Marine Biodiversity Studies by Clarrie Handreck and the Marine Research Group

2010·1.2 MB·English

by  Robin Wilson

In memory ofClarrieHandreck
Marine biodiversity studies by Clarrie Handreck
and the Marine Research Group
Robin Wilson
SciencesDepartment,MuseumVictoria
GPOBox666,Melbourne,Victoria3001.Email:[email protected]
Abstract
TheMarineResearchGroup(MRG),aspecialinterestgroupoftheFieldNaturalistsClubofVictoria,makesig-
nificantcontributionstoourknowledgeofmarinebiodiversityinVictoriaandAustralia. Someofthosecontri-
butionsarehighlighted,asisthecloseandproductiverelationshipwith MuseumVictoriaandtheroleplayed
byaleadingmemberoftheMRG,thelateClarrieHandreck.{VieVictorianNaturalist127(6),2010,224-227}
Keywords: marinebiodiversity, amateurnaturalists,taxonomy
ThisissueofTheVictorianNaturalistcommem- their knowledge; and, finally, a willingness to
orates Clarrie Handreck in a most appropriate impart that knowledge to others. I would like
way, by bringing together original contribu- towritea littleofthesequalities.
tions to our knowledge ofmarine biodiversity The Marine Researcli Group includes many
inVictoria. Knowledgeofthediversityandnat- highlyskilledobserverswToselocaltaxonomic
uralhistoryofthemarinelifeofour regionhas knowledge,especiallyoftheintertidalandshal-
been a life-long goal ofClarrie Handreck and low marine fauna, is without peer. Although
ofthe manylike-mindedcolleagueswho make theirachievements are as‘amateurs’, thatword
up the Marine Research Group (MRG), aSpe- is accurate only in the sense that they are un-
cialInterestGroupoftheFieldNaturalistsClub paid.Manyhavewell-deservednationalandin-
of Victoria {www.fncv.org.au/marine.htm). A ternational reputations in the taxonomic com-
numberofcontributionshereaddsignificantly munityandhavediscoveredandgivenscientific
to our knowledgeofmarine molluscs andpyc- names to many new species. Compilation ofa
nogonids, yet these are only the tip ofan im- completelistofthespecies theyhavedescribed
mense iceberg of knowledge accumulated by wouldbe voluminousandbeyondthescope of
Clarrie and his colleagues over manydecades. this article, but a number must be mentioned
Theaimofthisarticleistoshowthegreatvalue and1includeafewtokencitationsoftheirpub-
ofthesecontributions;tocommentnotonlyon lished work. Robert Burn, whose initiative has
thetip,butontherestoftheiceberg. resulted in this volume, has by my count (and
ApictureofClarrieiswell-paintedinthecon- includingthe new species described in this is-
tributions ofChris Rowley and ofMichael Ly- sue)described61 localspeciesofopisthobranch
ons. Hewas ahighly motivated naturalist with molluscs (nudibranchsandtheirrelatives). The
strong social and environmental morals and a recently-published checklist (Burn 2006) in-
commitment to learning more about marine cludes still more new species recognised but
life, and sharing that knowledge and enthu- awaitingdescription. Phillip Bockis renowned
siasm with others. Clarrie w^as the unofficial as a bryozoan (lace coral) taxonomist, expert
but universally acknowledged ‘General’ ofthe onbothfossilandlivingforms(BockandCook
MRG,andtheirvalues,goalsandachievements 2004). MarkO’Loughlin has describednumer-
are so closelysharedthat it isdilficult tospeak ous species ofsea stars and holothurians and
ofonewithoutincludingtheother. hascollaboratedwithmanyoverseascolleagues
All the enduring qualities ofClarrie and the (O’LoughlinandWaters2004) tobetter under-
MRG are in evidence in this volume, and in stand the reproduction and genetics of these
theirwiderw'ork:afascinationwithnaturalhis- echiiioderms. David Staples is a ta.xonomist
tory; a strong interest in taxonomy; recognis- and photographer who is expert in pycnogo-
ing and distinguishing species ofmarine life; nids (so-called sea spiders’ although pycnogo-
a deep desire to make a permanent record of nids and arachnids are only distantly related)
224 TheVictorianNaturalist
In memory ofClarrieHandreck
(Staples2002). Jan Watsonhasaninternational ally, no-one able to recognise species newly
reputation as a taxonomist expert in hydroids introduced fromother harbours. Ifwe wantto
(Vervoort and Watson 2003). Many more understandVictoriasmarinelife fully,weneed
could be listed, including many with special- theMRG.
istknowledge ofgastropod molluscs including Another quality that is deeply embedded in
Cypraeidae, Marginellidae, Turridae and oth- the MRG, and was especially evident in Clar-
ers.Manyoftheabovehavehadparallelcareers rie Handreck, is a desireto make apermanent
in related professional fields, but it is in the record of their knowledge. Their many pub-
guise ofMRG members that their taxonomic lished scientific papers are one way in which
skillshavebeengeneratedandpublished. Clar- this is achieved (a tiny fraction is cited at the
rie Handreck himselfdid not describe species end of this article). Many members of the
and, humble to a fault, would claim his ama- Group were sought out to contribute chapters
teur’statusifpressed.Yethewasthecatalystfor to theinvaluablethreevolumeMarineInverte-
much work that eventually became published brates ofSouthern AustraHuy which is still the
by others. Clarrie knew the local tauna better closestthingwehavetoacomprehensivesum-
than most andwasoften quickest to recognise mary ofthe marine invertebrate life ofsouth-
something apparently new, more than one of ern Australia (Bock 1982; Watson 1982; Burn
whichnowbearshisnameinrecognition,such 1989; Staples 1997). Another was the Coastal
as Pagurixus handrecki^ a hermit crab (Gunn Invertebrates of Victoria - an atlas ofselected
and Morgan 1992). The enthusiasm of Clar- species, published in 1984 (Phillips etal 1984)
rie and colleagues is such that the MRG con- butlong unavailable until thankfully reprinted
tinues to foster others to gain and share new in a revised edition in 2006. TheAtlaswas the
expertise. The result is to be seen in this is- outcome ofa carefully planned survey ofVic-
sue, with contributions from Joan Hales, Alan torian marine life, targeting a carefully chosen
Monger, Audrey Falconerand Platon Vafiadis, list ofcommon and readily identified species
all havingbeen actively encouraged by Clarrie which were subject to census throughout the
Handreck.AndtheGroupincludesmanymore Victorian coast. Clarrie was a prime architect
individualsbesides. ofthefield workdemanded bythe projectand
Collectively, the knowledge and published ofpublication ofboth editions. The Atlas was
MRG
works of the represent a very signifi- a far-sighted project which generated data in-
cant part ofVictoria and Australia’s capability valuabletoscienceandtoenvironmentalman-
in marine biodiversity studies. Without MRG agers, and anticipated by decades the current
members,inmo.stcasestherewouldbenooth- efforts to make distribution maps of species
erperson in ourregion with expertknowledge ranges available via websites such as Online
ofmanykindsofmarineinvertebrates.Noneof Zoological Collections ofAustralian Museums
the staffofMuseum Victoria has expertise in (OZCAM; www.ozcam.org.aula*id theAtlasof
theorganismsinwhichMRGmembersspecial- Living Australia (ALA; www.ala.org.au). The
iseand, in mostcases,nordo thestaffofother collections and databases ofMuseum Victoria
Australiannaturalhistorymuseums. Australia’s (and other Australian museums) are the irre-
marine life isso diverse that no realistic muse- placeable data source on which OZCAM and
umbudgetcouldeverhopetoemploysufficient ALA,andtheMRGs 1984Atlasarebased.And
expert scientists. Wesimplymustrelyon many itis thesecollectionsthataretheotherperma-
honoraryexperts (I shall desist from usingthe nentlegacyofClarrie HandreckandtheMRG.
misleadingterm amateurs’) and thus Museum Clarrie and his colleagues always embraced
Victoria isverypleased thatmanyMRG mem- the philosophythat is the reason for existence
bers have accepted Honorary Associate status ofnatural history museums and their collec-
at the Museum. Without the MRG, for many tions: no new species, no vScientific paper, no
kinds of marine life we would have no-one distribution map, can be considered authori-
capable ofauthoritatively identifying the local tative unless linked to preserved specimens
fauna, no-one with the ability to describe the sitting on the shelf of a museum collection.
new species that are beingdiscoveredcontinu- Those specimens are preserved in perpetuity
Voll27 (6) 2010 225
In memory ofClarrieHandreck
and are always available for critical study by cal SocietyofAustralasia, Marine StudyGroup
researchersthroughoutAustraliaandtheworld. ofVictoriaandUnderwaterResearch Group of
Clarrie Handreck and his colleagues laboured Victoria, whomhe met at local meetings. (The
prodigiously over many years to ensure that Malacological Society of Australasia remains
thissourceofverificationwouldbeascomplete an active organisation with many members in
and usefulaspossible,and theMRGcontinues commonwith theMRG.)Throughouttheearly
that etfort still, contributing many volunteer evolution ofthe Group it was Brian Smithwho
hourseveryweektohelpcareforMuseumVic- fostered the enthusiasm and development of
toria collections and to build associated data- members and encouraged them to specialise
baserecords. andtopublishtheirdiscoveries. In lateryears,it
This article does not attempt to be a history wasClarrie Handreckwho mostoften tookthe
oftheMRG,yetashorthistorical digression is initiative to marshal the considerable forces of
calledfor. Initially,theMarineResearchGroup theMRGinsupportofMuseumVictoriacollec-
existed as a group known as the Marine Study tions. Itisapleasuretoreportthat thetradition
Group of Victoria, which had its inaugural continueswithanewgenerationofMRG mem-
meetingon4 February 1957.Clarrie Handreck bers, including contributors to this special is-
was not among the founding members, but I sue.The‘MuseumWorkdays initiated by Brian
think first became active in the Group in the Smithin 1967continuetothisday:43yearsand
early 1970s. The Marine Research Group of counting.
Victoriawas inauguratedon 25 March 1980by Inmyopinion,thereasonthat theMRGcon-
amalgamation with the Underwater Research tinues to flourish and to publish is due to an-
GroupofVictoria,acontemporarygroupofin- other quality ofClarrie Handreck and found-
dividualswithanenthusiasmfornaturalhistory ing members: they all had and still have an
whowerealso SCUBA divers. On 10 February eager willingness to impart their knowledge
1997, a special General Meeting approved the and skills to others, and are always generous
dissolution oftheMarine Research Groupand with their time. Clarrie and at least one other
simultaneousmergerwith theFieldNaturalists member, Mark O’Loughlin, were professional
ClubofVictoria. educators and at times took their students on
Withsomanysharedgoals,itwasnaturalthat tripstoremoteplacesthatwouldbeimpossible
Clarrie and the then Marine Study Group of in todays more tightly managed schools, but
Victoriawouldform anearlyrelationship with were no doubt formative for those lucky stu-
the then National Museum of Victoria (now dents at the time. Many MRG colleagues have
Museum Victoria). Many present and past similar skills as teachers ofnatural history. To
staffat theMuseum, notablySue Boydand CC jointhemonaforayontherockplatformatlow
Lu, have been active in continuing to support tide was to see infectious enthusiasm for their
the close relationship with the MRG, but it is subject. Worthy environmental morals were
another of my predecessors at the Museum, alsodisplayed: there wasno collectingwithout
the late Dr Brian Smith, who deserves special goodreason and,ofcourse,avalidpermit. It is
mention for having the vision and confidence nowonderthatsomanynewxomerstothefield
to initiate the relationship. It was Brian who responded positively to a teaching style that
commenced, in July 1967, monthly Saturday somehowsimultaneouslyachievedbothhumil-
‘MuseumWorkdays inwhichtheMarineStudy ity and authority. Thislegacy is clearly evident
Group ofVictoria would work alongside Mu- in thecurrent membershipoftheMRG, andin
seum staffto simultaneously build their own thisspecialissue.
expertise and the collections ofthe Museum. Noneofthiswouldbepossiblewithoutadeep
Brian, himselfan expert in land snails, recog- fascination with natural history, for it is that
nisedthat the Museumwouldneverbe ableto enthusiasm thatisbehindall theachievements
employscientificstaffwithexpertiseinallkinds ofClarrie HandreckandoftheMRG,asitisof
of animals. He also recognised the genuine theFieldNaturalistsClubofVictoriaandnatu-
knowledgeandenthusiasmformarine lifethat ralists everywhere. That enthusiasm, shared
was displayed by members ofthe Malacologi- by both professional biologists and honorary
226 TheVictorianNaturalist
.
In memory ofClarrieHandreck
experts everywhere, is what makes the close O’LoughlinPMandWatersJM(2004)Amolecularandmor-
relationship between the MRG and Museum pmhaotlao:gAisctaelroriedveias)i.onMeomfogiernseroafMoufsAestuemriVniicdtaoeri(aE6c1h,in1o-d4e0r.-
Victoria a natural and productive partnership. PhillipsDAB,HandreckCP,BockPE,BurnR,SmithBJand
Longmayitcontinue. aStnapaltelassDoAfse(leedcst)ed(s1p9e8c4ie)s.Co(aMsatrailnIenRveersteeabrrcahteGsroofuVpicotforViiac--
toriaandMuseumofVictoria:Melbourne)
References StaplesDA(1997)Seaspidersorpycnouonids(PhylumAr-
Botpcap)k..P3I1nE9M-(a13r99i842n)eEdBIsnrvyeoSrzAtoeabSrnhasetep(shPeohrfydlSuoaumntdhBerIryMnozATouhasotmoraarlsiE.act(PoHaparrtnodc/--, Pt(ahHrratonpIdoIbdLao)op.kp.sIn1C0oM4ma0mr-ii1tn0t7e2e.IenvoeEfrdttsehbeSrAaStoeSushtehopfhASeuorsutdtrhaalenirdannMAGuoDsatvvreiarelnsi-.a
bAdoeolkasidCeo)mmittee ofthe South Australian Government: Stampelnets:DAdAel(a2i0d0e2)) Pycnogonum (Pycnogonida: Pycnogoni-
BossccekhuamPreEVlilacintnodirdiCaaeo6o(1Bk,ryP1o3Lz5o-(a12:0802C4.h)eiAlorsetvoimeawtao)f.AMusetmroailriasnoCfoMnue-- VedMraeveom)ooriftrrsoWmofaAMnudsutsWraealtuismaownViitJcnEto(rd2ie0as0c53r9)i,pTt5ih4oe1n-Ms5a5or3fi.tnweoFanuenwasopfecNieesw.
BuI7rn2n5M-Ra7r8(i81n.9e89EI)dnsvOepSritAsebtSrhahotebeprshaeonfrcdhSsoaun(tdShuebIrcMnlaATsuhssotOmrpaailssi.at.h(oPSbaorruattnhcUh,Aiuaps)p.-. WaZdtresoaioldnasn)Jd.E:N(LI1e9pW8tA2o)tBhHieovcddairtvoaeir(sdiCstnyi(dCMaleramisaso:iHrHydy1rd1or9zo,ozao1)-a.5)3I8(n.ThMeacraitneeHIyn--
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ClarrieHandreckpicturedatthemicroscope,CapeConranMRGextendedfieldtrip,February2006.
Voll27 (6) 2010 227