Morphology of lake Waikaremoana,New Zealand,and reconnaissance of its benthic fauna

As shown by an extensive echo‐sounding survey, the morphology of Lake Waikaremoana is a drowned valley system; complex troughs and banks at the eastern end are consistent with infilling and damming by slip material. In September 1972, water temperatures were near isothermal (surface‐bottom, 9.3–8.8°c), and clarity measured by secchi disc averaged 12.2 m. Very fine‐grained clayey silts occur on the surface of sediments throughout the lake.

Five benthic dredging stations yielded ten groups of organisms; of these, oligocheates and gasteropods (Potamopyrgus antipodarum only) occurred most widely, to the greatest depths (248 m), and in the greatest numbers. Animals in the eight remaining groups were few and limited to shallower depths.