Smith, Achilleos, Gordon: Distribution patterns of shelf bryozoans around southern Aotearoa New Zealand

The area of southern Aotearoa New Zealand, from Fiordland, Foveaux Strait and Otago southwards to Snares Platform is a well-known bryozoan hotspot, with fewer species known from the shelves around Auckland and Campbell Islands further south. Over 350 bryozoan species have been reported from this region, principally from monographs in the 1980s, augmented by a shelf dredging programme conducted by the University of Otago. We have, to date, 158 University of Otago and 71 NIWA stations in the region from 44°S to 53°S latitude, 165°E to 172°E longitude, in water depths ranging from 6 to 1003 m. A list of 359 bryozoan species was collated from 229 stations, based on published and unpublished distribution data. The 43 commonest species (15 occurrences) were mapped using ArcGIS® Pro and grouped into four common distribution patterns. Accurate distribution information allows for active conservation of these small but important sessile invertebrates, via habitat protection and management of bottom disturbance.新西兰奥特亚罗瓦南部区域，即从峡湾地区（Fiordland）、福沃海峡（Foveaux Strait）与奥塔哥（Otago）向南延伸至斯奈尔斯平台（Snares Platform）的海域，是知名的苔藓虫（bryozoan）热点分布区，而更南侧的奥克兰群岛与坎贝尔岛周边陆架区域已知的苔藓虫物种则相对较少。该区域已记录苔藓虫物种超过350种，相关数据主要源自1980年代的专著记录，奥塔哥大学开展的陆架拖网采样项目进一步补充了这些数据。截至目前，本研究在该区域（纬度44°S至53°S、经度165°E至172°E，水深6~1003米）共收集到158个奥塔哥大学采样站位与71个NIWA采样站位的数据。基于已发表与未发表的分布数据，研究团队从229个采样站位中整理汇编得到一份包含359种苔藓虫的物种名录。研究利用ArcGIS® Pro软件对出现频次≥15次的43个优势苔藓虫物种进行了空间制图，并将其划分为4种典型分布格局。精准的物种分布信息可为通过栖息地保护与海底扰动管控来主动保护这些体型微小却至关重要的固着无脊椎动物提供科学支撑。