Brief description
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.Lineage
Statement: The stomach contents of 10 Royal Spoonbills, 31 Sacred Ibis, and 8 White-faced Herons were collected from the mudflats at low tide during the day from 1978 to 1980. Shrimps found in the stomachs of the birds and fish were identified, sexed and the carapace length measured. The density of the 3 abundant species of wading birds was established by conducting regular counts of feeding individuals on the mudflats. All fish in the beam trawl samples were considered as potential predators of shrimp and were identified to species level and total length recorded. Shrimps found in the guts of fish were identified, measured for carapace length, and sexed where possible.Notes
CreditDr. Graeme Watson
Issued: 20 10 1981
Data time period: 1977-07-05 to 1980-01-14
text: westlimit=145.30; southlimit=-38.48; eastlimit=145.30; northlimit=-38.48
Subjects
28 756901 |
28 767018 |
28 770020 |
28 781018 |
37 068004 |
37 287018 |
63 619003 |
63 619004 |
Ardea novaehollandiae |
Australian cobbler |
BIOSPHERE |
Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Benthic Habitat | tidal flats |
Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Predation |
Biosphere | Vegetation | Flowering Plants | eelgrass |
Biosphere | Zoology | Invertebrates |
COMMUNITY DYNAMICS |
Community Structure |
Chlorotocella leptorhyncus |
EARTH SCIENCE |
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS |
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS |
Gymnapistes marmoratus |
Heterozostera tasmanica |
Hippolyte caradina |
Macrobrachium spp. |
Muraenichthys breviceps |
Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates |
Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates | Malacostraca | carid shrimps |
Population Dynamics |
Phillip Island |
Platalea regia |
Pontophilus candidus |
Rhyll |
Royal Spoonbill |
SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS |
Sacred Ibis |
Short-headed worm-eel |
Trophic Dynamics |
Threskiornis aethiopica |
Western Port Bay |
White-faced Heron |
Zostera muelleri |
biota |
carid prawn |
carid shrimps |
eelgrass |
hump-backed shrimp |
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Other Information
global : 268431c0-f18e-11dc-aaae-00188b4c0af8
Identifiers
- global : 2174da00-0051-11dd-bea0-00188b4c0af8