Diel patterns of mysid drift (Crustacea: Mysidacea) in the Taieri River estuary,New Zealand

Drifting mysids were sampled to determine diel activity, and whether mysid numbers vary with respect to inflowing and outflowing tides. Samples of drifting mysids were collected at the mouth of the Taieri River, New Zealand, over one 24‐h cycle using five replicate conical drift nets in January 1999. One‐night and 1‐day ebb and flood tide were each sampled. Four species of mysid Tenagomysis macropsis, T. novae‐zealandiae, T. robusta, and an apparently undescribed species of Gastrosaccus sp., were collected over the sampling period. One species, T. robusta, has not previously been collected from estuarine or riverine systems. The undescribed Gastrosaccus sp. was the most abundant of the four species. All four species were more abundant at night, with T. robusta and Gastrosaccus sp. being considerably more abundant in the drift on outflowing tides. In contrast, roughly equal numbers of T. macropsis and T. novae‐zealandiae were observed drifting in and out of the estuary at night.     

The Flight Response In Struthiolaria Papulosa Gigas Sowerby

The flight response shown by Struthiolaria papulosa gigas Sowerby on contact with forcipulate asteroids is described. The response consists of repeated somersaults and is similar to that described for Nassarius spp. Tests were carried out to determine the strength and duration of the response after contact with six different species of asteroid. Positive responses occurred only with species of the order Forcipulata and, of the forcipulates tested, Astrostole scabra (Hutton) proved to be the most effective stimulator. It is suggested that this fact may be correlated with the size of the test species. Ecological observations do not support the view that specific predator recognition is necessarily involved in the response.     

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.     

A new species of eucypris (ostracoda) from wellington

Eucypris pratensis sp. nov. is described from Wellington. It is considered conspecific with the one previous record of the genus from North Island, New Zealand.