Lethal concentrations of suspended solids for common native fish species that are rare in New Zealand rivers with high suspended solids loads

Abstract

Common native fish species that are rare in New Zealand rivers with high suspended solids (SS) concentrations were identified to determine which species were likely to be most affected by high SS concentrations. Mortality rates for the three most sensitive species (banded kokopu Galaxias fasciatus, redfin bully Gobiomorphus huttoni, common smelt Retropinna retropinnd) were measured over a range of SS concentrations to identify lethal concentrations. The survival of banded kokopu and redfin bully was not reduced by SS concentrations up to 43 000 g m^?3; however, the 24‐h survival of common smelt was reduced by SS concentrations over 1000 g m^?3, and its median lethal concentration (LC50) was close to 3000 g m^?3. SS concentrations over 3000 g m^?3 for more than 24 h will therefore reduce smelt but not affect the mortality of most other common native fish species. Although mortality from high concentrations of SS can account for the scarcity of smelt in rivers with high SS concentrations, mortality from high SS does not explain the scarcity of banded kokopu or redfin bully in such rivers. High turbidity (>20 nephelometric turbidity units) is known to limit the upstream migration and recruitment of juvenile banded kokopu in rivers with increased SS concentrations. Banded kokopu is therefore affected by increased turbidity from SS rather than lethal SS concentrations. As redfin bully were not affected by either high turbidity levels or high SS concentrations, the low abundance of this species in rivers with high SS concentrations is likely to be related to the siltation of benthic habitats.     

Avoidance behaviour of freshwater fish and shrimp exposed to ammonia and low dissolved oxygen separately and in combination

Abstract

The responses of common smelt (Retropinna retropinna Richardson), inanga (Galaxias maculatus Jenyns), common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus McDowall), and shrimp (Paratya curvirostris Heller) to ammonia and low dissolved oxygen (DO), separately and in combination, were measured in a fluvarium. Only common smelt avoided high or low ammonia (c. 8.5 and 2.0 g m^?3 NH3, respectively) and low DO (c. 2 g m^?3) alone and in combination. Shrimp avoided high ammonia and low DO+ammonia but not low DO on its own. Inanga and bullies showed no significant negative response to either contaminant; rather, inanga were strongly attracted to low ammonia and bullies to low DO. These results parallel those from toxicity experiments that show common smelt and shrimp are usually among the most sensitive native species to various contaminants. The consistent and appropriate avoidance behaviour shown by common smelt, in particular, suggests this species would be a good indicator organism for assessing the health of lowland waterways.     

Energy contents of some New Zealand freshwater animals

Energy contents of several freshwater animal species collected from Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury, were determined by bomb calorimetry. Values are shown to vary seasonally and between size classes. Because of this variability the use of a single energy value of an organism in an energetics study is not recommended.     

Food and energy in the diet of brown and rainbow trout from Lake Benmore,New Zealand

The diet of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (S. gairdnerii) was studied in specimens from Lake Benmore, a deep, oligo‐trophic lake in South Island, New Zealand. Between November and July, both species fed mainly on small molluscs (Potamopyrgus antipodarum, Physa sp., and Gyraulus corinna) gleaned from the littoral weed beds. Energy values for the three species of mollusc were determined: P. antipodarum, 6000 J g^‐1; G. corinna, 5500 J g^‐1; Physa sp., 9800 J g^‐1. Potamopyrgus antipodarum yielded little energy to the fish, unless its shell broke during passage through the gut. Physa sp. was the most profitable mollusc, irrespective of shell breakage and Potamopyrgus antipodanim the least profitable. The mean energy value per snail for G. corinna and Physa sp. eaten by rainbow trout was 25–30% less than for snails eaten by brown trout, possibly because rainbow trout ingested empty shells from the sediment surface. Rainbow trout extracted about 20% more energy than brown trout from unbroken shells. In July, 84% of the brown trout switched to predation of common bullies, Gobio‐morphus cotidianus, probably as a result of bully reproductive behaviour. Rainbow trout did not show the same change, apparently because they were feeding in deeper water where few bullies were available. The low‐energy diet and its possible connection with growth rate are discussed.     

Submerged vegetation of Lakes Sumner,Marion, Katrine,Taylor, and Sheppard in Canterbury,New Zealand

The submerged vegetation of Lakes Sumner, Marion, Katrine, Taylor, and Sheppard was surveyed in May 1987. These high‐altitude lakes lie at c. 600 m a.s.l., within the largely unmodified upper Hurunui catchment. Submerged vegetation was diverse and included numerous short shallow‐water species, dense swards of Isoetes alpinus, low covers of taller native vascular plants, and charophyte meadows beyond the depth limit of vascular plants to a maximum of 15 m. A sparse deepwater bryophyte community was observed from 11 to 32 m depth in Lake Sumner. Displacement of native vegetation by dense growths of the adventive oxygen weed Elodea canadensis over mid‐depths of 3–6 m was noted in all lakes, except Lake Marion.     

Reduced abundance of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) and other native fish in turbid rivers of the North Island of New Zealand

Laboratory experiments demonstrated that migrant juvenile banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus Gray) were more sensitive to suspended sediment (SS) than other native fish species. If juvenile migrants avoid waters made turbid by SS and their recruitment to adult habitats up stream is reduced, then adult abundance may decline in turbid rivers. To test this, we compared the abundance of diadromous native fish between turbid and clear rivers. The duration (% time) for which SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre^‐1 (a critical level from laboratory experiments) during the migration season (August‐December) was estimated for over 150 New Zealand river sites. Turbid rivers were defined as those where SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre^‐1 for over 20% of the time and clear rivers as those where SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre^‐1 for less than 10% of the time. Eight turbid rivers and seven clear ones were identified where sufficient data on SS and native fish populations existed to permit a comparison. The mean occurrence of banded kokopu was reduced by 89.5% in turbid rivers and, although other diadromous fish species were also less common, banded kokopu was most affected. Densities of adult banded kokopu were also significantly lower in optimal stream habitats in three turbid compared with three matched clear rivers. We therefore concluded that the abundance of adult banded kokopu was reduced in turbid rivers and propose that this is because of reduced recruitment of juveniles in turbid rivers.     

Nyctiphanes australis (Euphausiacea) and an upwelling plume in western Cook Strait,New Zealand

Quantitative data are presented on the distribution of adult and larval stages of the euphausiid Nyctiphanes australis G. O. Sars, in western Cook Strait, New Zealand, an area influenced by an upwelling plume. The behaviour of N. australis in the Kahurangi Point region at different stages of its life history appears to ensure its maintenance, in general, over the continental shelf on an upwelling coast. Population structure at the source of the upwelling near Kahurangi Point differed from that in regions “down stream” from the plume. Nyctiphanes australis was most abundant at the “downstream” eastern end of the upwelling plume, and the evidence suggesting that the dense populations there may be resident is discussed. Possible reasons for low densities of furcilia II and III stages in the eastern plume region are considered.     

潮间带水沙多层位同步测量系统应用的初步研究

利用水压、光电转换原理研制成的多层位水沙同步测量系统(WCT系统)不仅可测量潮间带水位随时间的变化系列、同一层位的浊度及流速，还可以同步观测这些参数在潮间带水流剖面不同层位上的变化。野外对比试验表明，WCT系统获得的流速值与直读式流速仪的测量结果基本一致，平均相对误差为14．52％；悬沙传感器经野外现场率定获得悬沙浓度，平均相对误差为21．96％，精度比室内率定提高—倍以上。悬沙粒径是影响悬沙浓度测量精度的主要因素。此外，自然环境(如海水温盐度)的变化及仪器本身的特性也可能影响到测量结果。因此，WCT系统在潮间带的水位、流速和悬沙浓度的观测和边界层研究方面有相当潜力。     

Food and feeding of small fish in the Rakaia River,New Zealand

Benthic macroinvertebrates and fish species were collected at monthly intervals during a 12‐month period, from 3 areas of the lower Rakaia River. The composition and abundance of the benthos and stomach contents of the fish were analysed for seasonal trends, food niche breadth and overlap between pairs of fish species, and overlap between the benthos and the diet of each fish species. The diets of bluegilled bully (Gobiomorphus hubbsi), upland bully (G. breviceps), juvenile longfinned eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii), Galaxias brevipinnis, G. paucispondylus, and juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta) were similar to the proportions of prey species in the benthos. Deleatidium and chironomid larvae dominated the benthos in all seasons and formed the majority of food items in the diet of these species. Food niche overlap between these species was high, indicating potential competition, but preferred habitat and feeding habit differences plus low fish population density and abundance of main prey items probably eliminate the occurrence of any serious competition. The diet of the other fish species differed from this pattern. The common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) ate proportionally more chironomid larvae and fish eggs than occurred in the benthos; torrentfish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri) ate proportionally more chironomid larvae than occurred in the benthos; and quinnat salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) depended largely upon prey species of terrestial origin, such as adult Deleatidium and dipterans.     

Distribution and abundance of Abarenicola affinis (Arenicolidae,Polychaeta) in tidal inlets of Otago,New Zealand

Lugworms are important members of the macrobenthos of sheltered intertidal sediments, and this study assessed the abundance and distribution of Abarenicola affinis in Otago, southern New Zealand. Using a faecal cast:lugworm ratio (1.00:1.09) revealed a patchy distribution across inlets, with an overall mean abundance of 11.1 individuals/m² (range: 3.8 to 21.3 individuals/m²). Distribution patterns varied among inlets, with lugworms mostly confined to the high intertidal zone, but spread across all intertidal zones in one inlet. The lugworm habitat was characterised by muddy to medium sand (55–233 µm mean grain size) with low organic matter (< 2%) and chlorophyll a (1–12 µg/g dry sediment) contents. Depending on the inlet, lugworm abundance was related to sediment parameters, indicating that their distribution across Otago inlets is habitat dependent. The present findings also indicate that factors other than those measured contribute to A. affinis distribution and abundance patterns in this region.     

Bivalve shellfish harvesting and consumption in New Zealand, 2011: data for exposure assessment

We provide an overview of bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) availability to New Zealanders. Data on commercial production (aquaculture) and harvesting, non-commercial (recreational and customary) harvesting and international trading (imports, exports) of BMS were assembled. These data were transformed to estimate the total weight (greenweight and meatweight) of each BMS species, and all BMS species, available to New Zealand domestic consumers in 2011. An estimated 68,000 tonnes greenweight, or 13,000 tonnes meatweight, of BMS were available. Mussels (mostly commercially-produced Perna canaliculus) accounted for 96% of the total available BMS by meatweight. Non-commercially harvested BMS were 1% of the total available BMS. BMS availability was estimated as 8 g/person/day for the total New Zealand population and 407 g/person/day for shellfish consumers. These estimates were comparable to published national consumption data. The results can be used as inputs to exposure assessment. Food availability is a useful estimate where consumption data are limited.     

Land use,associated eel production,and abundance of fish and crayfish in streams in Waikato,New Zealand

Abstract

The density and biomass of fish and crayfish, and the production of eels, was compared among streams in native forest, exotic forest, and pasture. Populations were estimated by multiple‐pass electroshocking at 11 sites in hill‐country streams in the Waikato region, North Island. Three sites were in native forest, four in exotic forest, and four in pasture. Length of stream sampled at each site was 46–94 m (41–246 m² in area), and catchment areas up stream of the sites ranged from 0.44 to 2.01 km².

A total of 487 fish were caught. The species were longfinned and shortfinned eels, banded kokopu, Cran's and redfinned bullies, and common smelt. Eels were the most abundant fish in all three land‐use types, and shortfinned eels were more abundant at pastoral sites (mean density 1.11 fish m^?2) than longfinned eels (mean density 0.129 fish m^?2). Banded kokopu were present only at forested sites. Mean fish densities were greater at pastoral sites (1.55 fish m^?2) than under either native forest (0.130 fish m^?2) or exotic forest (0.229 fish m^?2). Mean fish biomass was also greater at pastoral sites (89.7 g m^?2) than under native forest (12.8 g m^?2) or exotic forest (19.3 g m^?2). Longfinned eels made a greater contribution to the fish biomass at all sites than did shortfinned eels. Densities of crayfish were high (0.46–5.40 crayfish m^?2), but were not significantly different between land‐use types. Crayfish biomass ranged from 1.79 to 11.2 g m^?2. Total eel production was greater at pastoral sites (mean 17.9 g m^?2 year¹) than at forest sites (mean 2.39 gm^?2 year^?1).     

Abundance of brown trout as related to littoral zone gradient in Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri,New Zealand

Adult brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) in lakes are primarily littoral/benthic foragers. We predicted that the distribution of adult brown trout in lakes would be shaped by foraging demands, and that they would be more abundant in gently sloping littoral areas, that is, littoral areas that have a greater space available to support benthic foraging habitats. To address this hypothesis, we measured abundance of brown trout among littoral areas with different gradients in Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. There was a significant negative relationship between littoral zone gradient and relative abundance (CPUE) of adult brown trout. This result supports the hypothesis that brown trout aggregate in littoral areas with greater amounts of foraging habitat in Fiordland lakes.     

Growth,diet, movement,and abundance of adult banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) in five Coromandel,New Zealand streams

Banded kokopu populations were surveyed seasonally over 1 year in five Coromandel streams to determine the influence of food supply on diet, growth, abundance, and movement. Streams with high benthic invertebrate abundance and drift of aquatic origin had high fish abundance. However, terrestrial drift was the dominant food for adult banded kokopu over all seasons and streams, on average comprising 75% of their diet by number and 89% by weight. Annual growth rates of tagged individuals ranged from 3 mm to 16.5 mm, with smaller fish growing faster than large fish. Low growth rates of large fish were consistent with the recapture of a fish that had only grown from 195 mm to 215 mm in 7 years. Our observations confirmed the strong association between banded kokopu, pool habitat, and cover, and also indicated that high fish abundance restricted growth rates and movement and increased interaction.     

Differences in the distributions of freshwater fishes and decapod crustaceans in urban and forested streams in Auckland,New Zealand

Using data from existing studies, assemblages of freshwater fishes and decapod crustaceans were examined at 39 sites in urbanised catchments and 57 sites in forested (reference) catchments within the greater Auckland region, New Zealand. Eleven native and 1 exotic fish species and 2 native decapod crustacean species were recorded. Species richness and fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores were lower overall in streams in urbanised catchments. Shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were more dominant in urban streams; all other commonly occurring species were found significantly more often in reference streams. Non‐diadromous native species (Cran's bully (Gobiomorphus basalts) and freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops planifions)) were absent from urban streams, but relatively abundant in reference streams. This absence of non‐diadromous species, together with the urban occurrence of five diadromous species suggests that migratory barriers pose less of a threat to freshwater communities than physico‐chemical disturbance in streams in the Auckland urban region.     

Feeding relationships between Tarakihi and snapper in western Bay of Plenty,New Zealand

Feeding relationships between two predatory demersal fishes, tarakihi Cheilo‐dactylus macroplerus (Bloch & Schneider) and snapper Chrysophrys auratus (Bloch & Schneider), in relation to the benthos were examined at six sampling areas in the western Bay of Plenty during October to December 1969 and April to June 1970.

Food selectivity was determined. The results showed that both fish species positively selected many of the same food categories. The average Food Similarity Index based on volume data was 18.9% and the average number of food categories shared was approximately 60% of the total number of food categories consumed.

The feeding relationships between tarakihi and snapper and the benthos varied with both sampling area and sampling period. Competition for food is probably minimal, since both fish species eat a wide range of foods and feed at different times.     

Relationships between estuarine geomorphology, wetland extent and fish landings in New South Wales estuaries

Multivariate analyses of estuarine geomorphic variables and fish-catch data support the hypothesis that estuaries in New South Wales can be classified in terms of measurable geomorphic characteristics, and that these geomorphic characteristics exert an influence on estuarine biota. The clearest example of this association is the extent to which the area of seagrass, mangrove and central mud basin relates to geomorphic settings and the extent to which the area of these units in turn predict commercial landings of fish and crustaceans. Infilled estuaries with sand barrier entrances, with higher areas of mangrove and lower areas of seagrass and central mud basin yield a catch of fish different to estuaries which are not infilled, and contain relatively high areas of seagrass and central mud basin, and less mangrove. The species contributing most to these differences in assemblages are those which multiple regression analysis identifies to be consistently associated with seagrass area, and which ecological studies reveal to be dependant upon seagrass in their post-settlement phase.     

春季珠江口水域鱼卵和仔稚鱼的分布及其与环境因子的关系

根据2004~2007年春季珠江口水域10个站位的鱼卵和仔稚鱼调查资料,着重就鱼卵和仔稚鱼的数量分布和年际变化及其与环境因子的相关关系进行研究.结果表明：其鱼卵和仔稚鱼隶属于9目33科58种（类）,以鲈形目种类数所占比例最高（为53.4%）,其次为鲱形目（为20.7%）.鱼卵和仔稚鱼大致分成半咸水性、近岸性和近海性3个生态类群.鱼卵和仔稚鱼优势种类共9种,其中鱼卵优势种为6种,仔稚鱼的也为6种.青洲附近水域是春季鱼卵和仔稚鱼的最主要分布区域之一.鱼卵和仔稚鱼数量的年际变化明显,鱼卵和仔稚鱼个体数量的最大值均出现在2006年.水温、pH值和溶解氧含量是影响鱼卵个体数量的较显著因子,盐度和溶解氧含量为影响仔稚鱼个体数量的较显著因子.盐度、pH值及溶解氧、悬浮物、叶绿素a含量对鱼卵和仔稚鱼种类数均有不同程度的影响.     

Possible link between weak bottom simulating reflections and gas hydrate systems in fractures and macropores of fine-grained sediments: Results from the Hikurangi Margin,New Zealand

Small amounts of free gas in interstitial sediment pores are known to significantly lower compressional (P-) wave velocity (Vp). This effect, combined with moderately elevated Vp from the presence of gas hydrates, is usually thought to be the cause for the often observed strong negative reflection coefficients of bottom simulating reflections (BSRs) at the base of gas hydrate stability (BGHS). At several locations however, weak BSRs have been observed, which are difficult to reconcile with a presence of gas in sediment pores. We here present a rock physics model for weak BSRs on the Hikurangi Margin east of New Zealand. Thin sections of a fine-grained mudstone sample from a submarine outcrop in the vicinity of a weak BSR show macroscopic porosity in the form of fractures and intrafossil macropores. We apply the Kuster-Toksöz theory to predict seismic velocities for a rock with water-saturated interstitial micropores and gas or hydrates in macroscopic pore space simulating fractures or compliant macropores. We match field observations of a weak BSR with a reflection coefficient of −0.016 with two end-member models; (1) rocks with gas hydrate-filled voids with a concentration of <4% of bulk sediment overlying water-filled voids, or (2) fully gas-saturated voids at a concentration of <2% beneath water-filled voids. A natural system is likely to consist of a combination of these end-members and of macroporosity filled with a mixture of water and gas or hydrate. Our results suggest weak BSRs may be caused by gas hydrate systems in fractures and macropores of fine-grained sediments with fully water-saturated interstitial pore space. Gas may be supplied into the macroscopic pore space by diffusion-driven short-range migration of methane generated within the gas hydrate stability field or, our favoured model based on additional geologic considerations, long-range advective migration from deeper sources along fractures.