Spawning and fecundity of two flounder species in the Hauraki gulf,New Zealand

Spawning grounds and spawning times of the sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebeia (Richardson), and the yellow‐belly flounder, Rhombosolea leporina Gunther, in the Hauraki Gulf are described. The occurrence of female fish at different stages of ovarian development at different stations during the year, the distribution of eggs in the plankton, and changes in ovary weight during the year were used as indicators of spawning grounds and spawning times.

The sand flounder was found to spawn in the waters to the east of Waiheke and Ponui Islands, at the northern end of the Firth of Thames, from June to November.

Yellow‐belly flounders spawned during September, October, and November, slightly to the south of the sand flounder spawning grounds in a belt extending from Tapu, on the eastern side of the Firth of Thames, north‐westwards towards Ponui Island.

Fecundity of both species was approximately proportional to the weight of the fish, or to the length cubed, and less than proportional to the ovary weight. The mean fecundity of sand flounders in the Hauraki Gulf varied from approximately 100,000 eggs in a fish of 18 cm to 500,000 in a 30 cm fish. That of yellow‐belly flounders varied from approximately 250,000 eggs in a fish of 30 cm to 1.25 million in a 45 cm fish.     

Size at first maturity of two species of flounders in the Hauraki gulf,New Zealand

The length at first maturity of the sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebeia (Richardson), and the yellow‐belly flounder, Rhombosolea leporina Gunther, (Teleostei: Heterosomata) in the Hauraki Gulf was investigated by the incidence of sexually tnature and immature fish grouped at 1‐cm length intervals. All male sand flounders and yellow‐bellies were sexually mature at sizes considerably less than the legal minima of 22.9 cm (9 in.) and 25.4 cm (10 in.) respectively. About 95% of female sand flounders and about 15% of female yellow‐bellies matured before reaching the respective minimum legal sizes. Most (i.e., over 50%) female sand flounders and yellow‐bellies were mature when they reached lengths of 18 cm and 26 cm respectively.     

Movements of flounders in the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

Information on the movements of two species of flounder, Rhombosolea plebeia and R. leporina, in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, was obtained in 1968–70 from fishing statistics, trawling surveys, and tagging experiments. There was no evidence of significant emigration from the study area and it was therefore concluded that movements were local, consisting essentially of offshore movement to spawn in winter and spring, and of onshore movement in the summer.     

Across-shelf sediment dispersal, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

Side-scan, seismic and surficial sediment data accompanied by current meter records highlight across-shelf sediment transport in Hauraki Gulf, an island-studded embayment off northern New Zealand. Calm weather currents are locally dominated by the tides, with periodic incursions of oceanic water from detached meanders of the East Auckland Current. Under these conditions, bedload transport occurs mainly in three 15–20 km-wide channels, where bathymetric intensification of the flow brings about near-bottom speeds of up to 82 cm s⁻¹ for Colville Channel and 33–44 cm s⁻¹ in Jellicoe and Cradock Channels. Surficial sediments are gravelly to muddy sand, winnowed in places, leaving a lag deposit of mainly biogenic carbonate gravel. Modelling results suggest that in Colville Channel, dominant fine to medium sand modes are mobile for 20–60% of the time, with a net eastward movement for fine sand. In Jellicoe and Cradock Channels, the prevailing direction of transport is southwards across the shelf, with sand mobile for up to 33% of the time. Oceanic incursions have the potential to boost flow in the western Gulf, however such incursions are transitory, and there is no measurable expression of oceanic water in the sedimentary record. Because of their association with prolonged periods of calm weather, the incursions are unlikely to accompany storm events, where their cumulative effect might be important for sediment transport. Near-bottom currents resulting from oceanic incursion may reinforce peak tides inside the Gulf by up to 2–4 cm s⁻¹. Enhancement of prevailing water motions occurs during periods of extreme weather. During cyclone Drena (January 1997), measured flow speeds in Jellicoe Channel reached 48 cm s⁻¹. Furthermore, the disturbance generated large waves that stirred bottom sediments down to over 100 m water depth. Such events are probably the major agent of sediment redistribution in the Hauraki Gulf. The net effect of storm and calm weather currents is to move sediment across the outer to middle shelf where, in the western and central Gulf it accumulates, and in the eastern Gulf it escapes eastward via Colville Channel.     

Plastic debris and seabird presence in the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

The potential threat of plastic pollution to seabirds within the Hauraki Gulf was assessed by determining its abundance and distribution at two different spatial scales and assessing the community of resident seabirds during July to September 2008. Samples of floating plastics within the gulf were taken during 66 trawls from the surface of the water in three regions within the inner gulf and Waitamata harbour. Within each of these regions, samples were taken in and outside of visually identified natural slick lines that are surface manifestations of small-scale convergence zones. During each trawl, the identity and abundance of seabirds were assessed. Plastic debris was recorded in all three regions sampled with the greatest abundance being recorded in the harbour. Plastics and debris were also significantly more concentrated within natural slick lines. Both user and industrial plastics were identified and consisted of colours and lengths likely to be mistaken as food items for small to medium seabirds. Surface or near-surface feeding seabirds in the gulf most likely mistakenly to consume plastics were fluttering shearwaters, Cape pigeons and Buller's shearwaters. However, these birds were most abundant in the area of the gulf where abundance of plastic pollution was lowest. The Hauraki Gulf is considered significantly less polluted by plastic debris than other severely polluted areas cited in literature.     

Sediment macrobenthos off eastern Waiheke Island,Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

Aspects of sea-bed structure and benthic-macroinvertebrate species composition, distribution, richness and diversity in coastal waters off eastern Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf, are reported. In contrast to the sole historical account of sea-bed community structure from this same region, no widely distributed assemblages of species are recognised throughout it; no two sites share the exact same complement of species; and almost all sites are less than 80% similar in their taxonomic composition, most considerably so. Species richness and diversity are reported to vary with substratum type and depth, and spatially; species occurring within muds are the least diverse and species rich, followed by those of muddy gravels, and then gravels; many taxa prove common to the three substratum types; and dominance of taxa is recognised to decrease with an increase in substratum complexity, from muds to gravels, and species richness. With the exception of invasive marine species, apparent changes in the composition of assemblages throughout this region over the eight-decade period that data span are considered artefacts of the way in which such assemblages were historically defined. We recommend historical accounts of sea-bed community distributions throughout Hauraki Gulf be interpreted with caution, especially when attempting to use such schematic depictions to determine whether changes have occurred in assemblage composition.     

Distribution and relative density of cetaceans in the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

Understanding species distributions, and how they change in space and time, is vital when prioritising conservation or management initiatives. We assessed the distribution and density patterns of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Dedicated boat-based surveys were conducted in the inner Hauraki Gulf (IHG) and off Great Barrier Island (GBI) during 2010–2012. Generalised linear models were used to investigate temporal changes in relative densities and kernel density estimation was implemented to examine spatial trends. Common dolphins were widely distributed during all seasons, with higher densities observed during winter and spring in the IHG but during autumn off GBI. There was inter-annual variation in Bryde’s whale distribution, with high densities recorded off GBI in 2011. Bottlenose dolphins were infrequently sighted in the IHG but regularly encountered off GBI, with the highest densities during spring and summer.     

A numerical model investigation of the residual circulation in Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

The homogeneous residual circulation in Hauraki Gulf arising from the tides, steady winds, and oceanic inflows is considered by use of a depth‐averaged 2‐dimensional numerical model. Vertical current structure of the wind‐driven circulation is derived by using the computed wind‐induced sea surface slopes, the wind stress, and a prescribed vertical eddy viscosity. Tidal residual circulation is weak, less than 0.01 ms^‐1 over most of the Gulf. The response of the Gulf to wind‐forcing indicates a preference for north‐west/south‐east directed winds, the flow through the Gulf being more than 3 times as strong as for winds from other directions. Surface currents are mainly in the wind direction, but subsurface currents reveal closed circulation cells in near‐coastal areas. Simple oceanic inflows give rise to water movements which penetrate to the inner part of the Gulf.     

The seasonal range of sea temperature on the New Zealand shelf

Sea water temperatures measured over the New Zealand continental shelf in summer and winter 1967 are compared and discussed.     

Food of snapper,Chrysophrys auratus (forster), in the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

The food of the snapper, Chrysophrys auratus (Forster), in the Hauraki Gulf was investigated by an occurrence method. The diet was extremely varied and depended on the size of the fish and the food available to it. Variation in feeding occurred during the day, but there was no difference in diet at different times of the year or between male and female snapper.

No evidence was found for the existence of two races of snapper in the Hauraki Gulf. Changes of colouration and behaviour among snapper schooling in the summer appeared merely to be associated with spawning activity.     

Growth of two species of flounders in the hauraki gulf,New Zealand

Growth of the sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebeia (Richardson), and the yellow‐belly flounder, Rhombosolea leporina Günther, in the Hauraki Gulf is described. In both species females grow more quickly than males. At 2 years of age male and female sand flounders reach mean total lengths of 17 cm and 23 cm respectively, and male and female yellow‐belly flounders reach mean total lengths of 24 cm and 29 cm respectively.     

The application of multivariate statistical methods to phytoplankton counts from the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

The phytoplankton population from a station in the Jellicoe Channel area of the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, was fairly constant, in terms of total population and species composition, throughout the year. Correspondence analysis enabled us to identify 3 groups of species. The largest of these comprised the core species which were present most of the time and included some, such as the coccolithophores, with a strongly seasonal occurrence. The species in the second group were mainly large centric diatoms and appeared for short periods during the winter months, apparently brought in by incursions of oceanic water. The third group of species occurred between April 1970 and October 1971 when there was a period of unusually warm weather: the winds were lighter and more often blowing onshore and this perhaps led to warmer, less nutrient‐rich surface waters being brought into the Gulf.     

Reproductive biology of the leatherjacket,Meuschenia scaber (Monacanthidae) (Forster 1801) in the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

The leatherjacket Meuschenia scaber is widely distributed in Australasian waters, and is a valued bycatch of inshore bottom trawl fisheries although little is known of its life history. Here, we describe the reproductive biology of the species based on 651 leatherjackets sampled in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, between July 2014 and March 2016. The maximum total length (L_T) recorded for females and males were 320 and 315?mm, respectively, with both sexes present in all size classes. Monthly analysis of gonad condition revealed a clear spawning season from late austral winter to early summer (August–December), and histological analysis of the ovaries revealed that M. scaber is an indeterminate serial spawning gonochorist. The estimated sizes at sexual maturity (L₅₀) for females (189.9?mm L_T) and males (188.4?mm L_T) did not differ significantly. Relatively small testes, sexual dimorphism and underwater observation of nesting suggest that M. scaber is a paired spawner.     

Some oceanographic observations in the New Zealand fjords

Four New Zealand fjords were surveyed in March and April 1980. In Milford Sound, unusually low dissolved oxygen levels in Stirling Basin suggests that intermittent stagnation events occur, while in Deep Water Basin the bottom water was virtually anoxic. Near the entrance to Milford Sound aperiodic currents up to 38 cm s^?1 were recorded. In Isthmus Sound and Long Sound, in Preservation Inlet, contrasting circulation and mixing regimes were found and tidal currents up to 60 cm s^?1 over the entrance sill to Long Sound are important for deep water renewal.     

Using platforms of opportunity to determine the occurrence and group characteristics of orca (Orcinus orca) in the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

We present the first fine-scale data relating to the occurrence and group characteristics for killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, as observed from a platform of opportunity (PoP). Group size and composition were examined in relation to water depth and sea surface temperature (SST). From 2000 to 2010, 119 orca encounters were recorded, involving 1 to 18 animals. The encounter rate varied seasonally, being highest in austral spring and lowest in summer. Water depth in which whales were observed was significantly affected by group composition. Sixty-seven percent of groups contained immature animals. Group size was highly skewed towards smaller groups comprising two animals. While this study illustrates that PoPs can be used to indicate the occurrence and group characteristics of highly mobile social species, biases clearly exist. Through identifying such inaccuracies, we present recommendations on how future data should be collected to minimise error and improve datasets for scientific use.     

Winter temperature structure in lakes atiamuri and ohakuri,New Zealand

Temperature observations were collected in July 1967 on two artificial lakes on the Waikato River, North Island, New Zealand. Tributary arms of the lakes had surface temperatures up to 3–7 °c lower than the main arms, and sinking of this cooler water lead to vertical temperature gradients in the main arms, which would otherwise be nearly isothermal.     

Some pathological abnormalities of New Zealand fishes

A number of pathological abnormalities previously unrecorded in New Zealand fishes are described. A silver trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) captured from the Bay of Islands exhibited swim bladder ectasia. Black oreo (Allocyttus niger) and smooth oreo (Pseudocyttus maculatus) had cysts of unknown aetiology (CUEs) in the gills at prevalences up to 76% and 81%, respectively, in some fishing areas. The CUEs appear long lived and may have some utility for stock discrimination. A hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) with X‐cell pseudotumours in the gill was recorded from the Chatham Rise. Alfonsino (Beryx splendens) had conspicuous Kudoa sp. cysts in the gills at prevalences of up to 28%. Smelt (Retropinna retropinna) from the Waikato River were infected with a xenoma forming, Glugea‐like microsporidian.     

Some New Zealand parasitic Copepoda of the family Pandaridae

The 723 copepods from 42 sharks captured in New Zealand waters belong to seven genera and 11 species of the family Pandaridae. Of these, Nesippus borealis (St. and Lüt.), recorded for the first time from a host fish, Dinemoura latifolia St. and Lüt., D. producta (Müller), Phyllothyreus cornutus (Milne‐Edwards), Pandarus cranchii Leach, and Echthrogaleus coleoptratus (Guérin) are widespread species. Pandarus bicolor Leach, Nesippus orientalis Heller, and Perissopus dentatus St. and Lüt. are each recorded from the Pacific for the second time, and the last two may be restricted to warmer waters. Demoleus latus Shiino and Echthrogaleus braccatus (Dana) are respectively recorded for the second and third time only and may be restricted to the western Pacific. Nesippus alatus Wilson, N. ornatus Thomsen and N. incisus Heegaard are probable synonyms of N. orientalis Heller; Dinemoura hamiltoni Thomson is a synonym of D. latifolia St. and Lüt. D. carcharodonti Thomson is a synonym of D. producta Dana and D. affinis Thomsen is probably a host form of this species. Pandarus armatus Heller may be a synonym of P. cranchii Leach and P. armatus as recorded by Thomson (1889) certainly belongs to the latter species; P. cranchii and P. satyrus Dana have not been satisfactorily separated in the literature.     

Bacterial populations,heterotrophic potentials,and water quality in three New Zealand Rivers

Abstract

Thirty sites were sampled in three New Zealand rivers (Waikato, Maitai, and Wakapuaka) during late summer 1977. Samples were collected from just below the surface at mid river or in the tailraces below hydro‐electric dams.

Parameters measured included bacterial numbers (direct counts), heterotrophic potential (V_max ), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), chlorophyll a (Chi a), and concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds.

Bacterial populations per millilitre fluctuated threefold (6.4–19.4 × 10⁵) along the Waikato River and were lower and more consistent in the two South Island rivers (1.46–2.55 × 10⁵). In contrast, V_max varied 5000‐fold in the Waikato River, from a characteristically oligotrophic value of 0.0035 μg. l^?1·h^?1 (Lake Taupo outlet) to a eutrophic value of 18.4 μg. l^?1·h^?1 at the Mihi bridge. V_max for the two South Island rivers ranged from 0.0091 to 0.189 μg. l^?1 · h^?1.

ATP, Chi a, Kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentrations for the 20 sites on the Waikato River varied in a similar way to the V_max and bacterial data. There were large peaks at the Mihi bridge, lower values for the dam tailraces and significant increases for the sites below Hamilton. Concentrations for these parameters were lower and more consistent along the lengths of the two South Island rivers.

Most parameters were significantly correlated with each other for the Waikato River samples. The strongest correlations were between V_max and bacterial numbers and between V_max and nitrate nitrogen. In the Maitai and Wakapuaka River series these correlations were also significant, but the only other significant correlations recorded there were between ATP and nitrate nitrogen, and between ATP and bacterial numbers.