Assessing the Effectiveness of Conservation Stocking for the Endangered White's Seahorse Hippocampus whitei

David Harasti; Mitchell Brennan; David J. Booth

doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.867352

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Assessing the Effectiveness of Conservation Stocking for the Endangered White's Seahorse Hippocampus whitei

Journal article

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Assessing the Effectiveness of Conservation Stocking for the Endangered White's Seahorse Hippocampus whitei

David Harasti, Mitchell Brennan and David J. Booth

Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.9, 867352

22/06/2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.867352

Appears in Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

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Abstract

captive-bred

mark-resight

restocking

reintroduction

threatened species

syngnathidae

The White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei was listed as an Endangered species in 2020 on Australian state and federal legislation, as a result of population declines across its range attributed to habitat loss over the past decade. A captive-bred reintroduction program has been implemented as a possible management tool for species recovery, however, the viability of such a reintroduction program for seahorses has not been assessed to date. This study implemented a pilot captive-breeding program using adult H. whitei from Sydney Harbour, Australia, as brood stock. A total of 90 captive-bred seahorses were released into the wild on two different artificial habitat types ("seahorse hotels" and protective swimming net). Following release, a monthly post-release monitoring program was implemented for 12 months that involved underwater visual census surveys of the tagged seahorses. Sightings of captive-bred seahorse numbers were found to gradually decline over the 12-month period, with fewer seahorses found on the swimming net compared to the seahorse hotels and higher resighting probability of captive-bred animals on the seahorse hotels. After 12 months, 20% of the captive-bred seahorses were detected on the seahorse hotels, whilst two individuals were still observed 18 months after release on the hotels. Only 2% of captive-bred seahorses were observed on the swimming net after 12 months, with two individuals still detected on the net after two years. Nine of the captive-bred seahorses were found to reproduce in the wild, with two individuals observed mating with the wild population. This pilot study indicates that captive-bred seahorses can survive for up to two years in the wild, as well as contribute to local population recovery through reproductive success. However, while conservation stocking shows promise as a potential management tool to assist with threatened seahorse species recovery, there are several factors such as existing threats to the species that need to be addressed before such a program is implemented.

Details

Title: Assessing the Effectiveness of Conservation Stocking for the Endangered White's Seahorse Hippocampus whitei
Creators: David Harasti - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Taylors Beach)
Mitchell Brennan - University of Technology Sydney
David J. Booth - University of Technology Sydney
Publication Details: Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.9, 867352
Publisher: Frontiers Media Sa
Number of pages: 11
Identifiers: 991013125985002368
Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Assessing the Effectiveness of Conservation Stocking for the Endangered White's Seahorse Hippocampus whitei

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