) and Baker (2004).  

Research Notes

Since the early 2000s, much progress has been made in investigating the distribution, critical habitats, biology and taxonomic affinities of this species (data by R. Browne and K. Smith, in Browne, 2004, 2006, and Browne and Smith, 2007).
 

Research Requirements

Southern Gulfs Pipefish is similar in appearance to others in the Stigmatopora group, and therefore sightings, particularly those away from currently known locations, should be supported where possible by photographs (Browne, 2004, 2006). Specimens can only be taken under permit. The location, size, date and (where possible) reproductive status of specimens should be noted (Brown, 2004, 2006).
 

Management Requirements

Monitoring programs are desirable at locations where this species has been found, particularly those locations where high localised abundances exist.
For the habitats in which this species is known to exist, ongoing protection is required from impacts that affect water quality and/or nearshore habitat quality (see examples above, under Threatening Processes).
Well-managed marine protected areas may assist in the long term conservation of habitats for this species over part of the range.
Longer term conservation of the Southern Gulfs Pipefish will be assisted by increased knowledge of its range, distribution, habitat, population ecology and reproduction.
 

Other Information

Kuiter (2000) referred to the pipefish species that is restricted to the South Australian gulfs, as Stigmatopora olivacea Castelnau 1872, which is now considered to be a junior synonym of S. argus (M. Gomon, Museum of Victoria, pers. comm. 2007).