Ostracod fauna associated with sublittoral kelp forest vegetation at Windang Island, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Sublittoral kelp forests, such as those occupying the wave-dominated shallow marine rocky substrata around Windang Island, New South Wales, provide an important habitat for ostracods. This is reflected in the diverse biocoenotic assemblage (69 species, including one new genus and three new species) and populations of juveniles recorded from this area. The thanatocoenotic assemblage contributes a further 37 ostracod species. The total assemblage is more diverse than, and has only 17 species in common with, the previously documented intertidal biocoenotic assemblages around Windang Island. The distribution of the more abundant ostracod species reflects the energy levels within the environment, with a greater proportion of smooth-shelled forms occurring in the higher-energy zones at shallow depths. Most of the thanatocoenose population represents species moved up from the deeper shelf or into the region from the adjacent tidal channel into Lake Illawarra, rather than species from the intertidal region around Windang Island.