New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Recruitment to the macrobenthos of Macomona liliana (Bivalvia: Tellinidae) in Manukau Harbour, New Zealand
D.S. ROPER R. D. PRIDMORE S.F. THRUSH
Water Quality Centre National Institute of Water and
Atmospheric Research Ltd P.O. Box 11-115 Hamilton, New Zealand
Abstract
The population biology of the wedge shell
Macomona liliana (Iredale, 1915) was studied at six sites on intertidal sandflats in Manukau Harbour over 2 years. Differences were found in the densities of bivalves between sites, and at each site large seasonal fluctuations in densities were also observed. Within-site density fluctuations were mainly the result of changes in the numbers of juveniles (< 5 mm long). Length-frequency distributions were dominated by a single mode associated with new recruits. The only major inter-site difference was the scarcity of large bivalves at one site. Recruitment to the macrobenthos occurred over an extended period (summer to late winter or spring), but with markedly different levels of recruitment in the two successive years. Length-frequency plots indicated that growth in the first year was 2-3 mm. The possible involvement of hydrodynamics, inter- and intraspecific interactions, and pollution on recruitment, and the importance of mortality and migration to post-settlement survival are discussed.
Keywords Macomona liliana; macrobenthos; Manukau Harbour; marine mollusc; recruitment
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1992, Vol. 26:385-392 The Royal Society of New Zealand 1992
Received 4 September 1991; accepted 19 June 1992
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (575K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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