bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature selections of Anguilla japonica (L.) elvers, and their implications for migration
Authors: Chen YL , Chen H
Published: November 2005

This study investigated the temperature selections of elvers of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica (L.), that had been acclimatized to various temperatures and salinities. The results provide information needed to assess the possible effects of thermal effluents from power plants and of naturally occurring thermal gradients on the freshwater migration and fishery harvest of elvers. A 7.14-m-long plastic pipe (i.d. 11 cm) fitted with two stainless-steel heat-exchange tubes was used for the study. The countercurrent design of the system provided a thermal gradient ranging from 11� C at one end of the pipe to 31� C at the other. Elvers could swim free of obstacles inside the pipe. They were acclimatized to 13, 15, 17, 19 or 21� C before being subjected to the thermal gradient. The distribution of elvers in the pipe was studied during a 24-h period. The results indicate that the temperature to which the elvers gravitated was higher than their acclimatization temperature for acclimatizaion temperatures between 13 and 21�C. The thermal preference of elvers acclimatized to salinities of 10 or 32 did not differ. The temperature- selection pattern of the elvers suggests that thermal effluents from power plants may not adversely affect the immigration of elvers.
Stock assessment of school shark, Galeorhinus galeus, based on a spatially explicit population dynamics model
Authors: Punt André E. , Pribac Fred , Walker Terence I. , Taylor Bruce L. , Prince Jeremy D.
Published: November 2005

The school shark
(Galeorhinus galeus) resource off southern Australia is
assessed by use of an assessment approach that takes account of the spatial
structure of the population. The population dynamics model underlying the
assessment considers the spatial as well as the age-specific characteristics
of school shark. It allows for a series of fisheries (each based on a
different gear type), explicitly models the pupping/recruitment process,
and allows for multiple stocks. The values for the parameters of this model
are determined by fitting it to catch-rate data and information from tagging
studies. The point estimates of the pup production at the start of 1997 range
from 12% to 18% of the pre-exploitation equilibrium size,
depending on the specifications of the assessment. Allowing for spatial
structure and incorporating tag release–recapture data lead to reduced
uncertainty compared with earlier assessments. The status of the resource, as
reflected by the ratio of present to virgin pup production and total (1+)
biomass, is sensitive to the assumed level of movement between the stocks in
New Zealand and those in Australia, with lower values corresponding to higher
levels of movement.
Tracking Coastal Sharks with small boats: Hammerhead Shark Pups as a case study
Authors: Holland KN , Lowe CG , Peterson JD , Gill A
Published: November 2005

Acoustic telemetry techniques have been adapted for use with small boats to facilitate
tracking of nearshore reef species. In addition to permitting tracking in areas where
manoeuvrability and quick responses are required, the system has modest operating
costs that make tracking experiments a viable option for a wide range of researchers.
Tracking and communication equipment can be powered for several days by a single
12-V 8D truck battery. Current topics in shark biology that are amenable to these tracking
techniques are discussed. For instance, hammerhead pups have been tracked on their
natal grounds for periods of up to 13 days.
Their daytime movements appeared to be restricted to a well defined 'core area' where
a school of sharks hovered between 1 and 3 m off the lagoon floor. At night, the sharks
became more active, expanding their range of movements before returning to the core
area the next morning.
Reproductive strategy of the Australian Sharpnose Shark, Rhizoprionodon taylori (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhinidae), from Cleveland Bay, Northern Queensland
Authors: Simpfendorfer CA
Published: November 2005

Reproduction and early embryo development of Rhizoprionodon taylori from Cleveland Bay,
Queensland, was studied on the basis of 455 specimens caught between May 1987 and
February 1990. Males and females mature at sizes larger than those reported from northern
Western Australia, the Northern Territory and far northern Queensland. Mating occurs annually
in summer, and the gestation period is approximately 11.5 months. After development to a
small blastodermic disc, the embryos enter a state of diapause that lasts approximately 7 months.
R. taylori is the only species of shark that is known to have a period of embryonic diapause.
The litter size ranges from 1 to 10 (mean 4.9, being markedly larger than that for other carcharhinid
species of a similar size. The size at birth is 220- 260 mm. The reproductive and developmental
traits are discussed in relation to the life histories of this species and other carcharhinids.
Reproductive biology of the Bigeye Thresher Shark, Alopias superciliosus (Lowe, 1939)
Authors: Moreno J , Moron J
Published: November 2005

More than 1000 specimens of Alopias superciliosus from fisheries exploited by the Spanish fishing fleet
in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean (from Cape SLo Vicente to the Ivory Coast) and in the western
Mediterranean Sea (i.e. west of an imaginary line between Monaco and Algiers) were observed in
discontinuous samples between 1981 and 1989. Ten gravid females, 20 fetuses and a large number of
egg capsules were studied in detail. The embryo morphology provided evidence of ovophagy. Size at
birth was probably at least 100 cm. Six males with total lengths of 400-410 cm exceeded the previously
reported maximum length for this sex. The characteristics of the claspers and deferent ducts suggested
a total length at maturity of about 276 cm for males. The smallest gravid female was 341 cm long.
Also described are litter sizes, indications of reproductive seasonality, and the possible existence of a
nursery area in waters off the south-western Iberian peninsula.
Electrophoretic analysis of Phylogenetic relationships among Australian Carcharhinid Sharks
Authors: Lavery S
Published: November 2005

The phylogenetic relationships of 17 species of carcharhinid sharks and four other
closely related species were examined by allozyme electrophoresis. Genetic data
from 38 loci were used in three different techniques of phylogeny reconstruction (including
both phenetic and cladistic methods). The two most instructive trees were produced by
using maximum parsimony (PAUP) and Distance Wagner procedures. There was evidence
that both the genus Carcharhinus and the family Carcharhinidae may actually comprise
paraphyletic groups. A number of proposed morphological species groups were shown
to also be closely related genetically. These included C. limbatus/C. tilstoni/C. amblyrhynchoides,
C. melanopterus/C. cautus, and C. amblyrhynchos/C. albimarginatus. There appears to be a
distinct lineage within the Carcharhinidae that may be characterized by the absence of the
interdorsal ridge.
Trends in the distribution, species composition and size of sharks caught by Gamefish Anglers off South-eastern Australia, 1961-90
Authors: Pepperell JG
Published: November 2005

Records of shark captures were extracted from the archives of 10 of the major New South Wales
gamefishing clubs that operate from ports located between latitudes 33�s and 37�s. Although
organized game fishing began off eastern Australia in 1936, the majority of catches were made
after 1960. Data normally recorded by these clubs included common name of shark, whole weight,
locality of capture, boat name and angler. Recognized single species of sharks recorded by these
clubs were blue (Prionace glauca), tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), white (Carcharodon carcharias),
shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) and grey nurse (Carcharias taurus). Species identified only to
generic level, and recorded by clubs, were whalers or requiem sharks (Carcharhinus spp.),
hammerheads (Sphyrna spp.) and threshers (Alopias spp.). Analysis of catch records indicated
that the mako shark was the most common species caught overall, although whaler sharks
dominated the catch in the northern part of the study area and hammerhead sharks dominated
the catch in the south. Grey nurse and white sharks were relatively rare in the southern part of the
study area. Whaler sharks dominated the catch in the 1960s, and the proportions of blue and tiger
sharks in the catch increased in the 1980s. Size ranges and distributions of some species also
varied through time and by area. Some of the observed changes could be attributed to changed
fishing practices, particularly the increasing popularity of tag-and-release and an increasing tendency
to fish further from the coast. A marked decline in the number and proportion of white sharks in the
catch since the 1970s gives cause for some concern regarding the status of that species off
south-eastern Australia.
Blue and Mako Shark by-catch in the Japanese Longline Fishery off South-eastern Australia
Authors: Stevens JD
Published: November 2005

During the last 10 years, up to 70 Japanese longline vessels have fished Tasmanian waters
of the Australian Fishing Zone each season, targeting bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii).
The average seasonal fishing effort in Tasmanian waters is about 3.3 million hooks,
and data from observers suggests that, this results in a by-catch of some 34 000 blue sharks
(Prionace glauca) each year, representing a weight of about 275 tonnes. In the last few years,
fishing effort has increased as the catch rates of southern bluefin tuna have declined. The sharks
are discarded after removal of the fins. The actual number of blue sharks hooked is much higher
than 34000 because many are released by either shaking or cutting them off the line, although
they are often damaged in the process. The majority of blue sharks caught are immature or
adolescent females. Smaller numbers of shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) are also
caught and retained both for their fins and their meat. Tasmanian waters represent only one area
of the Australian Fishing Zone fished by Japanese longliners.
Economics of resource conservation in a commercial shark fishery
Authors: Campbell D , Battaglene T , Shafron W
Published: November 2005

In 1988, a management plan was introduced into the southern shark fishery in response
to concerns over the depressed state of shark stocks. Compared with stocks in the 1970s,
stocks in 1986 were estimated to have been fished down by 60-90%. The management plan
was introduced with the intention of protecting shark stocks and, in the longer term, allowing
them to recover to previous numbers. The plant was based on restrictions on the number
of boats and on the amount of gill-netting that could be used in the fishery (McGregor
1988). These and subsequent management controls have not only protected shark stocks but
also affected the use of labour and other scarce resources for catching shark.
The purpose of this paper is to show, through an examination of the Australian southern
shark fishery, how management can be used to conserve shark stocks and address wider
issues of resource use.
Long-term studies of Serum Concentrations of reproductively related Steriod Hormones in individual captive Carcharhinids
Authors: Rasmussen LEL , Murru FL
Published: November 2005

Valuable information on maturity and reproductive status can be obtained by the measurement of the
concentrations of steroid hormones in the serum of captive carcharhinid sharks. The sharks at Sea
World of Florida, Orlando, Florida, include mature females of several species of placental sharks.
Serial serum samples from four mature female Carcharhinus plumbeus, one maturing female C. leucas,
and one mature and one nearly mature female Negaprion brevirostris were used to determine serum
concentrations of 17�-oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. The data from
these mature placental sharks were then compared with concentrations measured in immature female
and male conspecifics and in mature female Eugomphodus taurus (family Odontaspididae). Evidence
of repetitive cyclical patterns was obtained from a mature female N. brevirostris. This shark was
monitored from June 1988 to July 1990 by means of more than 50 samples that were often obtained
at weekly intervals. Concentrations of 17�-oestradiol in the serum of this shark varied in a cyclical
fashion, with the highest values obtained in Year 1 (1988-89) being during April (the normal mating
season) and those in Year 2 (1989-90) being during June. Concomitant elevations of testosterone
concentrations were observed either simultaneously or immediately before or after maximal oestradiol
concentrations were noted. Progesterone concentrations were low except for definitive spikes that
immediately preceded the maximal concentrations of testosterone and 17�-oestradiol. These periodicities
suggest, for placental sharks, that consistently rising oestradiol concentrations may set in motion
preovulatory events, that testosterone may be important for the initiation of subsequent ovulatory
events, and that transitory elevations of progesterone concentrations may have specific short-term roles.
These cyclical changes in the concentrations of steroid hormones observed in captive elasmobranchs
support observations of hormone concentrations during reproduction in wild carcharhinids.
Assessment of catches from Protective Shark meshing off NSW beaches between 1950 and 1990
Authors: Reid DD , Krogh M
Published: November 2005

Mesh netting of beaches along the more populous sections of the NSW coast for the protection of
swimmers and surfers against shark attack has been carried out since 1937 in Sydney and since 1949
in Newcastle and Wollongong. Data for the catches of sharks by taxonomic groups are presented for
the period from 1950 to 1990. Although there were large year-to-year fluctuations, neither catch nor
catch per unit effort showed any discernible trend for the period up to 1972. In 1973, the catches of
all taxonomic groups increased substantially following changes to the specifications of nets and their
deployment. Since 1974, there has been a continuing decline in both the numbers of sharks caught and
the catch per unit effort. Although Carcharhinus spp. (whalers) and Carcharodon carcharias (white
pointer sharks) have shown an almost unbroken decline since the commencement of meshing, Sphyrna
spp. (hammerheads) and Squatina australis (angel sharks) have shown large fluctuations over the entire
study period, particularly in the period following the upgrading of netting effectiveness (post-1973).
Substantial changes have occurred in the size compositions of a number of the taxonomic groups
between the first and second 20-year periods of the meshing programme. High proportions of S.
Australis and Carcharias taurus (grey nurse sharks) were females. There were major differences in the
species compositions of catches between the three major meshing areas and between the pre- and post-
1973 periods. Data on the catches of nontarget species for the Newcastle region for the period from
1965-66 to 1980-81 indicated significant increases in the catches of rays and jewfish in the post-1973
period. Post-1973 changes in the catches of dolphins, turtles and tunas were not statistically significant.
Effects of capture and confinement on plasma cortisol concentrations in the snapper, Pagrus auratus
Authors: Pankhurst NW , Sharples DF
Published: November 2005

Snapper (Pagrus auratus) were captured and their blood was sampled underwater by SCUBA divers.
Cortisol concentrations in normally active fish ranged from 1.7 to 8.0 ng mL-1, with concentrations
being highest in winter during the period when fish were sexually regressed. Underwater confinement
in a net led to measurable increases in plasma cortisol (27 ng mL-1) by 60 min after capture. Fish
captured by rod and line and confined in a 200-L tank on board the capture vessel showed a similar
response latency. Further fish were captured by longlining or trawling and confined as before for
periods of up to 1 h. Fish captured by a longline set for 1.5 h had initial mean plasma cortisol
concentrations of 22 ng mL-1. These increased further over 60 min to a maximum of 58 ng mL-1.
There was no difference in plasma cortisol between fish that were serially sampled or bled only once,
indicating that increases in cortisol concentrations were due to capture stress and not the handling
protocol. Plasma cortisol concentrations in fish taken by longlines set for up to 12 h remained high,
showing that recovery from stress did not occur in fish left on the longline. Trawled fish showed
similar increases in plasma cortisol, with concentrations reaching 42 ng mL-1 at 60 min after capture.
Fish transferred to a 3000-L holding tank in the laboratory following capture by longline initially had
high plasma cortisol concentrations (70 ng mL-1) . Concentrations remained high for at least 12 h
but fell to 9 ng mL-1 after 48 h in the laboratory. The possible consequences of elevated cortisol
concentrations for fish husbandry after capture and for post-mortem tissue quality are discussed.
Suitability of the manta tow technique for estimating relative and absolute abundances of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci L. ) and corals
Authors: Moran PJ , De'ath G
Published: November 2005

The manta tow technique has been used mainly for broad-scale surveys of large coral reef systems.
The present study comprised two separate investigations of the technique. One involved investigating
its repeatability by comparing the performance of three observers towed together along a reef. The
other compared the counts of crown-of-thorns starfish from manta tow and SCUBA swim surveys
undertaken within 30 large areas on eight reefs. Overall, the technique was found to be highly repeatable,
particularly for crown-of-thorns starfish and live coral cover. It was less repeatable for assessing
the cover of dead coral, although this was still within acceptable limits. A strong statistical relationship
(r2adj = 0.91) was found between the starfish counts obtained from manta tows and those obtained
from SCUBA swim surveys. Consequently, the former can be calibrated to predict the latter. The
crown-of-thorns starfish is known to be cryptic and to have an aggregated distribution. However, the
present study showed that the manta tow technique is a reasonably accurate and cost-effective option
for determining relative changes in the distribution and abundance of noncryptic starfish where the unit
of interest is a whole reef (or a large part thereof). As a comparison, approximately 14 manta tows
(each lasting 2 min) will give the same level of accuracy as 10 SCUBA swim surveys of the same fixed
area. The sensitivity of the manta tow technique in detecting relative changes in abundance will depend
on the number of tows that are conducted. As a guide, however, a typical manta tow survey (involving
approximately 50-60 tows) is capable of detecting a 20% change in the abundance of an out-breaking
population of crown-of-thorns starfish. Given these findings, the manta tow technique also may be
useful for assessing relative changes in the distribution and abundance of other organisms.
Manganese speciation in Magela Creek, northern Australia
Authors: Hart BT , Noller BN , Legras C , Currey N
Published: November 2005

The speciation of Mn has been studied in Magela Creek, a tropical river in northern Australia containing
water characterized by low pH, high temperature and extremely low ionic strength. Low
concentrations (about 2-5�g L-1) of soluble Mn (i.e. filtration size <0.02�m) are typically found
in these waters during the wet season, the main natural sources apparently being rainwater and
groundwater. An additional source of soluble Mn has been identified, possibly being seepage from a
mine retention pond. Rather surprisingly, the concentration of colloidal Mn (0.4-0.02�m) was almost
three times higher than that of soluble Mn and was correlated with it. The primary process controlling
the concentration of soluble Mn in this system appears to be rapid adsorption of soluble Mn to existing
colloidal matter, followed by slower transfer of part of this surface-bound Mn to the interior of the
colloid. Colloidal Mn is postulated to have a particularly long lifetime in this system because the
removal process (aggregation to form particulate Mn) would be slow due to the extremely low
concentrations of Ca and Mg ions during the wet season.
A mixing experiment, undertaken to provide information on the possible fate of Mn in a mine
retention pond if this wastewater should be discharged to the creek, clearly showed that Mn would be
rapidly removed from the water column via colloidal and particulate forms. The precise mechanism
was shown to be complex, depending upon the amount and characteristics of the colloidal and
particulate matter present at the time of discharge, the changes in the Ca and Mg concentrations (which
would influence the rate of aggregation), and the amount of turbulence in the creek.
Nutrient status of Lake Liddel, New South Wales: mass loadings of nitrogen and phosphurus, industrial modification, and trophic state
Authors: Royle RN , King RJ
Published: November 2005

The concentrations of nitratehitrite-N, Kjeldahl-N and total P in point-source additions to and losses
from Lake Liddell (32° 22'S,150° 1'E) were measured fortnightly from September 1987 to September
1988. These data were used in conjunction with flow-rate data to construct a nitrogen and phosphorus
budget from Lake Liddell. The annual net point-source loadings of nitrogen and phosphorus were
23 400 and 5700 kg, respectively. There was little relationship between changes in lake nutrient concentrations
and fortnightly mass loadings. The mean molar N: P ratio for point source mass additions
was 13: 1, whereas that within the lake was 33: 1. These features indicate that within-lake processes
were the dominant processes in determining lake nutrient concentrations. Retention in the sediments of
a greater proportion of the total P pool than of the total-N pool appeared to be one of these processes.
The use of Lake Liddell water in power-station operations resulted in substantial increases in nitrate/
nitrite-N and total-P concentrations in waters returned to the lake. The use of Dillon's model to
predict mean annual total-P concentrations from mass loadings indicates that Lake Liddell is on the
border between mesotrophic and eutrophic states.
Aquatic hyphomycetes from different substrates: substrate preference and seasonal occurrence
Authors: Thomas K , Chilvers GA , Norris RH
Published: November 2005

Aquatic hyphomycetes occurring in an Australian upland stream (Lees Creek) were sampled from
naturally submerged substrates derived from the riparian vegetation. Substrates sampled were bark and
phyllodes of Acacia melanoxylon; bark, leaves and twigs of Eucalyptus viminalis; leaves of Pomaderris
aspera; fronds of a fern, Blechnum nudum; and leaves of a sedge, Cyperus sp. A total of 47 species
of hyphomycetes was detected overall, with maximum subsets of 34 species being recorded from eucalypt
twigs and sedge leaves and the minimum number of 28 species being recorded from eucalypt leaves.
The fungi showed significant substrate preferences, although no species was confined to a single
substrate. Possible reasons for substrate preferences are advanced. The patterns of occurrence of the
various fungal species were sufficiently distinct that most substrates could be predicted with a high
degree of success from a knowledge of the fungal flora sampled from them. Patterns of occurrence
varied with season, probably influenced by changing substrate availability and water temperature.
Pattern of outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci L. ) along the Great Barrier Reef since 1966
Authors: Moran PJ , De'ath G , Baker VJ , Bass DK , Christie CA , Miller IR , Miller-Smith BA , Thompson AA
Published: November 2005

Two series of outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (L.), have been recorded
on the Great Barrier Reef since the early 1960s. Data from scientific surveys and reliable unpublished
observations were analysed statistically to quantify the pattern of movement of these outbreaks.
Data on outbreak populations were obtained from 84 and 97 reefs for the periods 1966-74 and 1979-91,
respectively. Outbreaks during the former period were found to occur further south with time, their
rate of movement increasing from 49 km year-1 in 1966 to almost 81 km year-1 by 1974. Two sets
of outbreaks were identified during the 1979-91 period, one occurring to the north, and the other to
the south, of latitude 16�s. The 'southern drift' in outbreaks was found to be the more dominant
of the two, 'travelling faster' for a greater period. Its initial rate of movement was estimated at
77 km year-1 compared with 57 km year -1 for the 'northern drift'. The latter travelled 150 km before
it stopped in 1984. In contrast, the 'southern drift' had travelled a distance of 560 km by 1991,
although it had also become almost stationary by then. Outbreaks that moved south during 1979-91
followed a path similar to those that occurred in the 1966-74 period. This similarity in the outbreak
paths was particularly evident during the first 6 years of each period. In all, 35 reefs were recorded
as experiencing both outbreaks, the average time between each being 14.68 years. The origin of the
northern and southern patterns in the 1979-91 period was found to coincide, suggesting that the likely
epicentre for primary outbreaks is close to latitude 16�s.
Larval dispersal simulations: correlation with the crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks database
Authors: James MK , Scandol JP
Published: November 2005

The work reported in this paper is a further development of results from a research programme whose
principal objective is to achieve an understanding of the large-scale population dynamics of Acanthaster
planci. The research is based on the development and use of numerical models of hydrodynamics and
resulting larval dispersal throughout a large portion of the Great Barrier Reef. It is chiefly concerned
with the large-scale statistical patterns of larval dispersal, the central hypothesis being that passive
hydrodynamic dispersal plays an important role in the recruitment process.
The present aim is to examine more closely than has been done before the consistencies between the
modelling results and the database of recorded observations of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
Reefs in the Cairns and Central Sections of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park that were recorded
as carrying active outbreaks during the period 1979-89 were used as sources in a programme of intensive
simulations of Acanthaster larval dispersal under forcing by the wind, tidal action and the East
Australian Current. The resulting broad-scale patterns of larval dispersal were found to be in strong
qualitative agreement with the observed spatial and temporal distribution of adult Acanthaster populations.
Statistical analysis of the results revealed a strong positive correlation between potential
recruitment on surveyed reefs, as estimated by the dispersal simulations, and the observed presence of
outbreak populations on those reefs. The correlation was particularly strong when different cross-shelf
zones were considered separately.
Hydrodynamics and larval dispersal: a population model of Acanthaster planci on the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Scandol JP , James MK
Published: November 2005

This paper presents results of a modelling study of the large-scale population dynamics of Acanthaster
planci in the central Great Barrier Reef. Dispersal patterns generated by larval transport models are
used to drive the simulation. Population flow through the reef matrix during outbreaks is simulated by
using an elementary representation of the starfish life cycle. Features of the results include the following:
(I) Population patterns generated by the model are consistent with observations of starfish
outbreaks.
(2) The overall impact of starfish populations undergoing an outbreak on the reef system decreases
with a southward shift in the location of initial outbreaks.
(3) Within the central Great Barrier Reef, outbreak populations of starfish generally occur more
frequently on the inner- and central-matrix reefs than on the outer-matrix reefs.
Review of the genetics, dispersal and recruitment of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)
Authors: Benzie JAH
Published: November 2005

The lack of genetic structuring reported for Acanthaster planci (L.) from major biogeographical zones
(i.e. Indian Ocean versus Pacific) may reflect a lack of data rather than confirmation of a recent and
rapid dispersal of the species worldwide. The low level of genetic variation among A. planci populations
throughout the Pacific is evidence of high levels of gene flow throughout this region. However, gene
flow among widely separated reef complexes (average number of migrants per generation, N/em,
approximately 2) is an order of magnitude less than that occurring within highly connected reef systems
like the Ryukyus and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) (Nem approximately 20). The genetic similarity
between North-west Pacific and Australian populations is likely to reflect gene flow to each place from
the central Indo-West Pacific region. Populations peripheral to the species' main distribution show
greater genetic differentiation, probably as a result of founder effect. Some, like the Hawaiian and
western Australian populations, show reduced genetic diversity, implying colonization by a very small
number of individuals or a recent severe bottleneck in population size. Western Australian populations
appear to have been derived from eastern Australian populations in the Pacific rather than Indian
Ocean sources. On the GBR, genetic differentiation is low among populations that are undergoing
outbreaks but there is significant differentiation among populations that are not involved in outbreaks;
this suggests that a single primary source is the origin of outbreaks on the GBR. The development of
distinctive DNA markers may also allow the detailed tracking of dispersal routes of A. planci and of
recruitment within reefs.
Settlement and recruitment of Acanthatser planci on the Great Barrier Reef: questions of process and scale
Authors: Johnson C
Published: November 2005

This paper briefly reviews information on settlement and recruitment of Acanthaster planci in the
Great Barrier Reef (GBR) system, with emphasis on the recent phenomenon of population outbreaks
of the starfish. Observations that recent outbreaks have occurred in two series of activity (1962-77 and
1979-91+), each characterized by a southward wave of infestations in the central section of the GBR,
and that outbreaks are not preceded by observable increases in densities of juveniles, have important
implications for settlement and recruitment processes. The pattern of outbreaks indicates that primary
outbreaks occur infrequently and unpredictably in the vicinity of 16�s. However, it is not possible to
assert that primary outbreaks have not occurred elsewhere in the GBR system, and isolated outbreaks
at the southern end of the GBR may be primary events. Present data are insufficient to discern whether
recruitment leading to primary outbreaks is by mass settlement of larvae or aggregation of adult starfish
of various ages. In contrast, evidence indicates strongly that the majority of outbreaks in the system
are secondary infestations as a result of water-borne transport and subsequent mass settlements of
planktonic larvae seeded by other outbreak populations (and initially by populations undergoing primary
outbreaks). The likelihood and pattern of secondary outbreaks is influenced by several parameters
that operate at vastly different scales. These include passive transport of larvae by large-scale circulation
patterns at scales of 104-106 m, which can largely account for the southward wave, and substratum
selectivity by larvae at small scales (0-10-3 m). The spatial distribution of important cues for larval
settlement (coral rubble and the coralline alga Lithothamnium pseudosorum) suggests that mass
settlements are more likely to occur in deep water at the base of reefs, where they are less likely to
be observed.
Several foci are defined for future research on settlement and recruitment processes. These include
(1) identification of parameters influencing the spatial and temporal distribution of recruitment events
that initiate primary outbreaks, (2) testing of hypotheses relating to dissipation of the southward
movement of outbreaks at about 20�s despite an abundance of reefs in the area supporting high coral
cover, (3) determining the period of competency of larvae for settlement, (4) elucidating the behaviour
of larvae (particularly late brachiolaria) in the water column, (5) further work to identify substrata
inductive of larval settlement and to determine the nature of inducers, the spatial distribution of
inductive substrata, and the effect of small-scale hydrodynamic processes in modifying the response
of larvae to inductive substrata, and (6) testing of the hypothesis of deep-water recruitment.
Importance of postsettlement processes for the population dynamics of Acanthaster planci (L. )
Authors: Keesing JK , Halford AR
Published: November 2005

It has often been regarded that the greatest influence on population dynamics of invertebrate broadcast
spawners will be physical and biological processes acting to control the dispersal and survival of the
larval or presettlement phase rather than any process acting after settlement. This has been particularly
so with the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, due to its enormous fecundity and the
consequent potential for small changes in rates of larval survival to greatly influence subsequent
settlement. However, consideration of the biological, behavioural and habitat characteristics of newly
settled and juvenile starfish shows that post settlement processes will be equally, if not more, important
in determining population size. We hypothesize that larvae will be influenced to a greater extent by
physical than biotic factors, particularly by hydrodynamics that can determine whether competent larvae
will encounter reefs. In contrast, we argue that settling larvae and juveniles will be more influenced by
predation because of their slow growth and movement, dependence on local food availability, and
relatively long juvenile phase. Measurement of mortality rates in the field and isolating settlement from
recruitment are identified as having high priorities for future research.
Completing the circle: stock-recruitment relationships and Acanthaster
Authors: McCallum H
Published: November 2005

In the absence of any reliable data, two opposing null hypotheses concerning the relationship between
Acanthaster stock size and the level of recruitment tend to be assumed. First, recruitment may be
assumed to be independent of stock size. This is appropriate if stocks are considered on a small scale,
with most recruitment occurring externally. Second, recruitment may be assumed to be linearly related
to stock size. This is appropriate if stock is considered on a large scale, so that larval production occurs
from within the stock. If the potential of predators to prevent outbreaks is investigated, these two
alternative hypotheses lead to diametrically opposed conclusions as to the importance of the two main
parts of the predator functional response. If recruitment is independent of stock size, then the maximum
prey-consumption rate of predators per unit of time is the critical factor, whereas if recruitment is
linearly related to stock, then it is the searching behaviour of predators when starfish are rare that
determines whether outbreaks occur. The extent of internal and external contributions to recruitment
may also have profound results for the overall behaviour of Acanthaster populations, irrespective of
predation. If a humped stock-recruitment relationship is assumed, together with a very high reproductive
potential, then very small changes in the amount of larval interchange between reefs can transform
dynamics from regular cycles to chaos and back to cycles. This means that the qualitative behaviour
of starfish populations may be greatly affected by very minor variations in the amount of larval
interchange between reefs.
Marine nematodes from Polynesia Epsilonematidae and Draconematidae
Authors: Gourbault N , Decraemer W
Published: November 2005

In marine sediments from French Polynesian coral reefs, the nematode family Epsilonematidae was
represented by eight species. Bathyepsilonema salvati sp. nov. and Perepsilonerna moineaui sp. nov.,
two new species, are described and illustrated. Seven species of Draconematidae were also found.
Dracograllus minutus Decraemer, Dracograllus timrni Allen and Noffsinger, and Apenodraconema
chlidosis Allen and Noffsinger are redescribed and additional information is given.
Four of these taxa were represented by females or juveniles only and could not be identified
beyond genus.
Preferences and amount of food eaten by the prawn Penaeus esculentus over moult cycle
Authors: Hill BJ , Wassenberg TJ
Published: November 2005

Analysis of the natural diet of prawns over the moult cycle shows a preference for molluscan tissue at
all stages, with an apparent greater preference in the stage immediately following the moult dropping
in the intermoult stages and then increasing again before the next moult. A laboratory study was carried
out to provide more information on feeding behaviour over the moult cycle. Adults of Penaeus
esculentus (carapace length 25 to 30 mm, weight 15.5 to 25.2 g) held at 32 to 35 and 23 to 25°C did
not feed on the night of ecdysis. On the following nights, feeding increased to peak at 2.7 g of penaeid
tissue per day in moult Stage C. For the rest of the moult cycle, feeding was fairly steady at about
1.23 g of penaeid tissue per day but dropped sharply two nights before ecdysis. The prawns increased
in weight by 0.7 to 6.1 g (mean 3.5 g) over a moult cycle. A stepwise linear-regression analysis showed
that, within the range tested, the increase in weight was not a function of prawn weight, duration
of moult cycle (range 14 to 34 days), or daily food consumption (0.95 to 2.33 g). They ate more
crustacean tissue (Metapenaeus bennettae) than bivalve tissue (Perna canaliculatus) over the entire moult
cycle, except for the night before and after ecdysis, when they ate bivalve tissue almost exclusively.
Plasma steriod hormone concentrations in relation to reproductive cycle of the sweep Scorpis lineolatus (Kyphosidae) caught from the wild
Authors: Deual M , Pankhurst NW
Published: November 2005

Changes in gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), oocyte development and plasma
levels of steroid hormones were studied during the reproductive cycle of the sweep Scorpis lineolatus.
GSI values for both sexes were maximal in March and April. During this period the size distribution
of oocytes showed a predominance of advanced stages of vitellogenesis, whereas males were completing
spermatogenesis. However, staging data suggest that spawning may not begin until April. HSI was
maximal 2 months prior to the beginning of gametogenesis in both sexes. Plasma concentrations of
oestradiol-17β in females increased rapidly from February, reached a peak (2.3 ng mL-1) in association
with the end of vitellogenesis in March, and returned to low concentrations in May and June. Plasma
concentrations of 17α,20α-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP) also peaked in March in females, but
17,20βP was generally not detectable in males. Plasma testosterone concentration peaked along with
other steroids in March in females but showed no significant change in males. Plasma ll-ketotestosterone
(1 1KT) concentration was maximal in males before spawning (February), but was not elevated
during the spawning period itself. Changes in oestradiol-17β and testosterone in association with
vitellogenensis in females are consistent with those reported for other teleosts, whereas changes in
17,20βP, testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone in males are different from those previously reported.
Wave climate of the Sydney region, an energetic and highly variable ocean wave regime
Authors: Short AD , Trenaman NL
Published: November 2005

Sydney is located in the south-west Pacific at 34°s and receives waves generated in the southern Coral
and Tasman Seas. Waves are generated by five meteorological systems: tropical cyclones, east-coast
cyclones, mid-latitude cyclones, zonal anticyclonic highs and local summer seabreezes. An examination
of 20 years of Sydney wave data reveals that each source has a characteristic seasonality, location and
spectrum, permitting the wave climate to be decomposed accordingly. Although at first glance the
annual wave climate is both energetic and highly variable, a distinct seasonality is present, with the
months of February-March and June experiencing the largest average monthly wave heights. Although
moderate waves dominate the climate, extreme waves (>4 m) and/or low swell may occur in any
month.
Surface circulation in the Tasman and Coral Seas: climatological featiures derived from bathy-thermograph data
Authors: Hamilton LJ
Published: November 2005

Surface current climatology for 1960-87 in the Coral and Tasman seas for 20-50°S,150-175°E is
investigated using geostrophic current values calculated from basin-wide expendable bathy-thermograph
temperature sections coupled with a synthesized salinity profile and dynamic height regressions.
The 180 sections lie on routes between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, including 50 sections between
Sydney and the northern tip of New Zealand along 34°S. The analysis shows that bottom topography,
seasonality and mesoscale effects are all important factors in descriptions of the Tasman Front and
Tasman-Coral Sea flows.
Preferred locations for both cold and warm features are found along 34°S,152-172°E, correlated
with positions of ridges and basins respectively, indicating that currents along all of this section are strongly
affected by bottom topography. Positions of seamount chains, ridges and rises appear to be the
determining factor for zonal mesoscale length scales and meander positions. Summer and winter
temperature sections and flow patterns for 34°S are similar. Current speeds between Sydney and Lord
Howe Rise were higher in summer and spring, and highest for 152-154°E in the south-flowing East
Australian Current. At least one warm feature was always present between Sydney and Lord Howe Rise
for these data, but usually two, sometimes three and occasionally four. The first warm feature (usually
the first meander of the East Australian Current) was preferentially found in either of two areas.
Ratios of surface widths of warm meanders to depths of the 15°C isotherm at the meander centres
along 34°S indicate that the depths of the 15°C isotherm may be inferred from surface data alone
in particular areas. This could allow quantitative estimates of subsurface temperature structure, and
hence surface current strengths, to be inferred from satellite infrared imagery.
Between Sydney and Cook Strait (34°S,152°E to 40°S,172°E) summer and winter temperature regimes
vary greatly. In summer the 15°C isotherm is nearly always subsurface, but in winter it outcrops as
far west as 158°E. Direct East Australian Current influence is apparently confined to west of 160°E on
this line, and the Tasman Front is usually north of this line.
Swimming ability of juvenile Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Steindachner), and juvenile barramundi, LAtes calcarifer (Bloch), in an experimental vertical-slot fishway
Authors: Mallen-Cooper M
Published: November 2005

Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, and barramundi, Lates calcarlfer, are catadromous fish that
spawn in estuaries and the juveniles migrate upstream into fresh water. Lowland fishways in the range
of these species therefore need to accommodate these juvenile fish. The swimming abilities of three size
classes (fork length (LCF) + s.d.: 40 * 3 mm, 64 + 5 mm and 93 + 8 mm) of juvenile Australian bass
and one size class (43 4 mm total length) of juvenile barramundi were tested in an experimental
vertical-slot fishway. Water velocity was calculated from the head loss in water level between adjacent
pools in the fishway, using a coefficient of discharge (Cd) of 1.0. Both species readily negotiated the
fishway at low water velocities, indicating that the fish were in a migratory mode and that these fish
could use the vertical-slot design of the fishway. The sigmoidal decrease in this ability with increasing
water velocity was described by a probit regression. The NV95 value (maximum negotiable water velocity
for 95% of the sample) is suggested as the suitable maximum-velocity criterion for vertical-slot fishways
for these fishes. The NV95 values were 0.66 m s-1 for 43-mm barramundi, 1.02 m s-1 for 40-mm
bass, 1.40 m s-1 for 64-mm bass and 1.84 m s-1 for 93-mm bass. The NV95 for barramundi is
probably an underestimate of their swimming ability in the wild because the water temperature was low
for this species. Up to 20% of the 93-mm bass died at test velocities greater than 2.0 m s-1, but there
were no mortalities of other fish during or immediately following a trial. The results indicate that water
velocity in fishways for juvenile bass and barramundi should not exceed 1.4 m s-1 in a cell size of
1.5 m length and 1.0 m width. The relative swimming speeds (body lengths per second) of bass in the
fishway are higher than other estimates of burst swimming speeds of juvenile fish obtained from studies
in flumes. This indicates that data from the latter type of study should not be used to determine water
velocities for fishways.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of Shark Vertebrae: A technique with applications to age and growth studies
Authors: Clement JG , Officer RA , Dykes E
Published: November 2005

Shark vertebral centra show no histological evidence of resorption at any time in the animals' life.
Deorganification of centra always reveals a large, residual, stable, three-dimensional skeleton. In
contrast, the mineralized parts of other organs (e.g. claspers and jaws) crumble into their individual
mineralized subunits, the tesserae, upon deorganification. In both cases, only appositional growth of
cartilage on the pre-existing mineralized template is possible. The basic 'double-cone' shape of the
vertebrae facilitates increases in body length simultaneously with an accompanying increase in girth.
Once the initial shape of the mineralized portion of a vertebral centrum is fully established and hence
can be described, then relatively simple mathematical models might be devised to predict future growth
patterns. To advance this hypothesis, it has first been necessary to develop a method that can accurately
record the sizes and shapes of complex three-dimensional anatomical structures. This paper describes
a technique that is capable not only of recording and measuring the size and shape of shark vertebrae
but also of predicting their subsequent growth. Furthermore, the technique enables reproduction of
three-dimensional coloured and shaded stereoscopic images of vertebral structures, facilitating a better
understanding of their intricate morphology. Three-dimensional coordinate data gathered from any
shark vertebra can be manipulated mathematically to model future vertebral growth. Producing realistic
images of vertebrae transformed in this way may allow the exploration of possibly unrealized taxonomic
affinities.