LARVAL ECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY OF METAPENAEUS-ENSIS AND M-ENDEAVOURI IN THE GULF-OF-CARPENTARIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSESSED FROM THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE PROTOZOEAL STAGES

Plankton samples were collected during six cruises in the Gulf of Carp entaria. Australia, between May 1976 and March 1977. Prawn larvae were identified to genus level, and then Metapenaeus protozoeae were ident ified using discriminant analysis of morphological characters. The maj ority of larvae identified were either Metapenaeus ensis or Metapenaeu s endeavouri. Metapenaeus endeavouri larvae were only found in coastal regions. Although numbers of this species were low during most months sampled, abundance peaked during January and March 1977. Metapenaeus ensis larvae were widely distributed, in both coastal and offshore are as, and were present throughout the year. Highest abundances were obse rved in January 1977. The Gulf-wide distribution of adult prawns was a lso assessed by exploratory trawling during one cruise in May 1976; du ring this cruise, adult M.ensis were also found offshore, in areas not frequented by commercial fishing vessels. Therefore, this species.may be more widely distributed than was previously thought.