Variability in low tide populations of tuatua, Paphies donacina, in Pegasus Bay, Canterbury, New Zealand

摘要: Abstract Paphies donacina (Spengler, 1793) populations were surveyed at 11 low tide sites on surf beaches along Pegasus Bay, Canterbury, New Zealand, during summer 1998. Random sampling was not feasible. At the non‐random chosen average number of tuatua per 5 m shoreline ranged between 0.1 and 62. Total wet weight biomass m‐2 highest southern in Bay. There site‐related differences length frequency distributions populations. Northern included a wide range dominated by larger bivalves. Average shell increased significantly with distance south, being close to 40 mm Waikuku 80 Taylors Mistake. The length: width relationships similar for collected over whole geographic range. dry condition index varied (ANOVA F= 23.3, d.f. = 10, 329) depending distribution contributing population. Where populatio...