DAY/DATE
Thursday
27/01/2022
SITE/S
La Balsa Park
PARTICIPANTS
Julie, Terry & David
TYPE
Subtidal
MODE
Shore Entry
VESSEL
–
DIVE
1
SITE/S
La Balsa Park (Rotunda Entry)
SPECIES #
10
DURATION
120 Min
DEPTH/RANGE
To 5.2 m
TEMP.
27 C
VIS.
To 2.0 m
SURGE
–
CURRENT
Usual tidal run
COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS
Very silty conditions encountered along this particular stretch of the La Balsa Park site. Species numbers are still low (both diversity and populations) although an increase in the hydroid growths was noticed.
Taxonomic Diversity:
5 of the 10 species sighted were aeolids. The 4 dorids comprised 3 x cryptobranchs (contract gill into a pocket) and 1 x phanerobranchs (unable to retract gill) with the remaining species being an arminid.
Our Historical data:
– 55 surveys conducted at this site since the first on 11/05/2014.
– Last surveyed 09/09/2021
– 166 species recorded by us at this site.
– Our most commonly recorded species at this site are: Goniodoridella sp. 1 (93%), Hypselodoris obscura (91%), and Goniobranchus daphne (84%).
– This is the first time we have recorded Dermatobranchus oculus or Hypselodoris jacksoni at this site although both have been recorded at La Balsa previously.
– There appears to be a seasonal pattern to our sightings of Goniobranchus daphne at this site, with it being less prevalent in the winter months – see graph in image gallery.
Guide to Symbols:
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted at this site
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %
TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 10
SPECIES LIST – ALPHABETICAL
Cratena cf. lineata -2
Cratena lineata -3
Cratena sp. 07 -5
Dermatobranchus oculus -1 +
Eubranchus sp. 10 -2
Flabellina lotos -12
Goniobranchus daphne -7 #84%
Goniodoridella sp. 01 -3 #93%
Hypselodoris jacksoni -1 +
Hypselodoris obscura -15 #91%
SPECIES GROUPED BY ORDER
Nudibranchia
Cratena cf. lineata -2
Cratena lineata -3
Cratena sp. 07 -5
Dermatobranchus oculus -1
Eubranchus sp. 10 -2
Flabellina lotos -12
Goniobranchus daphne -7
Goniodoridella sp. 01 -3
Hypselodoris jacksoni -1
Hypselodoris obscura -15
Cephalaspidea
–
Sacoglossa
–
Umbraculoidea
–
Pleurobranchoidea
–
Anaspidea
–
DIVE IMAGES GALLERY
PUT CURSOR ON IMAGE FOR SPECIES NAME
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE & SCROLL
