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Pacific Conservation Biology Pacific Conservation Biology Society
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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Waterbird assemblages of Australia’s largest east-coast wetland complex: environmental determinants of spatial and temporal distribution

Richard G. Pearson https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6047-031X A * , Belinda Zunker-Mellick A and Jacqui A. Nolen A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Science and Engineering, and TropWater, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.

* Correspondence to: richard.pearson@jcu.edu.au

Handling Editor: Dr Rochelle Steven

Pacific Conservation Biology 30, PC24030 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC24030
Submitted: 29 April 2024  Accepted: 19 November 2024  Published: 23 December 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

The extensive Burdekin–Townsville seasonal freshwater wetlands in the Queensland tropics (adjacent to an intertidal Ramsar site) support important waterbird assemblages within and downstream of the Burdekin–Haughton irrigation area. Little evidence is available of the environmental drivers of these assemblages, possibly including the extensive development of irrigated agriculture.

Aims

We described the composition and dynamics of freshwater waterbird assemblages to identify their environmental determinants and underpin conservation management.

Methods

We used up to four decades’ worth of records of waterbird assemblages, and collected biophysical data from 57 sites and water quality data for 32 sites. We predicted that these measured variables would determine assemblage composition, thereby elucidating the environmental drivers of the assemblages.

Key results

In total, 100 waterbird and shorebird species were recorded. Individual samples were strongly nested. Species richness increased with area but density decreased. Richness had a humped relationship with water depth. Linear modelling identified mostly weak relationships between species, assemblages and environmental variables (e.g. nutrients). Abundances mostly increased during the dry season but irrigation tailwater reduced seasonal variation in some wetlands. No apparent change in common species’ assemblages was evident over four decades.

Conclusions

The wetlands provide extensive, diverse habitats for rich waterbird assemblages, despite impacts of agricultural development. Impacts on waterbirds appear to be buffered by the extent and complexity of the wetland mosaic that includes modified wetlands.

Implications

Holistic, active management is required to ensure the long-term conservation of habitats for waterbirds and other biota in the Burdekin–Townsville seasonal freshwater wetlands. Inclusion of these freshwater wetlands in the Ramsar site would be beneficial.

Keywords: agricultural impacts, environmental drivers, floodplain wetlands, management, temporal change, tropics, waterbirds, water quality.

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