Marine Biological Survey of the Eastern Kimberley, Western Australia.

This report describes the results of the second of three expeditions planned to the Kimberley to document the marine flora and fauna of the area. The expedition took place in November 1995 with the assistance of a grant from the National Estates Grant Program. Nineteen stations were examined. Detailed notes are presented on the station locations and habitat types present. At each station seagrasses, algae, fish, and some invertebrate groups were collected and notes were made on mangroves in the area. Five areas of particular significance were found. These were: Cape Dommett; Jones Island; North side Jar Island, Vansittart Bay; Long Island, Vansittart Bay; Cape Londonderry. This report provides an extensive section outlining the coastal geomorphology of the northeastern Kimberley. There have been no published records of the marine algae which occur in the Kimberley. This report provides details of 92 species collected during the expedition, 31 of which overlapped with the 72 species collected in 1994. Coralline algae are poorly known and species in this group are currently being worked on taxonomically. Detailed descriptions of the mangrove flora of the region are provided. 265 species of molluscs, 180 crustaceans, and 190 species of fish were recorded. Potentially new species were found in several groups. Detailed collections were made of additional groups such as echinoderms. The taxonomy of many of the groups collected is poorly known. Material was obtained for specialists in particular groups in Australia and overseas. The material has been sorted and sent to the specialists for examination and determination of species. This work is complex and time consuming, so it has not been possible to provide identifications for this report. However, the material is currently being worked up and will be presented in the scientific literature when it has been completed.