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Dive Reports

18-02-2022 Nudi Retreat

DAY/DATE

Friday

18/02/2022

SITE/S

Nudi Retreat
Currimundi reef

 

PARTICIPANTS

Julie, Terry, David

 

TYPE

Subtidal

 

MODE

Boat Dives

 

VESSEL

Rebel II

 

DIVE

1

2

SITE/S

Nudi Retreat

Nudi Retreat

SPECIES #

21

17

DURATION

79 Min

75 Min

DEPTH/RANGE

14-17 m

14-17 m

TEMP.

25 C

25 C

VIS.

7 m

7 m

SURGE

Slight

Slight

CURRENT

Nil

Nil

COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Ah! Offshore diving. So much to choose from, so much to see. There are two Caloundra Bars at the moment – the old one, gradually silting up and the new one at the Bribie break-through to the south – currently of unknown navigability to us. We decided to dive Currimundi Reef but to head out of the Mooloolah River and travel south. Serene surface conditions greeted us as we rounded Point Cartwright. Low unruffled swells, beam on, were handled with finesse, their surface only broken by our wake, schools of bait fish, the occasional dolphin and rafts of Shearwaters resting on the surface. The water looked quite green once we arrived but the anchorline was visible for several metres before it faded into the depths. On the bottom we had seven metres of visibility, enough for navigation of the site. A respectable species count was compiled although, the overwhelming preponderance of dorid nudibranchs in the species count makes one wonder whether we are just seeing the conspicuous species and overlooking the cryptic. We did sight in excess of 109 specimens of sea slugs so considering the oft quoted maxim that they are “inherently rare in space and time” (or are they?) we were obviously busy for the entire bottom time.

Taxonomic Diversity:
23 of the 25 species sighted were nudibranchs, with 20 being dorids (80% the overall total) comprising 0 x phanerobranch (non-retractile gill), 6 x porostomes (suctorial feeders and all Phyllidiidae family) and 14 x cryptobranchs (retractable gill) (all belonging to the Chromodorididae family). The balance of the nudibranchs were made up of: 2 x aeolids 1 x dendronotid. The other 2 non-nudibranch sea slug species comprised 2 x cephalaspidean. If diet is considered then 21 of the 25 species sighted are spongivores.

Our Historical Data:
– This excursion brings the survey number to 34 at this site since we commenced fully recording data here on 08/05/2011.
– 136 species have been recorded at this site.
– Our most commonly recorded species are: Phyllidia pustulosa (91%), Doriprismatica atromarginata (88%), Phyllidia ocellata (82%) and Goniobranchus splendidus (76%).
– This was the first survey where we have recorded Ceratosoma tenue and Verconia decussata at this site and only the second outing here at which we have recorded Chromodoris lochi, Diversidoris crocea, Hypselodoris sagamiensis or Hypselodoris sp. 10.
– The prevalence and overall abundance of species recorded by us has remained relatively constant over our survey period, although the abundance of the two most prevalent species has been increasing slowly over the survey period (see example for P. pustulosa in graph, below in the image gallery, – the peak in all species abundance in September 2011 was due primarily to an abundance of Dermatobranchus sp. 7 recorded at the time).
– Other than a slight decrease in the number of Chromodoris kuiteri recorded in the months April – June, there is no obvious seasonal variation in prevalence or abundance of particular species at this site.
– This site last surveyed on 23/07/2021.

Key to symbols
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted at this site
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 25

 

SPECIES LIST – ALPHABETICAL

Cadlinella ornatissima -/2
Ceratosoma tenue 1/- +
Chromodoris elisabethina 2/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 2/6
Chromodoris lochi 1/-
Cratena lineata -/1
Diversidoris crocea 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 17/10 #88%
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 4/4 #76%
Hypselodoris bullockii 3/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/1
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 1/-
Hypselodoris sp. 10 1/-
Mariaglaja inornata 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/2 #82%
Phyllidia picta -/1
Phyllidia varicosa 3/1
Phyllidiella lizae 4/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 6/7 #91%
Phyllidiopsis burni -/1
Pteraeolidia semperi 3/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 4/3
Tritoniopsis elegans 2/3
Verconia decussata 1/- +

SPECIES GROUPED BY ORDER

Nudibranchia
Cadlinella ornatissima -/2
Ceratosoma tenue 1/- 
Chromodoris elisabethina 2/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 2/6
Chromodoris lochi 1/-
Cratena lineata -/1
Diversidoris crocea 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 17/10 
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 4/4 
Hypselodoris bullockii 3/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/1
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 1/-
Hypselodoris sp. 10 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/2 
Phyllidia picta -/1
Phyllidia varicosa 3/1
Phyllidiella lizae 4/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 6/7 
Phyllidiopsis burni -/1
Pteraeolidia semperi 3/2
Tritoniopsis elegans 2/3
Verconia decussata 1/- 

Cephalaspidea
Mariaglaja inornata 1/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 4/3

Sacoglossa


Umbraculoidea

Pleurobranchoidea

Anaspidea

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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