D. Rowe et al., Reduced abundance of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) and other native fish in turbid rivers of the North Island of New Zealand, NZ J MAR FR, 34(3), 2000, pp. 545-556
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
Laboratory experiments demonstrated that migrant juvenile banded kokopu (Ga
laxias fasciatus Gray) were more sensitive to suspended sediment (SS) than
other native fish species. If juvenile migrants avoid waters made turbid by
SS and their recruitment to adult habitats up stream is reduced, then adul
t abundance may decline in turbid rivers. To test this, we compared the abu
ndance of diadromous native fish between turbid and clear rivers. The durat
ion (% time) for which SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre(-1) (a criti
cal level from laboratory experiments) during the migration season (August-
December) was estimated for over 150 New Zealand river sites. Turbid rivers
were defined as those where SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre(-1) fo
r over 20% of the time and clear rivers as those where SS concentrations ex
ceeded 120 mg litre(-1) for less than 10% of the time. Eight turbid rivers
and seven clear ones were identified where sufficient data on SS and native
fish populations existed to permit a comparison. The mean occurrence of ba
nded kokopu was reduced by 89.5% in turbid rivers and, although other diadr
omous fish species were also less common, banded kokopu was most affected.
Densities of adult banded kokopu were also significantly lower in optimal s
tream habitats in three turbid compared with three matched clear rivers. We
then:fore concluded that the abundance of adult banded kokopu was reduced
in turbid rivers and propose that this is because of reduced recruitment of
juveniles in turbid rivers.