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First mass stranding of Velella velella in New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2009

John E. C. Flux
John E. C. Flux*
Affiliation:
Ecological Research Associates of New Zealand, 230 Hill Road, Belmont, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: John E.C. Flux, Ecological Research Associates of New Zealand, 230 Hill Road, Belmont, Lower Hutt, New Zealand email: flux@paradise.net.nz
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Abstract

Several million Velella velella per km were stranded on two west coast beaches from the end of October to the beginning of November 2006, and high numbers along the entire west coast of New Zealand. A few Velella strand most years, but this appears to be the first mass stranding ever recorded. The greatest length of 124 floats averaged 26 mm, and 72% were left sailors.

Keywords

VelellaNew Zealandmass stranding
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 1 , January 2008 , e84
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2007

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References

REFERENCES

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