In the Glentui Iver, Canterburlrr New Zealand
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Fisheries Research Bulletin No. 17 Ag., Growth, and Condition of the Common River Galaxias, Galaxias vulgafis Stokell, in the Glentui iver, Canterburlrr New Zealand by P. L. Cadwallader Fisheries Research Division New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Ag., Growth, and Conclition of the Common River Galaxias, Galaxias vulgaris Stokell, in the Glentui River, Canterbury, New Zealand [4. M. R. Burnet photograph Frontispiece: The common river galaxias, Galaxias vulgaris, a fish which occurs in the rivers and streams of the South Island of New Zealand, mainly to the east of the southern Alps. Fisheries Research Bulletin No. r7 Ag", Growth, and Condition of the Common River Galaxias, Galaxias vulgoris Stokell, in the Glentui River, Canterbu ry, New Zealand b;, P. L. Cadwallader, Department of Zoology, University of CanterburY* I Present address: Fisheries and Wildlite Division, Ministry for Conservat.ion, Snobs Creek Freshwater Fisheries Research Station and Hatchery, Private Bag zo, Alexandra, Victoria 37r4, Australia Fisheries Research Division New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries t9i8 Published by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wellington 1978 rssN 0110_1749 FOREWORD ONE of the aims of Fisheries Research Division has been to build up a background of information on the indigenous freshwater fishes of New Zealan¡J. It is therefore a pleasure to acknowledge the work done by Phillip Cadwallader, which represents another worth-while advance in our under- standing of one of these little-known species. G. DUNCAN WAUGH, Director, Fisheries Research Division. CONTENTS Page 9 1l 11 ll Biological Characteristics 72 GENERAT METHODS 13 Sampling Programme . 13 Electric Fishing l3 Measurement of Length and Weight t4 Sex Determination 14 AGE DETERMINATION. 15 l5 Length-frequency Analysis 20 GROWTH 2l Annual Growth in Length Seasonal Growth in Length Seasonal Growth in Weight LENGTH_WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION . 26 FACTORS AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF G. VULGARIS 28 30 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 30 REFERENCES .. 31 FIGURES Page 1. The study area 10 2. Temperature and rainfall recorded in the study area from June 1970 to May 1971 l1 3. Otoliths of G. vulgaris t6 4. The regression of otolith radius on total length ancl correspondence of annuli in male and female G. vulgaris 17 5 Time of annulus formation in the otoliths of G. vulgaris l8 6. Length-frequency distributions of G. vulgaris from June 1970 to May 1971 .. 19 7. Length-frequency distribution of G. vulgaris in the Glentui River in July 1970, with the length-frequency distributions ofthe component age groups as determined from otoliths . 20 8. T=ength-frequency distributions of samples of G. vulgaris taken in different parts of the Glentui River in 1971 . 22 9. Seasonal growth in weight of male and female G. vulgarisfrom June 1970 to May 1971 24 and 25 10. Two-monthly variation in the length-weight relationship of G. vulgaris . 27 ll. Two-monthly variation in the length-weight relationship and the length-somatic weight relationship for hypothetical male and female G. vulgarii of 100 mm TL 27 TÄ.BLES Page 1. Regular samples (and subsamples) of G. vulgaris taken from the Glentui River . 13 2. Mean, annual, back-calculated lengths of G. vulgaris derived from otoliths, with their 9ílconfrdencelimits .. .. 2l 3 Mean lengths of G. vulgaris in the Glentui River from June 1970 to May l97l . 2l 4 Mean_lengths-and 951 confidence limits of age 0* G. vulgaris caught during the same periods in different paris of the Glentui River - 5 Length-weight relationships oî G. vulgaris from June 1970 to May 1971 26 INTRODUCTIOI\ The family Galaxiidae is widespread in the southern This bulletin presents inlbrmation on some basic temperate region, with species occurring in New population parameters (age, growth, and condition) Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa of the common river galaxias, Galaxias vulgaris and also on some islands near these land masses Stokell, a fish which is restricted to the South Island the (Stokell 1953, Darlingtonl95T, McDowall 1970). The of New Zealand and which is found in most of major river basins to the east of the Southern Alps taxonomy of the group has been the subject of much and also in the Upper Buller River System, to the confusion. However, the work of Stokell (1938, 1945, west of the Alps. It occurs beneath and between (1967, 1949, 1959) and McDowall 1969, 1910, 1972) boulders in fast or broken water of rivers and streams, has greatly clarified the systematics of the New but it is not usually found in streams entering lakes Zealand fauna. Thirteen species are now recognised (Stokell 1949, McDowall 1970). in New Zealand (McDowall 1970, l9l2) and are It was first described by Stokell (1949), who also divided into two genera-Galax¡as with l0 species (Stokell 1959) described Galaxias anomalus, which has and Neochannø wilh 3 species. Apart from Galqxias since been synonymised with G. vulgaris by McDowall maculatus (Jenyns), which forms the basis of a com- (1970). Benzie (1968) compared its life history with mercial and sport fishery (Hopkins and McDowall that of G. maculatus, with particular emphasis on 1970), little attention has been given to the ecology embryological development, growth rates, and of the New Zealand galaxiids. breeding biology. lDepartment of Lands and Survey photograph. Fig. I : Aerial view of the study osition of the waterfall furthest down stream (height is 2.5 m). C_D: Sectiolof the river, atout 1. were taken to obtain data on age, growttr, aÀd óndition ä C.rit- garis. E-F: Section of the rive were taken in March, April, anã liay 197'1, H: Bald Hills Stream, the main tributary of the Gle 10 THE STUDY AREA The investigation was carried out in the Glentui boulders up to 0.7 m in diameter in rifles. There is River in the provincial district of Canterbury, New fìne mud in quiet backwaters and deep pools. Water Zealand. The Glentui arises at an altitude of about velocity (measured with a Gurley No. 625 Pygmy 840 m and flows into the Ashley River at a point velocity gauge) varied from 0 m/s at the bottom of (43" 14' S, 172' 18' E) 180 m above sea level. It the deep pools to a mean of 0.4 m/s in riffies. Surl'ace originates in a forest of mountain beech, Nothofagus water was in the main channel throughout the inves- solandri (Hooker), and in its lower reaches flows tigation, though in the autumn of l97l there was no through cultivated farm land. Its largest tributary is surface water in several other local rivers, including the Bald Hills Stream, which enters the river at an parts of the Ashley River. Although the Glentui is altitude of 300 m. A number of smaller tributaries more stable than many other similar rivers in Canter- carry run-off from the surrounding hills (Fig. 1). bury, severe floods after heavy rainfall often cause the water velocity in the narrowest rifles to exceed 3 m/s. Such flooding precludes the establishment of macro- LOCAL CLIMATE phytes in the main channel and has a pronounced effect on the character of the river bed. Apart from The prevailing winds are from the north-west and isolated stands of Myriophyllum it quieter back- are fairly warm. Air temperatures jn 1970 ranged from a summer maximum of 34.4'c to a winter minimum of -3.9oc, and similarly in 1971 the range A v/as between 33.5" and -4'c. Mean, maximum, and minimum air temperatures from June 1970 to May l97l are presented (A, Fig. 2). Mean annual rainfall (1947-70) for the area is 1080 mm and the period of maximum rainfall is rJ tl usually in spring and early summer, from October to o January (data from New Zealand Meteorological Ð rl o Service). Rainfall from June 1970 to May l91l (¡, o- totalled 880 mm (C, Fig. 2). E É I I THE GLENTUI RIVER tll The distance between the origin of the Glentui ïr River and its point of entry into the Ashley tlil I River is about 9.5 km. Near its origin there is a series of îlll waterfalls ranging in height from 2.5 ro 24m. Sampling was conûned to the stretch of the river below the waterfalls, a section which consisted of riffies interspersed with quiet stretches. There was great variation in both depth and width E of the river within the sampling area. Approximations E based on measurements taken throughout the sam- o .s pling period showed that water depth ranged from o É. 20-30 mm in riffies to 0.7 m in pools formed behind obstacles such as fallen trees, and width varied from 1to9m. DIJ The geological deposits over which the river flows 1970 Time (month:) 1971 are of two main types. Above an altitude of 305 m they are strongly indurated and consist mostly of Fig. 2: Temperature and rainfall recorded in the study alea graded-bedded greywacke and argillite. Below 305 m from June 1970 to May 1971. A: Mean monthly air the deposits consist mainly of glacial outwash gravels temperatures. B: Mean monthly water temperatures. ln (Gregg both A and B the temperature range is indicated by vertical 1964). bars. C: Monthly rainfall (graph), compared with mean monthly rainfall for the 25-year period from 1946 fo 1970 The river bed is composed of fine gravel, with large (histogram). l1 Inset 2 waters, the only plant cover in the river is that pro- The invertebrate fauna was dominated by larval vided by fallen trees and other debris of terrestrial insects, which included species of Ephemeroptera, origin carried down by floods. Trichoptera, Diptera, Plecoptera, Megaloptera, Col- eoptera, and Hemiptera (Cadwallader 1975a, 1975c).