This study investigated the influence of environmental factors on the distribution of shrimp in Western Port Bay from July 1977 to January 1980. Water temperature, salinity and oxygen concentrations at the sediment surface were measured from a boat at high tide during the field sampling (see parent record 'The ecology and trophic role of caridean shrimps in the eelgrass community of Western Port, Victoria', File identifier: 268431c0-f18e-11dc-aaae-00188b4c0af8). Additional measurements of low tide surface water temperature over the mudflats, sediments below the mud-water interface, and surface waters of the large, permanent channels between mudbanks were obtained. Above-ground vegetation cover was sampled monthly for 12 months at Site A. The water temperature in the eelgrass ranged from 10 to 24 degrees Celsius during high tide and from 5 to 31 degrees Celsius during low tide. Salinity was close to fully marine throughout the warmer months of 1977-78, but fell to lower levels during the cooler months of 1978, presumably as a result of higher rainfall in the latter period. Oxygen concentrations were above 6 ppm at all sites during high and low tide sampling. The dry mass of above-round eelgrass was spatially heterogeneous with few changes in these patterns between seasons.

This study investigated the influence of predation on the distribution of shrimp in Western Port Bay from July 1977 to January 1980. Predation by birds was determined by analysing the diets and feeding rates of the most abundant wading birds in the area, the Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), the White-faced Heron (Ardea novaehollandiae), and the Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica). Predation by fish was determined by examining the gut contents of fish caught in the beam trawls. The shrimps found in the gut contents were identified and, where possible, sexed and carapace length measured. This study found that the major consumers of shrimps were the scorpaenid, Gymnapistes marmoratus (Australian Cobbler) and the short-headed worm-eel, Muraenichthys breviceps. The Royal Spoonbill feed almost solely on M.intermdieum, whereas the other 2 species of waders feed mostly on infauna. The larger-sized individuals, which tend to be females, are subject so higher predation pressure than other groups within species.

This study investigated the influence of predation on the distribution of shrimp in Western Port Bay from July 1977 to January 1980. Predation by birds was determined by analysing the diets and feeding rates of the most abundant wading birds in the area, the Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), the White-faced Heron (Ardea novaehollandiae), and the Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica). Predation by fish was determined by examining the gut contents of fish caught in the beam trawls. The shrimps found in the gut contents were identified and, where possible, sexed and carapace length measured. This study found that the major consumers of shrimps were the scorpaenid, Gymnapistes marmoratus (Australian Cobbler) and the short-headed worm-eel, Muraenichthys breviceps. The Royal Spoonbill feed almost solely on M.intermdieum, whereas the other 2 species of waders feed mostly on infauna. The larger-sized individuals, which tend to be females, are subject so higher predation pressure than other groups within species.

This study investigated the ecology of caridean shrimp in eelgrass habitats in Western Port Bay, Victoria from July 1977 to January 1980. The study sites were located on the Churchill Tidal Flats on the northern side of Phillip Island, which are dominated by the eelgrass species, Heterozostera tasmanica and the cardiean shrimp species, Macrobrachium intermedium, Pontophilus candidus, Hippolyte caradina and Chlorotocella leptorhyncus. Benthic trawls were used to sample the shrimp populations at an offshore (Site A) and inshore (Site B) eelgrass site. Another site on a mudflat (Site C) was sampled to determine the movement patterns of shrimps between the mudflats and adjacent subtidal eelgrass areas. Sampling was undertaken every 1 to 2 months at night time during high tide. Plankton tows were used to monitor the presence of larval stages of shrimp in the water column. Details of each experiment and results are described in the related records.

This study examined stomach contents of shrimp sampled in the beam trawls in Western Port Bay from July 1977 to January 1980 (see parent record 'The ecology and trophic role of caridean shrimps in the eelgrass community of Western Port, Victoria', File identifier: 268431c0-f18e-11dc-aaae-00188b4c0af8). An evaluation was made of summer and winter diets of Macrobrachium.intermedium, Pontophilus intermedius and Hippolyte caradina. Chlorotocella leptorhyncus was not present in the summer samples, so only the winter diet of this species was determined. Food items in the stomach were identified and the size of intact specimens was measured. All items were counted and assigned to a taxonomic category at the lowest possible level. The relative volume of individual prey items and taxonomic groups was also estimated. During summer, M.intermediaum fed on a mix of animals (small crustaceans, gastropods, and polychaetes) and plant matter, and during winter, the diet was mostly plant matter. Polychaetes were the abundant prey items in the stomachs of P.intermedius, representing close to 70% of the diet in summer and winter. Almost 70% of the overall volume of food consumed by H.caradina was plant matter with small crustaceans, gastropods and insects making up the remaining proportion of the food consumed. The amount of plant matter in the diet increased in the winter months. C.leptorhyncus was found to ingest approximately equal volumes of animal and planter material with polychaetes the most abundant animal prey. The plant matter found in all samples was mostly dead eelgrass tissue.

This study assessed the behaviour patterns of four shrimp species in a laboratory experiment that was repeated on 8 separate occasions throughout 1978. The experiment was set up in aquariums with sediment and eelgrass densities that reflected field conditions in Western Port Bay, Victoria. There were 1 to 3 replicate aquarium per run of the experiment. The shrimps species used in the experiment were the abundant species in eelgrass beds in Western Port Bay, Macrobrachium.intermedium, Pontophilus intermedius and Hippolyte caradina. Chlorotocella leptorhyncus. All shrimp species were present in each aquarium with a maximum of 4 individuals of each of the larger species (M.intermedium and P.intermedius), to avoid behavioral artifacts due to overcrowding. The behaviour activities and vertical distribution of each species relative to the substrate was assessed by making repeated observations on the instantaneous activity and location of individuals over a 4 day period. Observations were made in the night and day and were classified into 4 categories; inactive, grooming, feeding, or walking/swimming. P.intermedius was always inactive during the day, and remained partially buried in surface sediments until night when it emerged to move up into the eelgrass. The relative time devoted to feeding was fairly constant between the other 3 species. Levels of inactivity and grooming behaviour were higher during daylight whereas feeding and walking/swimming was more common at night.

Abundances of reef fish larvae, conspecific adults and habitat type were measured at 5 sites in the Lord Howe Island lagoon. Light traps were deployed daily over a 28 day period in November and December 2004 to estimated larvae abundances. Transects and visual surveys were used to estimate adult abundances and habitat type. Physical characteristics of the lagoon were measured using current meters, tide and wave gauges and the lunar phase was recorded. Abundances of fish larvae was spatially and temporally variable. Different sites had different habitat type and variable adult abundances. Neither habitat type or adult abundances explained spatial variability in fish larvae. Temporal variability in fish larvae was best explained by the moon phase. There was little difference in physical characteristics between sites.

A combination of surveys and experiments were used to determine the size distribution, recruitment, mortality and growth rates of Siphonaria diemenensis in 2 zones on the rocky shore at Griffith Point, San Remo, Victoria. One zone was in the high intertidal (Zone 2) and one was in the low intertidal area on the shore. There were 3 sites in Zone 1 and 2 sites in Zone 2 (see parent record for more details). A size frequency distribution was constructed for each site from surveys that recorded the size of all individuals every 2 months from October 1979 to December 1981. In addition to the sites in Zone 1 there were 12 permanent quadrats (50 x 50cm) which were surveyed in the same manner from December 1980 to December 1981. The sizes of recruits were similar in both Zones but the sizes of adults were significantly greater in Zone 2. In both years, the maximum density of recruits in Zone 1 was greater than in Zone 2. The mortality rate of adult limpets in Zone 2 was lower compared to limpets in Zone 1. The growth rates (mm per month) of marked individuals were calculated for 3 time intervals; January-March, March-May and May-late July (Zone 2) and Mary-early August (Zone 1) in 1981. Limpets in Zone 2 grew faster (average 0.63 mm per month) than the limpets in Zone 1 (average 0.11mm per month). In addition, an experiment was conducted in Zone 1 from May to July in 1981 to determine the effects of adult density and macroalgal cover on limpet recruitment. It was found that there was no effect of adult density but a significant interactive effect of algal cover and sampling date on the number of limpet recruits.

This study surveyed the size distribution of Lepsiella vinosa at 3 sites on the rocky shore at West Head, Victoria. Monthly or bi-monthly searchers were conducted from June 1975 to August 1978 during spring low tide. Every individual L.vinosa found at the 3 sites was measured to the nearest 0.01cm with vernier calipers. To determine recruitment of L.vinosa to the shore, individuals were arbitrarily designated as juveniles (< 0.8 cm) or adult (> 0.8 cm). The type of microhabitat where each individual was found was recorded at Sites 1 and 2 for the searchers conducted in spring (November 1977), summer (January 1978), autumn (April 1978), and winter (August 1978). There were larger individuals of L.vinosa at higher intertidal levels (Site 1) compared to the mid- and lower sites (Sites 2 and 3). The recruitment of juveniles could not be determined from the size frequency distribution at any of the sites. There was more L.vinosa than expected in the rock pool habitats compared to the bare rock in all seasons except for winter at Site 2. There was high variability in abundance in the Lichinia habitat between all seasons and sites.