Dissolved oxygen criteria for freshwater fish in New Zealand: a revised approach

Maintenance of suitable conditions in lowland rivers for both fish passage and resident species is crucial to ensuring the long-term sustainability of fish populations. The dissolved oxygen concentration of water is a key factor controlling habitat quality for fish and a critical measure of stream health. Continued land use intensification and greater exploitation of water resources has contributed towards increasing the frequency and duration of low dissolved oxygen events in lowland rivers and the associated risk of adverse effects on fish communities. Revised guidelines are therefore proposed to support setting of biologically relevant dissolved oxygen limits for the protection of New Zealand freshwater fish communities. These guidelines account for both event magnitude and duration, identify different protection levels based on the risk of negative impacts and are based on current scientific knowledge on the tolerances of New Zealand fish species.     

Changes in the faunal composition of two thermal streams near Taupo,New Zealand

The distributions of macroinverte‐brates in two thermal streams near Taupo were examined and compared with observations made in 1966. The cooling of the streams associated with abstraction has altered the species composition. Odonata and Trichoptera were recorded for the first time in the lower reaches of the Waipahihi Stream whereas Ephydridae and Hydrophilidae were restricted to the upper reaches at temperatures above 33.5°C. Molluscs dominated the fauna at sites with temperatures below 33.5°C in the Waipahihi and Waipuwerawera Streams. Potamopyrgus anti‐podarum was present at sites with temperatures below 28°C.     

Effects of sediment on fish communities in East Cape streams,North Island,New Zealand

We examined the effects of sediment on fish communities at 38 sites in the East Cape region of New Zealand. Many streams in this region are subject to high sediment loads, a natural situation that has been exacerbated by the conversion of native forest to pasture. The fish community consisted of diadromous native species common throughout New Zealand that require access to and from the sea. We found that site altitude and distance inland were important factors in determining the abundance and composition of the fish community. We used four measures as indices of sediment load: suspended sediment concentration, median substrate size, substrate stability, and the ratio of the wetted width to the width of the active (non‐vegetated) stream channel. Although all indices were correlated, the ratio of wetted width to width of active channel was most closely related to fish abundance and diversity. Fish abundance and diversity reduced as sediment load increased among streams, with up to nine fish species in streams with low sediment loads and only two species in streams with high sediment loads. In‐stream habitat also varied with sediment load; as load increased, depth and substrate size decreased and velocity increased. These results suggest that activities that increase sediment loads in rivers will have a negative impact on native fish communities in New Zealand.     

Faecal microbial contamination of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) gathered by a Maori protocol in New Zealand streams

A study was carried out to determine the food safety status of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) harvested from rural streams under Maori protocol. Sixty‐five sample bunches (c. 500 g) were collected from four streams in the Waikato region of New Zealand each summer from 2005 to 2007. Two streams, Southern Enclosure and Te Waihou, were within reserves and the other two, Mangapiko and Piopio, flowed through pastoral farms. To assess faecal contamination status, Escherichia coli and thermotolerant Campylobacter were measured on watercress as collected and E. coli counts assessed against the New Zealand guideline for ready‐to‐eat foods (satisfactory: <3 E. coli per g). To determine whether washing would ensure the watercress met food safety standards, an additional 6 bunches were collected and washed in running tap water (household regime). A further 15 bunches were washed by a simulated commercial triple washing regime. At harvest, 16 of 17 watercress samples collected from the Southern Enclosure and 11 of 22 from Te Waihou met the satisfactory criterion for ready‐to‐eat food, but only 1 of 17 from Mangapiko and none of 9 from Piopio were satisfactory. No Campylobacter was recovered from any sample of watercress collected from the four sites. After washing in running tap water, E. coli numbers still exceeded the satisfactory criterion. Commercial triple washing was more effective in ensuring satisfactory watercress, but of the 15 samples subjected to this regime, only 6 met the satisfactory criterion. Escherichia coli remained firmly attached to watercress leaves after both washing regimes (presumably in biofilms). Overall, these findings suggest that it is not advisable to use watercress harvested from rural streams as a raw salad vegetable, particularly from those affected by pastoral farming.     

Current state of water quality indicators in urban streams in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

National assessments have highlighted that urban streams have some of the poorest water quality in New Zealand, yet there has been no analysis focussing on these streams. In this study we defined urban streams as >15% catchment urban land cover and used monitoring data to assess several indicators of water quality including dissolved metals, nutrients, bacteria and the macroinvertebrate community index. We investigated associations between the indicators and urban land cover, imperviousness and geographic location. Water quality was highly variable, within and between monitored sites; and invariably poor when compared to water quality criteria. Dissolved zinc was positively related to the proportion of urban land cover and imperviousness in the upstream catchment. There were significant differences in ammoniacal-N, nitrate-N, turbidity, MCI, dissolved zinc and E. coli between geographic locations. The analysis indicates that if urban development continues in its current form, increases in urban land cover around New Zealand can be expected to result in further declines in water quality and a reduced likelihood that water quality objectives will be achieved at impacted locations.     

The early life history of fish in coastal waters of northern New Zealand: A review

Studies on the early life history of fish in New Zealand started during the 1950s off the Northland coast. Since then taxonomy, seasonality in abundance, and vertical and horizontal distribution patterns have been described as well as aspects at the level of individuals, such as age, growth, and condition. I discuss the findings and issues that have developed from these studies and illustrate three undescribed presettlement reef fish. Results indicate that different taxonomic groups typically have different vertical and horizontal distribution patterns as well as different temporal patterns of abundance. This implies that general models of how “larval fish” behave are unrealistic. As a result, the importance of physical and biological processes that may influence the distribution and survival of ichthyoplankton will vary among categories of fish (such as pelagic and reef fish) and taxonomic groups within these. Based on knowledge of the distribution pattern of some species, there is considerable scope for focusing future research on specific groups offish in terms of ontogenetic changes in morphology, sensory abilities, growth, diet, condition, interrelationships with other plankters, and, in the case of reef fish, onshore transport.     

Distribution of fish in tributaries of the lower Taieri/Waipori rivers,South Island,New Zealand

The distribution of fish within eight small streams feeding into the lower Taieri and Waipori Rivers on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island was examined. A total of eight native and two introduced species were recorded. Eels (Anguilla spp.) and giant kokopu (Galaxias argenteus Gmelin) were the most widely distributed species being located in all streams surveyed. Common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus McDowall) and brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus) were also widely distributed being detected in seven and six of the streams respectively. Three streams of potential conservation significance were identified. These were Picnic Gully Creek which contained a significant population of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus Gray), a Category C threatened species, and Cullens and Alex Creeks which contained significant populations of giant kokopu, a Category B threatened species. The population of giant kokopu in Cullens and Alex Creeks currently represents the largest known population of this species on the east coast of New Zealand (excluding Southland). It has been suggested that brown trout may influence the distribution of native galaxiids. The longitudinal distribution of giant kokopu and brown trout in streams was examined at night using a continuous spotlight sampling approach. Distributions of these two species rarely overlapped at a local scale. Coarse habitat use data indicated that brown trout regularly occupied a variety of habitat types including modified agricultural channels. In contrast, giant kokopu rarely used agricultural channels being predominantly located in pool habitats.     

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).     

黄河口鱼类群落分类学多样性的研究

根据2013-2014年在黄河口水域进行的7个航次的鱼类资源底拖网调查数据,应用分类多样性指数分析了黄河口水域鱼类群落生物多样性的时空变化。黄河口鱼类主名录的平均分类差异指数△+理论平均值为75.5。2013-2014年调查中,该水域共捕获鱼类51种,隶属10目、27科、43属,以鲈形目、鲱形目和鲉形目鱼类居多。本次调查中鱼类群落分类多样性指数△和分类差异指数△*月变化范围分别为39.98~65.48和59.15~75.54,均表现为夏季月份最高,春、秋季月份次之,冬季最低。除春季月份外,其他月份鱼类平均分类差异指数△+均显著低于黄河口鱼类主名录的△+理论平均值。不同月份中平均分类差异指数△+也呈现一定的空间变化,夏、秋季月份绝大部分站位平均分类差异指数处于95%置信范围内,春、冬季月份个别站位的平均分类差异指数显著低于理论平均值,这与这些站位绝大多数种类集中在鲈形目有关。黄河口水域鱼类分类学多样性具有明显的时空变化,鱼类资源衰退,应加强该水域鱼类资源养护和多样性保护。     

厦门东海域鱼类的群落结构及种类多样性研究

2003年7月至2006年6月对厦门东部海域用定置网和流刺网渔获鱼类进行周年逐月采样分析.结果表明,该海域鱼类至少有287种,录属于21目87科164属,以鲈形目最多,有151种,占总种数的52.6%.渔获物组成以近岸小型鱼类为主,底层鱼类和中下层鱼类合计有235种,占81.88%;中上层鱼类仅52种,占18.12%.鱼类的亚热带动物区系特征明显,暖水性种类达221种,占77%,暖温性种类66种,占23%,未出现冷温性种类及冷水性种类.鱼类种类存在明显的季节更替现象,月更替率大多在30%以上,最高达72.1%.定置网渔获鱼类年平均数量为277尾·网-1,年平均产量为1.93kg·网-1,平均数量和平均产量均以夏季大于秋季大于春季大于冬季;月平均数量和月平均产量均以8月最高,分别为700尾·网-1和5.0kg·网-1,2月最低,分别仅为55尾·网-1和0.38kg·网-1.种类丰度及数量变化与海域水温变化总体呈正相关关系.Shannon-Wiener种类多样性指数的月变化在1.555-4.337之间,多数月份的指数值在3以上,多样性水平较高.渔获鱼类中经济种类占比例较大,但绝大多数个体都比较小,年平均尾重仅6.97g.根据营养动态法估算潜在资源量为1 133.30t年-1,目前厦门东海域鱼类总渔获量已超过最大可捕量一倍以上,应加强资源的管理和保护.     

厦门海域鱼类群落分类学多样性的研究

根据厦门海域鱼类种类组成历史资料和调查资料,系统整理了厦门海域的鱼类总名录和现有名录,并应用分类学等级多样性指数和分类差异变异指数分析了厦门海域鱼类群落分类学多样性的时空变化。结果表明:厦门海域有记录鱼类共649种;现有鱼类有331种,隶属2纲22目90科181属,其中软骨鱼纲共5目9科9属15种,辐鳍鱼纲共17目81科172属316种。厦门海域鱼类总名录的等级多样性指数Δ+和分类差异变异指数Λ+分别为79.267和220.96;现有鱼类群落分类多样性指数Δ+和分类差异指数Λ+分别为77.504和245.34。分类多样性指数Δ+在冬、春季较高,秋季次之,而夏季最低;而分类差异指数Λ+夏季较高,秋季次之,冬春季较低。秋季和冬季鱼类组成的相似度最高,其次为夏季,最后为春季。与历史总名录相比,厦门海域的现有鱼类群落分类学范围较小,生态幅变窄,群落稳定性较差。     

Occurrence and recruitment of fish larvae in a northern New Zealand estuary

The occurrence of fish larvae and the effect of diel and tidal variation on catches was studied at about biweekly intervals for a year in Whangateau Harbour, a small well mixed northern New Zealand estuary. Larvae from 31 taxa were identified. The annual pattern of larval occurrence was typical for fish in temperate waters, with a major peak of abundance in early summer. For six taxa, larval densities were significantly greater in night-time than in daytime catches, and analysis of length-frequency distributions suggested that for two species this was due to daytime net avoidance.No significant differences were found between the densities of larvae caught on flood and ebb tides, but changes in length-frequency distributions were significant for two species. Recently hatched larvae of an unidentified goby were found leaving the harbour, where they were probably spawned, while older larvae of this species appeared to be recruiting back in. Larvae of the flounder Rhobosolea plebeia were also apparently recruiting into the harbour. In the absence of a two-layered circulation pattern larvae relied upon tidal transport for recruitment, and probaby ensured their retention by rapidly settling to the bottom.     

Timing and habitat of koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) spawning in streams draining MtTaranaki,New Zealand

A spawning site of Galaxias brevipinnis Giinther was located in a New Zealand stream for the first time. It was at the edge of a riffle and only partially submerged. The habitat used for spawning matched that described for G. brevipinnis in Australia. Spawning was estimated to have occurred between late April and early May and the eggs hatched in late May. The species of fish spawning was identified by rearing the eggs through to identifiable juveniles and by DNA sequencing of one individual.     

Two acoustic surveys of pelagic fish in Hawke Bay,New Zealand, 1980

The design and execution of two acoustic surveys of Hawke Bay in February and September/October 1980 are described. Though the resulting acoustic data were, for technical reasons, of limited value, they illustrate the information which may be drawn from acoustic surveys. Fish distributions may be rapidly mapped, not only by area, but throughout most of the water column and over time. Qualitative observations on fish distribution may be quantified. The estimation of variance in acoustic surveys is discussed in detail with particular emphasis on the problems of systematic surveys. The role of replicate observations is stressed. Coefficients of variation for relative fish density estimates from the two surveys probably lie between 5 and 30%.     

Food webs in forest and pasture streams in the Waikato region,New Zealand: A study based on analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen,and fish gut contents

Abstract

Stable isotopes of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were studied in 11 stream communities in the Waikato region of New Zealand. From comparisons of mean δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values, food webs in the shaded, forest streams were clearly based on allochthonous material (conditioned leaf litter and terrestrial invertebrates). Autotrophs in forest streams were not a significant C source for the food webs. However, the C source of food webs in the unshaded pasture streams appeared to be a mixture of allochthonous and autochthonous material. Conditioned leaf litter appeared to contribute to the pasture stream food webs, and the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of some samples of epilithic diatoms indicated their consumption by invertebrates in pasture streams. Fish ate a wide range of aquatic invertebrates; longfinned eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) also had a large proportion of terrestrial invertebrates in their diet. Filamentous green algae were found only at pasture sites, where they were sometimes abundant. The wide range of δ¹³C values of filamentous green algae (‐18.8 to ‐29.7‰) complicated understanding of their role in the stream food webs. The δ¹³C values of Cladophora were related to water velocity, with more ¹³C‐enriched values in pools than in runs (‐23.2‰ in pools, mean velocity 0.12 m s^?1; ‐28.1‰ in runs, mean velocity 0.24 m s^?1). Crayfish and the gastropod mollusc Potamopyrgus appeared to be the only invertebrates to eat filamentous green algae.     

The influence of habitat structure on juvenile fish in a New Zealand estuary

Estuarine and sheltered coastal habitats that contain physical structure are potentially important nurseries for juvenile fish. Many of these structured habitats, however, are potentially vulnerable to stressors such as elevated turbidity. Quantifying the benefits that structured habitats provide to juvenile fish may therefore be an important step in the management process. We investigated the value of structured habitat for juvenile fishes in northeastern New Zealand, using artificial seagrass units (ASUs) with varying blade density. ASUs were predominantly settled by juvenile snapper (Pagrus auratus) and spotty (Notolabrus celidotus). The density of both snapper and spotty was greatest on ASUs with the highest blade density. For snapper, a gradient in abundance was present (with higher abundance closer to the harbour mouth), suggesting either a gradient in the supply of recruits or a potential recruitment shadow effect. The size distribution of juvenile snapper (12–70 mm fork length) was very similar on both sampling trips, despite the 2‐month interim period, suggesting an ontogenetic habitat shift dependent on size. The condition of juvenile snapper from ASUs with the highest blade density was also greater than the other ASU treatments. Overall, these results provide new empirical evidence that habitats with physical structure within shallow estuarine systems are important to early stage juvenile fishes such as snapper, and indicate that the location‐specific context of that habitat is also likely important.     

黄河口及邻近海域鱼卵、仔稚鱼群落结构及多样性的年间变化

为了解黄河口及邻近海域鱼卵、仔稚鱼的群落结构动态,分别于2014年、2015年、2017年和2018年的6月利用大型浮游生物网对黄河口及邻近海域进行4个航次的表层水平拖网调查。根据鱼卵、仔稚鱼的种类组成、数量分布等群落结构特征,运用生物多样性指数、聚类分析和皮尔逊相关性矩阵分析等方法对该海域鱼卵、仔稚鱼的资源分布进行了综合研究。结果表明,4年调查共采获鱼卵3 829粒,仔稚鱼234尾,隶属于7目14科15属。鱼卵的主要优势种为鳀（Engraulis japonicus）和短吻红舌鳎（Cynoglossus joyeri）,仔稚鱼的主要优势种为斑鰶（Konosirus punctatus）和虾虎鱼科未定种Gobiidae sp.。生物多样性各指数均以2015年最高,2018年最低。利用R语言对鱼卵、仔稚鱼年间种类组成相似性进行聚类,将4个调查年份划分为3组,各分组之间主要的分歧种均为鳀。生物多样性各指数与环境因子之间皮尔逊相关性分析表明,盐度与鱼卵、仔稚鱼生物多样性的关系较为密切。分析认为,黄河口及邻近海域鱼卵、仔稚鱼群落分布和多样性的年间变化特征体现了鱼类对环境变异的响应。     

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.     

The influence of habitat availability on juvenile fish abundance in a northeastern New Zealand estuary

Management of fish populations is often focused on the exploitation of adult fish. Maintaining the habitat requirements of all life stages may also be an important consideration. We investigated the value of structured habitat to juvenile fishes within a northeastern New Zealand harbour using artificial seagrass units (ASUs). Specifically, we deployed ASUs across treatments with high vs. low habitat manipulations. We hypothesised that if the abundance of recruiting juvenile fishes was greater on the high habitat availability treatments this would suggest that the availability of habitat was limiting juvenile fish abundance. Our analyses were focused on the four most abundant fishes that settled on our ASUs: snapper (Pagrus auratus); spotty (Notolabrus celidotus); trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex); and an assemblage of pipefish species. For snapper, spotty and pipefish, abundance was greater on the high habitat availability treatments. This result would be unlikely to occur if the availability of juvenile fishes was limiting, suggesting that juvenile fish abundance is more likely to be limited by habitat. In terms of spatial gradients, spotty abundance and size increased with distance into the harbour. The spatial gradient present for spotty indicates the importance of placing the habitat dependency of juvenile fish into a landscape context. Overall, these results demonstrate that maintaining structured habitats may be an important consideration for some valuable inshore fish populations in northeastern New Zealand.