New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Spawning site selection, egg development, and larval drift of Galaxias
postvectis and G. fasciatus in a New Zealand stream
Sjaan C. Charteris*
Institute of Natural Resources-Ecology
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
email: sjaancharteris@hotmail.com
*Present address: Department of Conservation,
Canterbury Conservancy, Private Bag 4715,
Christchurch, New Zealand.
Richard M. Allibone†
National Institute of Water and
Atmospheric Research Limited
P.O. Box 11 115
Hamilton, New Zealand
†Present address: Department of Conservation,
P.O. Box 10 420, Wellington, New Zealand.
Russell G. Death
Institute of Natural Resources-Ecology
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract Twelve Galaxias postvectis (shortjaw kokopu)
and four G. fasciatus (banded kokopu) spawning sites were found on
the margins of the Katikara Stream, Taranaki, New Zealand. This is the first
time G. postvectis spawning sites have been documented. G. fasciatus
spawning sites discovered in this study confirm previous observations elsewhere
in New Zealand. These spawning sites were all found out of water, variable
distances from the base flow water level amongst stony substrate, vegetation,
and debris. Most G. fasciatus appeared to lay their eggs, and subsequently
hatch, c. 3 weeks earlier than G. postvectis, which spawned from 9
to 17 May 2001. G. brevipinnis (koaro) larvae were also identified
drifting downstream in late May and mid June 2001. Deposition of eggs and
subsequent hatching were found to be associated with elevated flows.
Keywords drifting larvae; eggs; flood flows; Galaxias;
riparian zone; spawning; terrestrial spawning site
M02058 Received 12 May 2002; accepted 20 March 2003; Published 5 August
2003
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2003, Vol. 37:
493-505
0028-8330/03/3703-0493 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2003
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