Threatened reef corals of the world

10.1371/journal.pone.0034459PLoS ONE73

Data Descriptor: Underwater recordings of the whistles of bottlenose dolphins in Fremantle Inner Harbour, Western Australia

© The Author(s) 2017. Dolphins use frequency-modulated whistles for a variety of social functions. Whistles vary in their characteristics according to context, such as activity state, group size, group composition, geographic location, and ambient noise levels. Therefore, comparison of whistle characteristics can be used to address numerous research questions regarding dolphin populations and behaviour. However, logistical and economic constraints on dolphin research have resulted in data collection biases, inconsistent analytical approaches, and knowledge gaps. This Data Descriptor presents an acoustic dataset of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) whistles recorded in the Fremantle Inner Harbour, Western Australia. Data were collected using an autonomous recorder and analysed using a range of acoustic measurements. Acoustic data review identified 336 whistles, which were subsequently measured for six key characteristics using Raven Pro software. Of these, 164 'high-quality' whistles were manually measured to provide an additional five acoustic characteristics. Digital files of individual whistles and corresponding measurements make this dataset available to researchers to address future questions regarding variations within and between dolphin communities

Epiphytism of Gracilaria cliftonii (Withell, Millar & Kraft) from Western Australia

Epiphytism in Gracilaria is a common phenomena observed in natural populations and under culture conditions. Generally, epiphytes are attached superficially to the surface of the host however, genera such as Polysiphonia spp. and Ceramium spp. can penetrate into the host tissue affecting its growth and hence productivity. The present paper aims to identify and quantify epiphyte abundance and characterise their attachment and penetration on the natural populations of Gracilaria cliftonii collected from Shoalwater Marine Park, Perth, Western Australia. G. cliftonii samples were collected monthly for 1 year and their epiphytes were identified. Histological studies of G. cliftonii were also performed on epiphyte attachment sites. Twenty-four species of macroalgae epiphytes were recorded, 21 belonging to Rhodophyta and 3 to Chlorophyta. Hypnea episcopalis and Polysiphonia forfex were the dominant (p<0.05) species during the sampling period. The maximum epiphytic load was observed in October (40%), however, the maximum diversity of epiphytes was recorded in September and February (n=14). Light and scanning electron microscopy studies of the epiphyte attachment sites revealed that P.forfex and Ceramium isogonum penetrated into the cortex and outer medulla of G. cliftonii, while Bryopsis plumosa and Laurencia clavata altered the cellular structure of the cell wall of G. cliftonii