Download FAR 2021/49 Bivalve abundance in relation to sediment properties across northern North Island

The present study provides an investigation of the relationship between cockles Austrovenus stutchburyi and sediment grain size across northern North Island sites. Using data from five years of monitoring for principal component analysis and the modelling of cockle population abundances as a function of grain size fractions revealed relatively small changes in sediment properties across sites over time. None of the changes were sufficient to notably affect cockle abundance at the study sites.