Common bivalve larvae from New Zealand: Mytilacea |
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Authors: | J. D. Booth |
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Affiliation: | 1. Marine Laboratory, Department of Zoology , Victoria University of Wellington , Private Bag, Wellington, New Zealand;2. Fisheries Research Division , Ministry of Agriculture &3. Fisheries , P.O. Box 19–062, Wellington, New Zealand. |
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Abstract: | The late stage larvae of five common mytilid bivalves (Mollusca: Pelecypoda: Mytilacea) are described and provisionally identified as Mytilus edulis aoteanus, Modiolus areolatus, Perna canaliculus, Xenostrobus pulex, and Modiolarca impacta. All are readily distinguishable on the basis of larval shell features, including hinge structure. However, one common species, Aulacomya maoriana, was not discerned, and thus the identifications must remain tentative. The larvae were recovered from plankton samples from Bay of Islands (35° 15’ S, 174° 10’ E), Wellington Harbour (41° 16’ S, 174° 51’ E), and Raumati Beach (40° 56’ S, 174° 58’ E), New Zealand, during 1970–72. Their seasonal occurrences in the plankton are described and related to the condition index of the adults as far as possible. |
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Keywords: | micro‐organisms benthos demersal fisheries primary production secondary production biomass carbon energy flow continental shelf sediment Tasman Sea New Zealand |
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