14.1. String Analysis Results
The detailed prioritisation scheme was used to subset those species with reliability scores of 1, 2 or 3. From this list, 3 groups were formed (Table 14-1): Group d1 - d5 comprised those species with "A" (genus information content) scores less than or equal to 4; i.e., endemic species with high information content. Group d6 - d10 comprised all of the high reliability species (i.e., all "A"). Group d11 - d15 comprised species with "A" ratings of 1 or 2; i.e., narrow ranging and highly informative genera. Each group was split into the 4 categories of: Estuarine, Coastal, Shelf Pelagic and Shelf Demersal species. Thus a total of 15 subsets of the data was produced for the string analysis.
DataSet Band/Zone Reliability Information Content
Score
d1 All Species R = 1,2,3 A <= 4
d2 Estuarine Species R = 1,2,3 A <= 4
d3 Coastal Species R = 1,2,3 A <= 4
d4 Shelf Pelagic Species R = 1,2,3 A <= 4
d5 Shelf Demersal R = 1,2,3 A <= 4
Species
d6 All Species R = 1,2,3 All A
d7 Estuarine Species R = 1,2,3 All A
d8 Coastal Species R = 1,2,3 All A
d9 Shelf Pelagic Species R = 1,2,3 All A
d10 Shelf Demersal R = 1,2,3 All A
Species
d11 All Species R = 1,2,3 A = 1,2
d12 Estuarine Species R = 1,2,3 A = 1,2
d13 Coastal Species R = 1,2,3 A = 1,2
d14 Shelf Pelagic Species R = 1,2,3 A = 1,2
d15 Shelf Demersal R = 1,2,3 A = 1,2
Species
Table 14-1 Subsets of the high reliability species selected for analysis.
The first group (A <= 4) was selected to provide information for genus validation/refinement analyses. The second group (All A) was primarily for the statistical boundary and zootone analysis whilst the third group (A = 1,2) is another priority group to examine the boundaries for only highly-ranked genera.
For each dataset, analyses were conducted to examine changes in diversity, species dissimilarity, range starts and stops. Plots of these trends along the string coast are shown in the Appendix. The diversity plot shows the variation in species richness along the coast; the top plot also contains the species dissimilarity trend. In the bottom plot, the variation in starts and stops of the species ranges is displayed. The diversity plots are used to examine disjunctions in the trends of species richness; this is different from the species dissimilarity trends which are indications of the strength of relative species dissimilarity. The diversity trend in conjunction with the dissimilarity trend gives a good indication of both the absolute and relative strengths of boundaries. The variation in starts and stops is used to examine the coincidence or otherwise of species range starts and stops at boundaries indicated in the top plot. It can be used to differentiate for example boundaries where starts and stops coincide (i.e. a possible indication of a provincial boundary) or where one or the other dominate (i.e. a possible subprovincial boundary or zootone). For the Tasmanian regionalisation the diversity and species dissimilarity plots are presented at the end.
Looking across the mainland results for the 3 groups, the highly endemic genera group (A = 1,2) has a restricted number of species and displays essentially the same results as the less stringent A <= 4 group. Thus in subsequent analyses, we have used the A <= 4 as representing also the A = 1,2 group. A second general observation is that the boundaries (indicated by the species dissimilarity Jaccard being higher than the probability-based threshold) are similar across the estuarine, coastal and shelf demersal bands as well as the "All A" band (A cluster analysis of the results from these bands confirms the generality of this observation). These are in general different from the shelf pelagic band which has a restricted number of species, which as expected display much more extensive distributions in range than the other bands. The estuarine band is also somewhat exceptional in that whilst its major disjunctions follow those of the other bands, it is distinguished by having a greater number of minor disjunctions - and hence contains more information that would be of value in delimiting the subprovincial scale boundaries (which it is hoped will be conducted as a future extension of the current project).
The region of greatest change occurs in the 150 - 160 index range representing the West Australian coast from Perth up to the base of Shark Bay. The high species dissimilarity in the presence of massive diversity changes signals this region as being a complex zootone between a range of subtropical and temperate species.
The weak signals beyond the 200 index mark represents the paucity of accurate information available for the north-western Australia region and this region is a prime target for obtaining better data. The region between 120 - 150 does not reflect a lack of data but it is also a priority for further assessments of the accuracy of data sources.
Trends in the diversity patterns between the two groups are almost inverted images of each other - reflecting the general observation that whilst species richness is higher for the tropics, the highly endemic genera are primarily restricted to the temperate species. Hence, whilst diversity patterns for such areas as the Great Barrier Reef are high, the number of endemics for that region is not as high by comparison to temperate species of southern Australia. Diversity trends are reversed between the two groups, but in both groups, the region in which the species dissimilarity and diversity undergo large changes occur in primarily similar locations - in the southern coasts off NSW and WA. However, the western gradient is clearly much higher and reflects a west-east decline in diversity in the tropics.
For Tasmania, there are two clear regions of change: one on the NW coast (~ index 4) and another on the NE coast (~ indices 21 - 23). Proceeding south from the NE boundary, there is a gradual decline in diversity which plateaus at about index 9 (around Port Davey) and rises abruptly at the NW boundary. The species dissimilarity index does not peak above the threshold level within the gradual diversity decline section on the east coast although a few peaks are just below the threshold level; an indication of possible sub-provincial structuring.
14.2. Bass Strait Results
The application of the 2-D analysis procedure to the Bass Strait dataset (Figure 14-1) shows several boundary patterns mixed in amongst noise from boundary effects. Boundary effects arise largely from comparison of the land and water cells which obscures the true coastal boundaries. Despite this, there are clear patterns emerging although it must be noted that since the polygons were clipped with the standard bathymetric contours (0, 20m, 50m, ...) these would bias the 2-D representation of the results.
There is a clear large boundary on the NW of Tasmania in agreement with the string analysis; an inshore penetration of the boundary is also noticeable on the NE coast. The extensive, and high, species dissimilarity offshore boundaries on the east, reflect the cross-shelf depth-dependent structure in species distribution (which is partly captured in the string analysis via the explicit splitting of species according to the estuarine, coastal, shelf demersal etc. classification).
Boundaries are noticeable around the major islands and offshore coastal boundaries are also noticeable off NW Tasmania and the eastern half of Victoria.
Figure 14-1 2-D species dissimilarity plot for Bass Strait computed via the 2-D Jaccard analysis procedure. Note that regions of highest dissimilarity at the coast may simply reflect boundary effects (from cells that straddle land and water). The plot displays the absolute value of the 2-D Jaccard using a 2x2 subgrid cell structure (see main text for explanation). The "colorbar" display the scale of the computed absolute value.
14.3. Bioregion Demarcation and Interpretation
Following the general observations noted above, we decided to produce two regionalisations:
- A demersal regionalisation representing the results for the estuarine, coastal and shelf demersal bands, and,
- A pelagic regionalisation based on the shelf pelagic distribution.
The results of the objective analysis from the species dissimilarity trends were augmented by an interpretive analysis based on examining the range information for species from the coastal band for the demersal bioregions (dataset d3), and species from the shelf pelagic band for the pelagic bioregions (dataset d9). The coastal band being between the estuarine and shelf bands was taken as representing the general trends in the demersal bands. The interpretive analysis was based on examining the range distribution of those species whose start or stop coincided with the boundaries arising from the objective analysis. Apart from the coincidence, the analysis considered the origin of species distributions emanating (or stopping) at a boundary and the contiguity in species type defining that boundary. The characteristic length of species ranges was used to determine whether those species stopping at a boundary emanated from similar origins.
Those regions where unique groups of highly endemic species were present required special attention in view of their importance in biodiversity conservation. Such regions can often be masked amongst the larger scale provincial trends yet they contain biogeographically unique species which may be locally confined through paleohistoric events and restricted capability to spread. Such species and regions were identified through the interpretive analysis.
For each bioregion, the area in spatial extent and geographic location is described. This is followed by a list of Indicator Species which are examples of the species which characterise a bioregion; it is not a comprehensive, or unique, set of indicators for each bioregion. Refinement and additions to the list will require further analysis and upgrade of the datasets. The Remarks summarise the distinctive characteristics of the bioregion.
14.4. BioTax '96 Delphic Regionalisation
The delphic regionalisation from the BioTax '96 Workshop was presented in the May '96 Draft Report to ERIN (CSIRO, 1996). It must be stressed however that the BioTax '96 bioregions were derived in a restricted time frame in what was a fairly hectic workshop. Participants have not had the opportunity to revise the derived map, hence, it was presented here in its draft form as derived during the workshop. One common aspect of all three regionalisations is their recognition of both provincial bioregions as well as zootones.
14.5. Demersal Regionalisation
14.5.1. NP: Northern Province
Area: 805,000 km2 extending from just north of North West Cape to Cape York.
Indicator Species:
Large assemblage consisting of northern tropical species
Remarks: This Province is not demarcated by a suite of indicator species. It represents a core area traversed by a large suite of northern tropical fishes whose ranges extend variably down the eastern and western Australian coasts. The Gulf of Carpentaria is represented by a comparatively simple range of habitats (i.e. coral reef habitats and their faunas poorly represented) that may contain unique elements. A weak disjunction exists at Gove (northwestern tip of Gulf of Carpentaria) possibly indicating a boundary at the subprovincial level. Bounded in the east by a major faunal disjunction of the North Eastern Zootone (NEZ). Further work is needed to evaluate substructure within this Province and adjacent zootones.
14.5.2. NEZ: North Eastern Zootone
Area: 125,100 km2 extending from Cape York to Port Douglas/Cairns.
Indicator Species:
Corythoichthys intestinalis (Ramsay, 1881)
Corythoichthys ocellatus (Herald, 1953)
Corythoichthys schultzi (Herald, 1953)
Norfolkia squamiceps (McCulloch and Waite, 1916)
Corythoichthys paxtoni (Dawson, 1977)
Dentatherina merceri (Patten and Ivantsoff, 1983)
Atherinomorus capricornensis (Woodland, 1961)
Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853)
Remarks: Defined by a primary disjunction at Cape York. Consists of the northern limit of a small suite of tropical eastern endemics from the North Eastern Province (NEP) and the eastern limit of a large suite of widespread, stenothermal northern tropical species whose distributions originate well west of the Northern Province (NP) and North Western Zootone (NWZ).
14.5.3. NEP: North Eastern Province
Area: 144,000 km2 from Port Douglas/Cairns to Gladstone enclosing the southern portion of the Great Barrier Reef.
Indicator Species:
Similar species as for North Eastern Zootone (NEZ).
Remarks: Defined by eastern tropical endemics extending from the North Eastern Zootone (NEZ) to the Central Eastern Zootone (CEZ). Few provincial species extend south of the South Eastern Zootone (SEZ). Conforms with the Banksian Province of Whitley (1937).
14.5.4. CEZ: Central Eastern Zootone
Area: 60,670 km2 from Gladstone to Cape Byron in the south and the easternmost point of the Australian mainland.
Remarks: This zootone is characterised by a series of strong internal disjunctions that are likely to represent subprovincial structuring. Principal internal disjunctions occur between Gladstone and Bundaberg where a suite of tropical species radiate southward. Another disjunction occurs between the region south of Hervey Bay to Maroochydore where the distributions of a suite of southern species ceases. The southern limit of this zootone also coincides with a major disjunction between tropical and warm temperate species. The zootone is structurally dominated by elements of the North Eastern Province (NEP) and Central Eastern Province (CEP) but large suite of eurythermal widespread southern temperate species that originate from the Central Western Province (CWP) and South Western Zootone (SWZ) extend northward to the Central Eastern Zootone (CEZ).
14.5.5. CEP: Central Eastern Province
Area: 22,800 km2 from Cape Byron to Sydney
Indicator Species:
Urolophus sufflavus (Whitley, 1929)
Myxus petardi (Castelnau, 1875)
Craterocephalus honoriae (Ogilby, 1912)
Parma unifasciata (Steindachner, 1867)
Trygonoptera testacea (Muller and Henle, 1841)
Aptychotrema rostrata (Shaw and Nodder, 1794)
Crinodus lophodon (Gunther, 1859)
Austrolabrus maculatus (Macleay, 1881)
Heteroclinus whiteleggii (Ogilby, 1894)
Brachaelurus waddi (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)
Hyporhamphus australis (Steindachner, 1866)
Cochleoceps orientalis (Hutchins, 1991)
Urolophus sp A [in Last and Stevens, 1994]
Acanthistius cinctus (Gunther, 1859)
Scorpis violaceus (Hutton, 1873)
Asymbolus analis (Ogilby, 1885)
Acanthistius paxtoni (Hutchins and Kuiter, 1982)
Notolabrus inscriptus (Richardson, 1848)
Remarks: Strong Province coincident with the Peronian Province (Whitley, 1937) consisting of eastern warm temperate/subtropical species. Indicator species extend from Central Eastern Zootone (CEZ) to South Eastern Zootone (SEZ). Penetrated by tropical eastern Australian elements many of which occur extralimitally as juveniles at the southern margin of the Province. Also northeastern limit of large suite of widespread southern temperate species that extend west to the South Western Zootone (SWZ). Units of this province are also represented at Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.
14.5.6. SEZ: South Eastern Zootone
Area: 53,510 km2 from Sydney to east of Wilsons Promontory at its western edge and down south to Cape Portland and enclosing the Furneaux and the Kent Group of islands.
Remarks: Strongly dominated by elements of warm temperate species from Central Eastern Province (CEP). Exhibits less significant influence from elements of North Eastern Province (NEP), Tasmanian Province (TasP), and Bass Strait Province (BassP). Contains major a disjunction near Cape Howe. Extent of southward penetration of northern species may be determined by the extension of the warm East Australian Current water masses.
14.5.7. BassP: Bass Strait Province
Area: 70,630 km2 comprising the core of Bass Strait flanked by King Island in the west and the Furneaux and Kent Group of islands in the east. The northwestern margin is just east of Cape Otway and extends east to Wilsons Promontory. The southern limits extend along the Tasmanian coast from Cape Grim to Cape Portland.
Indicator Species:
Hypselognathus rostratus (Waite and Hale, 1921)
Kaupus costatus (Waite and Hale, 1921)
Stipecampus cristatus (McCulloch and Waite, 1918)
Ophiclinus gabrieli (Waite, 1906)
Trygonoptera sp B [in Last and Stevens, 1994]
Apopterygion alta (Kuiter, 1986)
Heteroclinus eckloniae (McKay, 1970)
Pseudaphritis sp [Last]
Remarks: Comprises a weak province defined by a small suite of narrow ranging endemic species confined to Bass Strait and adjacent zootones superimposed on a strong zootone where warm temperate elements from the Central Eastern Province (CEP) and South Western Province (SWP), cool temperate elements (TasP), and southern widespread temperate elements mix. The region is recognised on the basis of its small but unique indicator group which is important from a biodiversity conservation perspective.
14.5.8. TasP: Tasmanian Province
Area: 32,220 km2, extending from the north-eastern tip of Tasmania at Cape Naturaliste and encircling the west, south and east coasts up to Cape Grim at its north-western extremity
Indicator Species:
Raja lemprieri (Richardson, 1845)
Urolophus cruciatus (Lacepede, 1804)
Nesogobius sp 2 [in Last et al., 1983]
Notolabrus fucicola (Richardson, 1840)
Taratretis derwentensis (Last, 1978)
Aplodactylus arctidens (Richardson, 1839)
Crapatalus munroi (Last and Edgar, 1987)
Creocele cardinalis (Ramsay, 1882)
Heteroclinus wilsoni (Lucas, 1891)
Ammotretis lituratus (Richardson, 1843)
Heteroclinus perspicillatus (Valenciennes, 1836)
Heteroclinus johnstoni (Saville-Kent, 1886)
Heteroclinus puellarum (Scott, 1955)
Nesogobius hinsbyi (Johnston, 1903)
Kestratherina brevirostris (Pavlov, Ivantsoff, Last and Crowley, 1988)
Mitotichthys semistriatus (Kaup, 1856)
Mitotichthys mollisoni (Scott, 1955)
Tasmanogobius gloveri (Hoese, 1991)
Raja sp L [in Last and Stevens, 1994]
Mendosoma lineatum (Guichenot, 1848)
Remarks: Conforms with cool temperate Maugean Province (Whitley, 1937) with a core region south of Bass Strait. Most species extend westward into the Western Bass Strait Zootone (WBassZ) and Gulf Provinces (GulfP) and northward to the central part of the South-Eastern Zootone (SEZ). The province is penetrated along the eastern sector by elements of the Central Eastern Province (CEP) but species from the Bass Strait Province (BassP) or provinces further to the west are uncommon.
14.5.9. WBassZ: Western Bass Strait Zootone
Area: 57,780 km2, extends east from the South Australian Gulf Province (GulfP), penetrating past King Island to a southern limit at the north-western tip of Tasmania and a northern limit slightly north of Apollo Bay in Victoria.
Remarks: Defined by elements derived from the TasP and BassP to the east, as well as a small suite of extralimital species from the Central Eastern Province (CEP). Also contains elements from the South Western Province (SWP) and Gulf Provinces (GulfP).
14.5.10. GulfP: Spencer & St. Vincent Gulf Province
Area: 67,350 km2, comprising the gulfs of Spencer and St Vincent and enclosing Kangaroo Island. Extends out to the shelf break with a western boundary at Port Lincoln and an eastern edge just east of Kangaroo Island.
Indicator Species
Vanacampus vercoi (Waite and Hale, 1921)
Norfolkia cristata (Kuiter, 1986)
Filicampus tigris (Castelnau, 1879)
Urolophus orarius (Last and Gomon, 1987)
Campichthys tryoni (Ogilby, 1890)
Acentronura australe (Waite and Hale, 1921)
Remarks: A weak but unique province with a small endemic element and a relict element of sub-tropical species. Exhibits a strong disjunction and acts as a zootone for cool temperate species (TasP and BassP), and for a large suite of species from the South Western Province (SWP). The hypersaline and sub-tropical temperature conditions in the gulfs are unique to temperate Australia and probably enable this region to act as refugia for species further north. Once again, the unique relict nature of the region makes it worthy of recognition from a conservation standpoint.
14.5.11. GABZ: Great Australian Bight Zootone
Area: 200,000 km2 from Esperance in the west to Port Lincoln in the east.
Remarks: Weak zootone dominated by SWP species and embedded between this province and the Gulf Province (GulfP). A major disjunction exits near the Recherche Archipelago resulting from the western limit of a suite of wide ranging species from the Central Eastern Province (CEP) and the Tasmanian Province (TasP), and the eastern limits of the South Western Province (SWP). The zootone is also traversed by a large suite of wide ranging western warm temperate species that extend along the southern Australian coast to the Gulf Provinces (GulfP), Bass Strait Province (BassP) and the South Eastern Zootone (SEZ), and a suite of ubiquitous temperate Australian species that originate in the Central Eastern bioregions (CEZ and CEP).
14.5.12. SWP: South Western Province
Area: 52,040 km2, in the south-western from Perth to about Esperance.
Indicator Species:
Ophiclinops hutchinsi (George and Springer, 1980)
Ophiclinus pectoralis (George and Springer, 1980)
Cochleoceps viridis (Hutchins, 1991)
Parma bicolor (Allen and Larson, 1979)
Parma mccullochi (Whitley, 1929)
Aulohalaelurus labiosus (Waite, 1905)
Aspasmogaster occidentalis (Hutchins, 1984)
Urolophus circularis (McKay, 1966)
Urolophus lobatus (McKay, 1966)
Leptatherina wallacei (Prince, Ivantsoff and Poter 1982)
Platycephalus chauliodous (Knapp, 1991)
Torquigener vicinus (Whitley, 1930)
Acanthistius paxtoni (Hutchins and Kuiter, 1982)
Remarks: A major provincial region forming part of Whitley's (1937) Flindersian Province and part of Hutchin's (1994) Leeuwin Province which extends from Coral Bay in the north to the Recherche Archipelago, with a "core" region extending from Shark Bay to Albany.. The South Western Province (SWP) is defined by two primary distribution types: western warm temperate species that emerge from the South Western Zootone (SWZ) and extend into the Great Australian Bight Zootone (GABZ) and the Gulf Provinces (GulfP); and more widely distributed elements that extend from the South Western Zootone (SWZ) eastward into Bass Strait. A smaller suite of eurythermal species extend northward into the Central Western Zootone (CWZ). Major disjunctions exist at its western and eastern boundaries. Some species from the Central Western Province (CWP) extend southward to this region.
14.5.13. WZ: Western Zootone
Area: 23,120 km2 from Perth in the south to approximately Geraldton in the north.
Remarks: This most extraordinary marine zootone is characterised by strong disjunctions occurring throughout its range. An extensive region over which a range of western warm temperate species emanating from the South Western Province (SWP), Great Australian Bight Zootone (GABZ), the Gulf Provinces (GulfP), and the Bass Strait Province (BassP), and more widespread species from eastern regions (i.e. CEP, SEZ and CEZ) terminate. It is also the southern limit of a suite of western sub-tropical (CWZ) and tropical elements. Hutchin (1994) notes this region to be dominated by tropical elements at the northern end of the zootone with one category of tropical species (D) extending to the southern limit. Hutchins finds that warm-temperates dominate the bulk of the region with a lesser and more even spread of sub-tropical elements throughout the zootone.
14.5.14. CWP: Central Western Province
Area: 40,250 km2 from approximately Geraldton in the south to Carnarvon at the head of Shark Bay in the north.
Indicator Species:
Lissocampus fatiloquus (Whitley, 1943)
Batrachomoeus occidentalis (Hutchins, 1976)
Sillago vittata (McKay, 1985)
Colurodontis paxmani (Hutchins, 1977)
Torquigener paxtoni (Hardy, 1983)
Hypopterus macropterus (Gunther, 1859)
Maxillicosta lopholepis (Eschmeyer and Poss, 1976)
Festucalex scalaris (Gunther, 1870)
Narcine westraliensis (McKay, 1966)
Remarks: Defined by a suite of subtropical species that extend from the South Western Zootone (SWZ) and western sector of the South Western Province (SWP) to the Central Western Zootone (CWZ) and southern limits of the North Western Province (NWP). This faunal unit has been recognised by Hutchins (1994). Represents the southern part of Whitley's (1937) Damperian Province.
14.5.15. CWZ: Central Western Zootone
Area: 27,370 km2 from the mouth of Shark Bay to just north of North West Cape in the north.
Remarks: Northwestern limit of eurythermal southern temperate and SWP species, subtropical CWP species, and southern limits of NWP species and a suite of wider ranging tropical species.
14.5.16. NWP: North Western Province
Area: 156,400 km2 extending from just north of North West Cape to Cape York.
Indicator Species:
Urolophus westraliensis (Last and Gomon, 1987)
Squalus sp D [in Last and Stevens, 1994]
Squatina sp B [in Last and Stevens, 1994]
Dampierosa daruma (Whitley, 1932)
Atelomycterus fasciatus (Compagno and Stevens, 1993)
Rainfordia opercularis (McCulloch, 1923)
Raja sp D [in Last and Stevens, 1994]
Torquigener hicksi (Hardy, 1983)
Notograptus guttatus (Gunther, 1867)
Atelomycterus macleayi (Whitley, 1939)
Remarks: Region consisting of a large suite of widespread tropical species and a small provincial suite with its southern limit mainly in the Central Western Zootone (CWZ). Weak disjunction near Broome with some species extending north to Melville Island.
14.5.17. NWZ: North Western Zootone
Area: 380,900 km2 from just north of Broome to Darwin.
Remarks: Weak zootone with some mixing of northern species that extend across to the North Eastern Zootone (NEZ) and North Eastern Province (NEP), and species from the North Western Province (NWP) and Central Western Province (CWP). Once again transgressed by dominant tropical element.
14.6. Pelagic Regionalisation
Pelagic bioregions are characterised by extensive range distributions reflective of the extensive dispersal transport pathways and adaptations. Both western and eastern zootones are also extensive with correspondingly wide disjunctions. Bioregions comprise:
14.6.1. NP: Northern Province
Area: 1,390,000 km2 extending from just north of North West Cape in the west, encircling the tropical north and down the eastern coast to Dunk Island (which also corresponds to the southern boundary of the Cairns Section of the Great Barrier Reef).
Indicator Species:
Carangoides caeruleopinnatus (Ruppell, 1830)
Atule mate (Cuvier, 1833)
Ulua mentalis (Cuvier, 1833)
Gazza minuta (Bloch, 1797)
Leiognathus fasciatus (Lacepede, 1803)
Leiognathus smithursti (Ramsay and Ogilby, 1886)
Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793)
Carangoides talamparoides (Bleeker, 1852)
Remarks: Has approximately the same western origin in the west as the demersal North Western Province. The eastern section of the province encloses the Far Northern Section and Cairns Section of the Great Barrier Reef. Internal disjunctions within the province are weak and occur near Broome and in the midst of the Eighty Mile beach (south of Broome) and at Gove.
14.6.2. SP: Southern Province
Area: 482,000 km2 extending from near Albany in the west to Lakes Entrance in the east and enclosing Bass Strait and the Tasmanian waters.
Indicator Species:
Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788)
Seriola hippos (Gunther, 1876)
Thyrsites atun (Euphrasen, 1791)
Carcharhinus brachyurus (Gunther, 1870)
Argentina australiae (Cohen, 1958)
Macruronus novaezelandiae (Hector, 1871)
Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre, 1788)
Remarks: Largely comprised of Flindersean cool temperate species. The endpoint disjunctions also represent southern limits for warm temperates in the eastern and western zootones. Intra provincial disjunctions occur at Esperance and east of Point Dempster near the western edge of the Baxter Cliffs. In the east, disjunctions occur just east of Kangaroo Island and at Wilsons Promontory.
14.6.3. WZ: Western Zootone
Area: 119,000 km2 extending from near Albany in the south to just north of North West Cape.
Remarks: Represents the major termination zone for eastern tropical and temperates. Internal disjunctions within the zootone are numerous and mimic the structure reflected in the western part of the demersal regionalisation.
14.6.4. EZ: Eastern Zootone
Area: 161,000 km2 extending from Lakes Entrance in the south to Dunk Island in the north.
Remarks: Represents the major termination zone for western, southern and northern tropical and temperate species. Internal disjunctions within the zootone are numerous with the major ones occurring just north of Brisbane (Maroochydore), near Byron Bay, Sydney, Bermagui and Cape Howe.
Next Chapter: 15. Oceanographic Regionalisation