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Notes: Abstract The distribution and abundance of the late-stage phyllosoma larvae of Panulirus longipes cygnus George and the distribution and densities of the final larval stage, the puerulus, both in the plankton and at settlement along the coast, were investigated. A total of 3,617 late-stage phyllosoma (Stages VI to IX) and 301 puerulus larvae were caught at 187 plankton stations during the July to November periods 1974, 1975 and 1976 off the west coast of Australia between 29°00′ to 32°30′S and 113°30′ to 115°00′E. The depth range sampled was 0 to 35 m on the continental shelf and 0 to 90 m off the shelf. During onshore/offshore cruises with similar sampling effort on and off the shelf, 1,169 late-stage phyllosoma larvae were taken, of which only 9 were caught on the shelf, and these near the outer edge. A series of cruises sampling two areas beyond the shelf near 29°30′ and 32°00′S yielded 2448 late-stage phyllosoma, with greater densities of larvae in the northern location. The settlement of puerulus-stage larvae along the coast in the same geographical range was also greater in the north than in the south. The data from the onshore/offshore cruises showed a definite effect of moon phase on numbers of puerulus larvae caught on the shelf, with higher catches near new moon. The low numbers of puerulus larvae (usually 0, 1 or 2 individuals) caught at all stations showed that the puerulus stage is sparsely distributed in the plankton. Fewer puerulus larvae were present at the surface than at lower depths, but it was not possible to determine a depth preference for the puerulus between 10 m and the lowest depths sampled because of the low catch numbers. No relationships were found between puerulus larvae density and surface-water temperature, salinity, or plankton biomass at each station. Data on the larval distributions indicate that, near the end of their planktonic existence, the majority of the late-stage phyllosoma larvae of P. longipes cygnus are not carried onto the shelf, where mixing of oceanic and continental shelf waters occurs only on the outer third, but are transported southward by oceanic circulation beyond the shelf. The puerulus moults from the last phyllosoma stage beyond the shelf and completes the larval cycle by swimming across the shelf and settling in the shallow reef areas.

Notes: In a 2-year grow-out trial, triploid Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea commercialis (Iredale & Roughley), from two initial size grades grew faster (in terms of both mean whole weight and shell height) than the equivalent initial size grades of sibling diploids (P 〈 0.05). Small size grade triploids caught up with and had significantly heavier (P 〈 0.05) final whole weights than large size grade diploids after a 2-years grow-out period. The initial size grade had a significant effect on final mean whole weight and shell height for both ploidy types. After the 2-years grow-out trial, the final mean whole weights (but not shell heights) of small and large diploids (35.8 ± 0.6 g and 39.4 ± 0.5 g, respectively) were significantly different (P 〈 0.05). Small and large triploids grew at a similar rate for the first 18 months despite the significantly (P 〈 0.05) heavier final mean weight of large grade triploids (48.4 ± 0.8 g and 61.2 ± 0.7 g, respectively). The effect of the initial size grade on subsequent growth of both diploid and triploid oysters which was demonstrated in the present study is of significant commercial value to hatchery and nursery operators as well as growers of single seed oysters. In addition, small-grade triploids appeared to be more valuable in terms of potential growth rate than all diploid grades. There was no significant difference in the final percentage triploidy between small and large grade triploids. A large proportion of diploid/triploid mosaicism was detected in adult oysters.