New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance and composition of ichthyoplankton in a large South Island, New Zealand river estuary

DARIN L. SUTHERLAND^*
GERARD P. CLOSS⁺

Department of Zoology
University of Otago
P. O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
email: gerry.closs@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

^*Present address: Centre for Biodiversity and  Ecology Research, Department of Biological  Sciences, University of Waikato, P. O. Box 3105,  Hamilton, New Zealand.

Abstract  Larval and juvenile fish drifting on ebb tides were collected from early summer to mid autumn at various locations in the Taieri River and Waipori River estuary, South Island, New Zealand. A total of seven species of fish were recorded, however only three species were regularly collected. These were the larval common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus McDowall), larval inanga (Galaxias maculatus Jenyns), and postlarval cockabully (Tripterygion nigripenne Valenciennes). Common bully densities were highest in mid January, with the highest densities being recorded drifting out of Lake Waihola. Inanga densities were highest in March and April, with the highest densities being recorded in the channels draining wetland areas where extensive tidal inundation of riparian vegetation occurred. Cockabully were recorded from February to April, mostly at more downstream sites. Inland penetration by marine species was considerable, with two marine species, clingfish (Trachelochismus pinnulatus Forster) and smooth leatherjacket (Parika scaber Forster), being recorded c. 12 km upstream in late summer.

Keywords  larval fish; estuaries; diadromy; migration; spatial and temporal variation; Galaxias maculatus; Gobiomorphus; ichthyoplankton

⁺Author for correspondence.
M00076
Received 20 October 2000; accepted 11 May 2001

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (670K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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