New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Indigenous vegetation type and the distribution of shortjawed kokopu,
Galaxias postvectis (Teleostei: Galaxiidae), in New Zealand
R. M. MCDOWALL
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
P.O. Box 8602
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract The shortjawed kokopu is found almost exclusively in
forested catchments throughout New Zealand. Forest composition appears to be
important: the species is found particularly in podocarp/hardwood forests,
quite often in podocarp/hardwood/beech associations, but only very rarely in
pure beech forest. Sites where shortjawed kokopu are more abundant are always
in podocarp/hardwood forest streams. Analysis of distribution in two
representative West Coast river systems, the Buller and Grey, shows that there
are numerous sampled streams in beech forest catchments within easy reach of
shortjawed kokopu migrating upstream from the sea. The shortjawed kokopu is
widely present on the West Coast within the "beech gap", an area between
42deg.30[[minute]] and 43deg.30[[minute]]S, from where it is believed that all
vegetation was extirpated during Pleistocene glaciations. This area is now
forested by podocarp/hardwood associations because beech forest
(Nothofagus spp.) has, as yet, been unable to reinvade. Reasons for this
preference for podocarp/hardwood forest streams are not known but may relate to
dietary factors or the need for cover.
Keywords Galaxias postvectis; shortjawed kokopu; beech
gap; Nothofagus; podocarps; distribution; New Zealand
Received 4 July 1995; accepted 1 March 1997
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 1997, Vol. 24: 243-255
0301-4223/2403-0243 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1997
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (916K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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