Why is the stream fauna of south-western Australia so impoverished?

Bunn, Stuart E.; Davies, Peter M.

doi:10.1007/bf00028418

Cited by 64 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…lakes with salinities > 3 g L-'). Overall, however, insect composition in both rivers resembles that in other Australian rivers, though species richness (undoubtedly a reflection of the brevity of our study) in depressed (Table 1, Bunn & Davies, 1990). In any event, the taxonomic composition of aquatic insects in the Blackwood and Glenelg is markedly similar.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Longitudinal distribution of macroinvertebrates in two rivers subject to salinization

1991

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Surveys were made of the macroinvertebrates at several locations on the Blackwood River, Western Australia, and the Glenelg River,Victoria. Both rivers have drainage basins subject to salinization from agricultural practices. The Blackwood River has a clear longitudinal salinity profile in which the upper reaches are more saline than lower ones. Multivariate analysis using DECORANA and TWINSPAN did not reveal relationships between macroinvertebrate community composition and salinity. It is suggested that either the present macroinvertebrate fauna of Australian rivers is more tolerant to salinity than has been assumed, or now represents only halotolerant forms of a once more diverse fauna.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Longitudinal distribution of macroinvertebrates in two rivers subject to salinization

1991

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“…Stable isotope data confirmed that stream invertebrates in the northern jarrah forest were almost entirely dependent on terrestrial carbon. The extremely low rates of GPP in these streams (Davies, 1994; this study) and the low diversity of algal grazers (Bunn & Davies, 1990) suggest that algal sources of carbon are not an important food source. However, epilithic algae played a disproportionately important role in the food web of streams in the tropics (far north Queensland) and, at least in cobble habitats in the subtropics (SE Queensland).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The GPP values of these streams are about half that measured in a glacial meltwater stream in the Antarctic (McKnight & Tate, 1997) and similar to subarctic streams studied by Naiman & Link (1997). Clearly, factors other than shade and temperature contribute to the low productivity observed in these Australian streams (see Bunn & Davies, 1990). Treadwell, Campbell & Edwards (1997) reported higher rates of GPP in Keppel's Creek in Victoria than those observed here.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem measures of river health and their response to riparian and catchment degradation

1999

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SUMMARY1. Measurements of ecological patterns are often used as primary biological indicators of river health. However, these patterns provide little information about important stream ecosystem processes (e.g. the sources and fate of energy and nutrients). The direct measurement of these processes is considered fundamental to the determination of the health of stream and river ecosystems. 2. In this paper we used two basic approaches to assess stream ecosystem response to catchment disturbance and, particularly, to the loss of riparian vegetation in different forested biomes across Australia. Benthic gross primary production (GPP) and respiration (R 24 ) provided measures of the amounts of organic carbon produced and consumed within the system, respectively. Stable isotope analysis was used to trace the fate of terrestrial and instream sources of organic matter in the aquatic food web. In a focal catchment in SE Queensland, additional measurements were taken of riparian attributes, catchment features and water quality. 3. Baseline measurements of GPP and R 24 from undisturbed forest streams provided reference values for healthy streams for comparison with sites where the catchment or riparian vegetation had been disturbed. These values of metabolism were low by world standards in all biomes examined. Preliminary data from the Mary River catchment in SE Queensland indicated that these parameters were sensitive to variations in riparian canopy cover and, to a lesser extent, catchment clearing, and predictive models were developed. The ratio P : R (GPP : R 24 ) was used to determine whether sites were net consumers (P < R) or producers (P > R) of carbon but this was not considered a reliable indicator of stream health on its own. 4. Although forest streams were typically net consumers of carbon (P < < R), stable isotope analysis of metazoan food webs indicated a high dependence on inconspicuous epilithic algae in some biomes. 5. A dramatic decline in the health of forest streams was observed when GPP substantially exceeded R 24 , especially when instream primary producers shifted from palatable unicellular algae to prolific filamentous green algae and macrophytes. These sources of instream production do not appear to enter aquatic food webs, either directly through grazing or indirectly through a detrital loop. Accumulation of these plants has led to changes in channel morphology, loss of aquatic habitat and often a major decline in water quality in some of the streams studied.

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“…This is reflected in the high degree of endemism of the freshwater fauna in the 41 region with 80% of native freshwater fish (Morgan et The ecosystems of south-western Australia are naturally low in productivity with allochthonous 48 material generally the dominant source of energy (Bunn and Davies, 1990). This low productivity 49 results in the region's freshwater fishes being relatively small in size (generally <200 mm total 50 length (TL)) and of little value for recreational or commercial fisheries (Morgan et A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 7 biology parameters, including natural and fishing mortality, annual survivorship, abundance, 145 density and production.…”

Section: Introduction 38mentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasticity in population biology of Cherax cainii (Decapoda: Parastacidae) inhabiting lentic and lotic environments in south-western Australia: Implications for the sustainable management of the recreational fishery

Beatty¹,

Graaf²,

Molony³

et al. 2011

Fisheries Research

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This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.Page 1 of 44A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t  The study demonstrates considerable variability in the population biology of a large parastacid.  Growth rate and productivity of adult Cherax cainii was greater in the lotic system.  Stunting of adults occurred in the habitat limited lentic population and the stock was over exploited.  Sustainable increases in fishing exploitation may be possible in more pristine rivers.  Habitat and water quality decline and rainfall reductions are the major long-term threats to the fishery. *HighlightsPage 2 of 44 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t The Smooth Marron Cherax cainii is endemic to south-western Australia and supports an iconic 17 recreational fishery that exploits stocks in both lentic and lotic systems. This study is the first to 18 determine and compare the population biology of a parastacid from both lentic and lotic systems 19 and aimed to gather the information necessary for more effective management of the fishery. 20Modal progression demonstrated growth rates of juvenile C. cainii were greater in the lentic 21 (Wellington Dam) compared to the lotic (Warren River) system, however, mark-recapture 22 suggested the growth rate of the adult component of the lentic population was stunted whereas in 23 the lotic population 60-90 mm OCL individuals were common and had a faster growth rate. The 24Wellington Dam stock appeared to be over-exploited and had very low productivity whereas the 25 Warren River stock had relatively low fishing exploitation and a high productivity resulting from 26 higher growth rates coupled with higher population densities (with the trappable population sizes 27 estimated using the open POPAN formulation in the MARK software program). Comparisons of 28 these biological parameters were made with populations elsewhere and there existed a considerable 29 plasticity that is probably due to differences in thermal regimes, degree of habitat complexity, food 30 resource availability and fisher accessibility. The findings demonstrate the need to determine the 31 level of intraspecific biological plasticity in freshwater crayfish in order to sustainably manage their 32 fisheries. 33 34 KEYWORDS: freshwater crayfish, biological plasticity, aquatic habitat, sustainable exploitation, 35 mark-recapture methods, estimation of demographic parameters. 36

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Why is the stream fauna of south-western Australia so impoverished?

Cited by 64 publications

References 35 publications

Longitudinal distribution of macroinvertebrates in two rivers subject to salinization

Longitudinal distribution of macroinvertebrates in two rivers subject to salinization

Ecosystem measures of river health and their response to riparian and catchment degradation

Plasticity in population biology of Cherax cainii (Decapoda: Parastacidae) inhabiting lentic and lotic environments in south-western Australia: Implications for the sustainable management of the recreational fishery

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