Distribution and abundance of some Hyperiidea (Crustacea : Amphipoda) in Northern Queensland Waters

Abstract

Hyperiid amphipods (35 species) were collected at eight regular sampling stations, spaced evenly between Townsville and the Great Barrier Reef, over 1 year (October 1972 to October 1973). The distribution and abundance of the Hyperiidea in northern Queensland, where hyperiids were generally most abundant during October-December and April-July, are discussed and quantitatively analysed and related to temperature and salinity data collected at the same time. The quantitative results indicate that hyperiids can be relatively abundant and may be a more important component of the inshore plankton than was thought previously. Only 13 species were sufficiently abundant to permit a more detailed discussion of their ecology. The two most abundant species, Lestrigonus bengalensis and Hyperioides sibaginis, were found most often in inshore waters and may form permanent local populations. Most of the other species were epipelagic oceanic species preferring warm waters (> 25ºC) of relatively high salinity (>35 × 10-3) and were rarely found close inshore. Some species, Simorhynchotus antennarius, Tullbergella cuspidata and species of Phronimidae, only occurred in the plankton for a short period.