Aquafin CRC Salmon Project - Huon Grazing Experiment Series - Sept 2003 to July 2004

The Aquafin CRC Salmon Project is being undertaken by CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) and Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI). The huon microheterotroph grazing experiments were undertaken on 23 September 2003 (HG01), 18 November 2003 (HG02), 24 February 2004 (HG03) and 26 July 2004 (HG04). Sampling took place in Hideaway Bay in the Huon Estuary. Prior to each microheterotroph grazing experiment, a CTD cast was performed at site P3 using the SBE19-0605 to determine the fluorescence profile. Water for the grazing experiments was collected from 5-7m, i.e. at about 50% of surface light level and below any surface freshwater runoff layer. Samples were incubated for 24 hours with subsamples collected at times T0 and T24 for phytoplankton and microheterotroph counts, nutrient analysis and pigment concentration and composition. Grazing and growth rates were calculated.