Emergent zooplankton in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia: seasonal, lunar, and diel patterns in emergence and distribution with respect to substrata

Abstract

Forty-three putative taxa were common in emergence trap, re-entry trap, and net tow samples taken in Moreton Bay, Queensland. Australia between 20 January and 14 February and between 14 July and 23 August 1985. Twenty-nine taxa were composed of adults with 17 groups classified as demersal zooplankters. The remaining 14 taxa consisted of early life history stages Statistically significant factorial variations in numbers of zooplankters captured were found between seasons (2 to 500). among lunar periods (2 to 150), and among substrata (2 to 200). Summer samples y~elded greater numbers of 25 of the 32 taxa composed of adults and 10 of the 14 larval groups. Ten of the 17 demersal taxa, 5 other groups of adults, and 5 larval forms emerged in greater numbers during either lunar quarter or the new moon. Significant emergence during full moons was observed for 9 of the 14 larval taxa, 5 demersal groups, and 5 other adult taxa. Forty-one out of the 43 taxa emerged in statistically greater numbers from 1 of the 2 more complex substrata, coral or seagrass, as compared to mud or coral rubble. Five different temporal emergence patterns were displayed by 34 taxa with most emergence occurring at night