Freshwater bryozoans of New Zealand: a preliminary survey

Five bryozoan species were encountered in a 15-day survey of freshwater hab itats in New Zealand. Listed in order of decreasing frequency these were: F redericella sultana, Plumatella repens, P. emarginata, Paludicella articula ta, and one plumatellid species not previously described. Microstructural f eatures of the floatoblast annulus separate the P. repens specimens into tw o distinct varieties, named here P. repens typica and P. repens rugosa. Pal udicella, reported almost 100 years ago from the City of Dunedin waterworks , was still found only in a single reservoir of that city. Species distribu tion did not correlate significantly with water temperature, current veloci ty, pH, or total dissolved solids. Two additional species believed to occur in New Zealand, Fredericella australiensis and Plumatella fungosa, were no t seen in this brief survey. An identification key is provided for New Zeal and bryozoans.