Effects of environmental factors on the distribution of shrimp in Western Port Bay, Victoria

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.

本研究于1977年7月至1980年1月期间，探究了环境因子对西港湾虾类分布的影响。野外采样期间，研究人员于高潮时乘船测定了沉积物表层的水温、盐度与溶解氧浓度（详见父记录《维多利亚州西港湾鳗草群落中真虾类（caridean shrimps）的生态学与营养功能》，文件标识符：268431c0-f18e-11dc-aaae-00188b4c0af8）。此外还补充测定了潮间带泥滩的低潮表层水温、泥水界面下沉积物，以及泥滩间大型永久性航道的表层水温。在A站点，研究人员对地上植被盖度开展了为期12个月的月度采样。

高潮时鳗草群落内的水温介于10至24摄氏度之间，低潮时则为5至31摄氏度。1977至1978年暖季的盐度接近完全海水水平，但1978年凉季盐度有所下降，推测与该时段降雨量增加有关。高低潮采样期间，所有站点的溶解氧浓度均高于6ppm。地上鳗草的干重存在空间异质性，且季节间该分布模式变化极小。