Central Australian waterbodies: The importance of permanence in a desert landscape

J.B. Box; A. Duguid; R.E. Read; R.G. Kimber; A. Knapton; J. Davis; A.E. Bowland

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.02.022

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Central Australian waterbodies: The importance of permanence in a desert landscape

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Central Australian waterbodies: The importance of permanence in a desert landscape

J.B. Box, A. Duguid, R.E. Read, R.G. Kimber, A. Knapton, J. Davis and A.E. Bowland

Journal of Arid Environments, Vol.72(8), pp.1395-1413

2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.02.022

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Abstract

Central Australia (CA) has an arid environment characterised by low and unpredictable rainfall, high temperatures and high evaporation rates. Within this desert context reliable water features, sustained mainly by natural groundwater discharge, provide distinct and isolated habitats for both aquatic and terrestrial species, even where these features are only minimally inundated. CA water features are varied, and include springs, waterholes and seepages that provide refuge for relict, endemic, and widely dispersed species confined to discontiguous habitats. They have been well known to Aboriginal people for thousands of years, and are often sites of great cultural significance. In spite of their biological, cultural and economic importance, the physical and ecological characters of many waterbodies are not well known. CA has experienced some of the most rapid rates of warming observed on the Australian continent. Successfully managing the consequences of climate change in CA will depend, in part, on developing a better understanding of the factors that influence long-term biodiversity in these aquatic systems. Because isolated CA waterbodies are at the forefront of continental warming, they could provide insights into how climate change will potentially impact other arid zone aquatic ecosystems.

Details

Title: Central Australian waterbodies: The importance of permanence in a desert landscape
Authors/Creators: J.B. Box (Author/Creator) - Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, P.O. Box 1120, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
A. Duguid (Author/Creator) - Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, P.O. Box 1120, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia
R.E. Read (Author/Creator) - Department of Environment and Natural Resources
R.G. Kimber (Author/Creator) - Alice Springs Hospital
A. Knapton (Author/Creator) - Department of Environment and Natural Resources
J. Davis (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A.E. Bowland (Author/Creator) - Parks and Wildlife Service
Publication Details: Journal of Arid Environments, Vol.72(8), pp.1395-1413
Publisher: Academic Press
Identifiers: 991005543399707891
Copyright: 2008 Elsevier Ltd
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental Science
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.62 Freshwater Fish Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology; Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology