Patrik Good It was never my intention to do stats on my branching - too much work. Not very motivated, I still started it in September 2011, at the beginning of my Gold Coast Seaway branching career. I always thought that I did these stats in order to gain an understanding on branchs. A couple of months ago, and with the imminent danger of loosing my dive site to a cruise ship terminal, I started to realise that I am actually doing site research and branch epidemiology. Diving became more and more interesting with pattern showing in the relatively short time of this research. Today, I was very excited about having my stats available as a reference. Last week I found the pictured critter. I instantly knew that it resembles the very abundant Noumea simplex but that it was different, just a gut feeling first. I am confident that I found the correct ID. It is Ardeadoris carlsoni. I think this critter is not often spotted at the Seaway. My stats show only show one record of it. The really amazing detail is that this was almost exactly one year ago. This might not sound that world changing to many branchers. But to me it seems to confirm my hypothesis that there are indeed patterns in branch occurence at the Gold Coast Seaway that repeat every year (or at least in years with heavy Summer rains). With a data basis of only two years of amateur research no robust findings can be presented yet. But I'd like to encourage serious, professional or amateur branchers to recognise the importance of dive site related research and their stats. Also, but I am a bit biased there, I would postulate that the Gold Coast Seaway is an exceptionally important place for research. The suspected eradication of the whole branch population in rainy years and its following repopulation might give an excellent baseline not only for researching branchs but also for research into biodiversity and climate change. I am not sure if marine biologist have already developed an understanding on how a repopulation occurs, how branch migration works and if the pattern that I (and I think the other one or two serious Seaway experts too) am finding at the Seaway are indeed not just coincidence. I would certainly encourage interested people into having a closer look at what happens at the Seaway, share and coordinate their findings. I would encourage you to have a closer look at your dive sites, maybe start stats and figure out what the interesting questions are, trying to find answers and maybe share it here. Branch names, descriptions, DNA analysis and reclassifications are one thing, site observation and research a different one. And they might both inspire each other.
Details of this find: No. 65; Ardeadoris carlsoni; 3/5/2013; 15:49 hrs; size 12mm; depth 4.4 metres; 24 degrees water temperature; 10 metres visibility.
Gary Cobb Yes Patrik I would agree!
Ashley Missen That is why I created Nudibase in the first place any why stats and full info is so important. Cheers Ash
Patrik Good 12/5/2012 Nightdive Southport Seaway, 3 metres, 23 degree, size about 10mm. Is this Noumea simplex? Am a bit confused with the yellow border. Found one similar on nudibranch.com.au but would appreciate a confirmation or the proper ID.
Deb Aston Looks like Noumea simplex to me.
Gary Cobb I would say this very well could be Glossodoris carlsoni Rudman, 1986
Patrik Good Thanks, Deb.
Patrik Good Hmm, need to investigate then as it might be No. 99 for the Seaway if I am not mistaken. Thanks, Gary.
Gary Cobb Nice work!
Patrik Good Due to the lack of regular white specks in the mantle (and of me collecting this critter) we have decided that the hunt for No. 99 is still open at the Seaway.
Patrik Good 6 Opisthobranchs found that dive: Chromodoris cf. reticulata (1), Hydatina physis (3), Glossodoris carlsoni without official status (1), Discodoris palma (2), Goniodoridella sp. 1 (1), Favorinus japonicus (1). The beautiful nudi spawn eating Favorinus japonicus looked very healthy, big and was crawling fast. Didn't find the usual abundancy of Goniodoridellas.
Patrik Good Placomapherus ceylonicus, size 25mm, depth 4 metres, Seaway Southport QLD, 10/3/2012, nightdive. This is another survivor striving in the changed conditions. Only spotted twice before personally, once only on a picture after the dive. They are well camouflaged and normally hard to see. But now, I found 5 different individuals at 5 different spots in one dive. Brown in brown but the red dots stick out in the boring surroundings. It's so sad not finding the old variety of nudis that I was tempted to give this guy a hug. At least he got a bit of attention by my torch and my camera flashlight. It's the second nudi species back at this site (not sure if I can count Scyllaea pelagica as the third and Bullina lineata as forth), two more species (probably Chromodoris geographica and Noumea simplex) were found further towards the open sea.
Patrik Good Actually, I found 17 opisthobranch species on this dive. Here is the problem ID: Gold Coast Seaway, Australia, depth 2 metres, size 7mm. Any help appreciated. Sorry, no clear photo. But I collected it and it clearly shows black or dark brown rhinophores.
Patrik Good Doublecounted one. Here is the list @ 16/8/2012: Aeolidiella alba (7), Bullina lineata (4), Ceratosoma tenue (1), Elysia ? (1), Goniobranchus albonares (5), Goniobranchus decorus (10), Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus (1), Goniobranchus geometricus (10), Goniodoridella sp. 1 (10), Gymnodoris alba (1), Hydatina physis (1), Hypselodoris obscura (20), Micromelo undulata (1), Noumea simplex, two colour variations (5), Thorunna sp. (2), Trinchesia yamasui (1)
Erwin Koehler I' d like to do a guess on what I see: Elysia sp.
Gary Cobb Because of the quality of the photo I would say Elysia sp. too!
Patrik Good Thank you, Erwin and Gary. Certainly not easy to ID based on this photo.
Patrik Good 12/5/2012 Nightdive Southport Seaway, 3 metres, 23 degree, size about 10mm. Is this Noumea simplex? Am a bit confused with the yellow border. Found one similar on nudibranch.com.au but would appreciate a confirmation or the proper ID.
Deb Aston Looks like Noumea simplex to me.
Gary Cobb I would say this very well could be Glossodoris carlsoni Rudman, 1986
Patrik Good Thanks, Deb.
Patrik Good Hmm, need to investigate then as it might be No. 99 for the Seaway if I am not mistaken. Thanks, Gary.
Gary Cobb Nice work!
Patrik Good Due to the lack of regular white specks in the mantle (and of me collecting this critter) we have decided that the hunt for No. 99 is still open at the Seaway.
Patrik Good 6 Opisthobranchs found that dive: Chromodoris cf. reticulata (1), Hydatina physis (3), Glossodoris carlsoni without official status (1), Discodoris palma (2), Goniodoridella sp. 1 (1), Favorinus japonicus (1). The beautiful nudi spawn eating Favorinus japonicus looked very healthy, big and was crawling fast. Didn't find the usual abundancy of Goniodoridellas.
