Persistence of central Australian aquatic invertebrate communities

J. Brim-Box; J. Davis; K. Strehlow; G. McBurnie; A. Duguid; C. Brock; K. McConnell; C. Day; C. Palmer

doi:10.1071/MF13131

Back

Persistence of central Australian aquatic invertebrate communities

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Persistence of central Australian aquatic invertebrate communities

J. Brim-Box, J. Davis, K. Strehlow, G. McBurnie, A. Duguid, C. Brock, K. McConnell, C. Day and C. Palmer

Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.65(6), pp.562-572

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF13131

Files and links (1)

url

Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

Central Australia supports a restricted but important range of freshwater systems, including small, permanent spring-fed streams and larger riverine pools ranging from permanent to ephemeral. These sites support a significant percentage of the aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity within the region. Comparison of records from the first exploratory scientific expedition to the area in 1894, and surveys conducted in 1986, 1994 and 2008, revealed the persistence of the aquatic invertebrate fauna, despite the recent impacts of European settlement. The presence of aquatic insects with Gondwanan origins suggests affinities with assemblages present in a much wetter era (~18 000 years ago). Persistence can be attributed to multiple environmental and social factors, including the role of local aquifers in sustaining permanent systems, the remote and inaccessible nature of the sites, and the protection and management afforded by reservation within national parks. Characterisation of the drivers and stressors that influence these ecosystems suggests that climate change could potentially result in a loss of endemic and relictual species. Hence, the relictual waterbodies of central Australia can be viewed as potential ‘sentinel’ sites for assessing the impacts of changing conditions.

Details

Title: Persistence of central Australian aquatic invertebrate communities
Authors/Creators: J. Brim-Box (Author/Creator) - Department of Land Resource Management
J. Davis (Author/Creator) - Monash University
K. Strehlow (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
G. McBurnie (Author/Creator) - Department of Land Resource Management
A. Duguid (Author/Creator) - Department of Land Resource Management
C. Brock (Author/Creator) - Department of Land Resource Management
K. McConnell (Author/Creator) - 27 Gilbert Place, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia.
C. Day (Author/Creator) - Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
C. Palmer (Author/Creator) - Department of Land Resource Management
Publication Details: Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.65(6), pp.562-572
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Identifiers: 991005543444107891
Copyright: © CSIRO 2014
Murdoch Affiliation: Student Learning Centre
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites

Metrics

43 Record Views

11 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.62 Freshwater Fish Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Limnology; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science