Data

The ecology and trophic role of caridean shrimps in the eelgrass community of Western Port, Victoria

Australian Ocean Data Network
Howard, Robert K.
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/268431c0-f18e-11dc-aaae-00188b4c0af8&rft.title=The ecology and trophic role of caridean shrimps in the eelgrass community of Western Port, Victoria&rft.identifier=https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/268431c0-f18e-11dc-aaae-00188b4c0af8&rft.description=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.Statement: SITE DESCRIPTION Three sites were sampled regularly during the study. Site A (?MB?) was offshore about 1 km from the shoreline and was characterized by spatially heterogeneous cover of Heterozostera tasmanica. Mean water depth was about 2 m at high tide and 10-15 cm at low tide and the sediment was silt/clay with a small sandy component. Site B (?IB?) was close to the landward margin of the eelgrass bed and was dominated by Zostera muelleri. The water at Site B was never exposed during low tide and the substrate was similar to Site A. Site C (?OB?) was in the subtidal zone about 100 m seaward of the northern edge of the tidal flats. Vegetation cover at this site was sparse with algae generally predominating over seagrass. The water at low tide was about 10 m deep and the substrate was coarse and shelly with low organic content. FIELD SAMPLING A beam trawl method was used to sample the shrimp population at Site A at 4 week intervals between 7 August 1977 and 27 November 1978 and at 8 weeks intervals thereafter until 14 January 1980. Samples were collected 1-4 hours after sunset during high tide. The inshore Site B was sampled on the same days as until 25 September 1978. The samples from Site B were collected slightly earlier in the night using a smaller net on the trawler. The smaller net was also used to sample Site C at monthly intervals from 20 August 1978 to 6 February 1979 and every 2 months thereafter until 25 February 1980. The beam trawl was a net mounted on a sled that was towed at ~ 4 km/hr along a standard trawl route, which were 168 m long at Site A and 200 m long at Site B. At Site C, each trawl began about 100 m offshore and ran parallel to the outer margin of the mudbank in a westerly direction at a constant speed (~ 4 km/hr) for 2.5 minutes. Plankton trawls were made on the same nights as the beam trawls from 5 July 1977 to 27 November 1978. A plankton net of 254 micron mesh and 30 cm mouth diameter was towed above the eelgrass beds at high tide for 5 minutes. All samples collected from the trawls were preserved in 5% seawater-formalin and returned to the laboratory for counting and identification.&rft.creator=Howard, Robert K. &rft.date=1981&rft.coverage=westlimit=145.30; southlimit=-38.48; eastlimit=145.30; northlimit=-38.48&rft.coverage=westlimit=145.30; southlimit=-38.48; eastlimit=145.30; northlimit=-38.48&rft_rights=Contact point of contact for more information about the data&rft_rights=This metadata may be downloaded for the use in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968&rft_subject=biota&rft_subject=Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates | Malacostraca | carid shrimps&rft_subject=Biosphere | Zoology | Invertebrates&rft_subject=Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates&rft_subject=Biosphere | Vegetation | Flowering Plants | eelgrass&rft_subject=POPULATION DYNAMICS&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE&rft_subject=BIOSPHERE&rft_subject=ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS&rft_subject=SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS&rft_subject=TROPHIC DYNAMICS&rft_subject=ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS&rft_subject=COMMUNITY STRUCTURE&rft_subject=COMMUNITY DYNAMICS&rft_subject=Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Predation&rft_subject=Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Benthic Habitat | tidal flats&rft_subject=Rhyll&rft_subject=Phillip Island&rft_subject=Western Port Bay&rft_subject=carid shrimp&rft_subject=Macrobrachium spp.&rft_subject=28 756901&rft_subject=Pontophilus candidus&rft_subject=28 781018&rft_subject=hump-backed shrimp&rft_subject=Hippolyte caradina&rft_subject=28 767018&rft_subject=carid prawn&rft_subject=Chlorotocella leptorhyncus&rft_subject=28 770020&rft_subject=eelgrass&rft_subject=Heterozostera tasmanica&rft_subject=63 619004&rft_subject=Zostera muelleri&rft_subject=63 619003&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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Brief description

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.

Lineage

Statement: SITE DESCRIPTION Three sites were sampled regularly during the study. Site A (?MB?) was offshore about 1 km from the shoreline and was characterized by spatially heterogeneous cover of Heterozostera tasmanica. Mean water depth was about 2 m at high tide and 10-15 cm at low tide and the sediment was silt/clay with a small sandy component. Site B (?IB?) was close to the landward margin of the eelgrass bed and was dominated by Zostera muelleri. The water at Site B was never exposed during low tide and the substrate was similar to Site A. Site C (?OB?) was in the subtidal zone about 100 m seaward of the northern edge of the tidal flats. Vegetation cover at this site was sparse with algae generally predominating over seagrass. The water at low tide was about 10 m deep and the substrate was coarse and shelly with low organic content. FIELD SAMPLING A beam trawl method was used to sample the shrimp population at Site A at 4 week intervals between 7 August 1977 and 27 November 1978 and at 8 weeks intervals thereafter until 14 January 1980. Samples were collected 1-4 hours after sunset during high tide. The inshore Site B was sampled on the same days as until 25 September 1978. The samples from Site B were collected slightly earlier in the night using a smaller net on the trawler. The smaller net was also used to sample Site C at monthly intervals from 20 August 1978 to 6 February 1979 and every 2 months thereafter until 25 February 1980. The beam trawl was a net mounted on a sled that was towed at ~ 4 km/hr along a standard trawl route, which were 168 m long at Site A and 200 m long at Site B. At Site C, each trawl began about 100 m offshore and ran parallel to the outer margin of the mudbank in a westerly direction at a constant speed (~ 4 km/hr) for 2.5 minutes. Plankton trawls were made on the same nights as the beam trawls from 5 July 1977 to 27 November 1978. A plankton net of 254 micron mesh and 30 cm mouth diameter was towed above the eelgrass beds at high tide for 5 minutes. All samples collected from the trawls were preserved in 5% seawater-formalin and returned to the laboratory for counting and identification.

Notes

Credit
Dr. Graeme Watson
Purpose
(i) Assess the population dynamics of the shrimp species in Western Port Bay. (ii) Determine the diet of each shrimp species. (iii) Examine the role of shrimp as prey of higher trophic consumers. (iv) Document the differences in behaviour between shrimp species. (v) Identify physical and biological factors that are important in determining the structure of shrimp populations.

Issued: 20 10 1981

Data time period: 1977-07-05 to 1980-01-14

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145.3,-38.48

145.3,-38.48

text: westlimit=145.30; southlimit=-38.48; eastlimit=145.30; northlimit=-38.48

Subjects
28 756901 | 28 767018 | 28 770020 | 28 781018 | 63 619003 | 63 619004 | 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 | Heterozostera tasmanica | Hippolyte caradina | Macrobrachium spp. | Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates | Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates | Malacostraca | carid shrimps | Population Dynamics | Phillip Island | Pontophilus candidus | Rhyll | SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS | Trophic Dynamics | Western Port Bay | Zostera muelleri | biota | carid prawn | carid shrimp | eelgrass | hump-backed shrimp |

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  • global : 268431c0-f18e-11dc-aaae-00188b4c0af8