A limnological survey of the freshwater coastal lakes of east Gippsland, Victoria

Abstract

Eleven lakes were examined in varying degrees of intensity. For the largest two, Lakes Elusive and Barracoota, information is presented on physiography, major physical and chemical features, macrophytes, zooplankton, littoral invertebrates, benthos, and fish. Limited data, mainly on water chemistry and zooplankton, are given for the remaining lakes.

The lakes are divisible into three groups. The four floodplain lagoons contain alkaline water dominated by sodium and bicarbonate ions. Zooplankton in each consists of Boeckella minuta, Thermocyclops hyalinus, and Daphnia lumholtzi, as well as a variety of other entomostracans. The coastal dune lakes have acid water dominated by sodium and chloride ions and a restricted zooplankton of one to three species, including Calarnoecia tasmanica. Compared with coastal dune lakes of southern Queensland, these are heterogenous in mode of origin, water chemistry, and zooplankton. Despite some similarities with dune lakes, Lake Barracoota is basically different. Its physiography suggests a recent marine origin which is confirmed by the presence of two isopods and a polychaete with marine affinities.