ASFB Home > 2003 > Biological Invasions: Consequences for Parasites, Pathogens, Emerging Diseases, and Fisheries in the Marine Environment.

Origins of New Zealand goby species

Kendall D. Clements, Tony Hickey and Shane Lavery

School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Email: k.clements@auckland.ac.nz

At least two species of gobies have been introduced to New Zealand waters. The Australian bridled goby, Acentrogobius bifrenatus, was reported from the Hauraki Gulf and the Waitemata Harbour by Willis and coworkers in 1999. More recently, Francis and coworkers showed that (a) A. bifrenatus is more widespread in northeastern New Zealand than first thought and appears well established, and (b) the Asian goby, "Acentrogobius pflaumii", was also present in the Waitemata and Whangapoua Harbours. These two invasive populations are most likely to have been transported in ballast water collected in Australian ports, where A. bifrenatus occurs naturally and "A. pflaumii" has been introduced. Two other goby species, Favonigobius exquisitus and F. lentiginosus, are also well established in New Zealand. Both species are considered to have conspecific populations in Australia, although these taxonomic relationships are uncertain. The taxonomic identity of "A. pflaumii" is also uncertain, as this name applies to as many as three species in the Northwest Pacific. At present, the endemic Gobiopsis atrata is the only New Zealand goby species that is certainly indigenous, and for which the taxonomy is stable. We are producing reference gene sequences to (a) investigate the systematic relationships of New Zealand goby populations, (b) determine whether the level of genetic variation in these populations is suggestive of recent introduction, and (c) potentially identify source populations of invasive species. Our work to date suggests considerable misidentification of these fishes using morphological characters.

Room 1 Monday 11.40 am