Biophysical status of remnant freshwater floodplain lagoons in the Great Barrier Reef catchment: a challenge for assessment and monitoring
R. G. Pearson A E , P. C. Godfrey B , A. H. Arthington B , J. Wallace C , F. Karim D and M. Ellison AA School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
B Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
C Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
D CSIRO, ATSIP Building, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: richard.pearson@jcu.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 64(3) 208-222 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12251
Submitted: 11 September 2012 Accepted: 22 November 2012 Published: 18 March 2013
Abstract
We investigated the biophysical environment, invertebrate fauna and ecosystem health of lagoons on the Tully–Murray floodplain in the Queensland Wet Tropics bioregion. These wetlands are biologically rich but have declined in area and condition with agricultural development and are poorly protected, despite being located between two World Heritage areas. Lagoons varied in size, habitats and water quality, with increasing signatures of agriculture (e.g. elevated nutrient concentrations) from the upper to lower floodplain. Zooplankton were abundant, but not diverse, and correlated variously with environmental variables, so were not useful in assessing lagoon condition. Benthic macroinvertebrates were abundant and diverse and correlated strongly with riparian condition, habitats, water quality and degree of agriculture in the catchment, but gradients in assemblage structure were not strong because the flow regime, with multiple annual floods, maintains higher water quality than in some tropical systems. The absence of pristine reference lagoons and the limited availability of replicate sites hamper the development of monitoring systems. Nevertheless, we show that appropriate sampling, analysis and knowledge of comparable systems allow inferences to be drawn regarding ecological condition. This is important because environmental managers need best available and timely advice whatever the opportunities for rigorous study design.
Additional keywords: agricultural impact, exotic macrophytes, herbicide, indicators, macroinvertebrates, Murray River, nutrient, riparian, tropical wetlands, Tully River, wetland ecology.
References
Anderson, M. J., Gorley, R. N., and Clarke, K. R. (2008). ‘PERMANOVA+ for Primer: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods.’ (Primer–E, Plymouth, UK.)ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000). Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality. National Water Quality Management Strategy Paper No 4; Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra.
Appleton, C. C., Curtis, B. A., Alonso, L. E., and Kipping, J. (2003). Freshwater invertebrates of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. In ‘A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Okavango Delta, Botswana: High Water Survey. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 27.’ (Eds L. E Alonso and L. Nordin.) pp. 58–68. (Conservation International: Washington, DC.)
Armour, J. D., Hateley, L. R., and Pitt, G. L. (2009). Catchment modelling of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loads with SedNet/ANNEX in the Tully–Murray basin. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1091–1096.
| Catchment modelling of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loads with SedNet/ANNEX in the Tully–Murray basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVWqtLzJ&md5=beca212251f40ed68f351c533f63b6a3CAS |
Arthington, A. H., and Balcombe, S. R. (2011). Extreme hydrologic variability and the boom and bust ecology of fish in arid-zone floodplain rivers: a case study with implications for environmental flows, conservation and management. Ecohydrology 4, 708–720.
| Extreme hydrologic variability and the boom and bust ecology of fish in arid-zone floodplain rivers: a case study with implications for environmental flows, conservation and management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Arthington, A. H., and Hegerl, E. J. (1988). The distribution, conservation status and management problems of Queensland’s athalassic and tidal wetlands. In ‘The Conservation of Australia’s Wetlands’. (Eds A. J. McComb and P. S. Lake.) pp. 59–85. (Surrey Beatty and Sons.)
Arthington, A. H., and Pearson, R. G. (Eds) (2007). ‘Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Health in Wet Tropics Streams.’ Catchment to Reef Research Program, CRC for Rainforest Ecology and Management and CRC for the Great Barrier Reef. (James Cook University, Townsville.)
Arthington, A. H., Marshall, J., Rayment, G., Hunter, H., and Bunn, S. (1997). Potential impacts of sugarcane production on the riparian and freshwater environment. In ‘Intensive Sugar Cane Production: Meeting the Challenges Beyond 2000’. (Eds B. A. Keating and J. R. Wilson.) pp. 403–421. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK.)
Arthington, A. H., Olden, J. D., Balcombe, S. R., and Thoms, M. C. (2010). Multi-scale environmental factors explain fish losses and refuge quality in drying waterholes of Cooper Creek, an Australian arid-zone river. Marine and Freshwater Research 61, 842–856.
| Multi-scale environmental factors explain fish losses and refuge quality in drying waterholes of Cooper Creek, an Australian arid-zone river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtVansL%2FL&md5=3a98c3895918775ce56f355f157b1ab0CAS |
Australian Natural Resources Atlas (2009). Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Available at http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/qld/ibra-wet-tropics.html [Accessed 10 June 2012].
Bainbridge, Z. T., Brodie, J. E., Faithful, J. W., Sydes, D. A., and Lewis, S. E. (2009). Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments, nutrients and pesticides discharged to the Great Barrier Reef from the Tully-Murray Basin, Queensland, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1081–1090.
| Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments, nutrients and pesticides discharged to the Great Barrier Reef from the Tully-Murray Basin, Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVWqtL3N&md5=4e300224d51ae6c1aaff2764d0ad069cCAS |
Baker, J. (Ed) (2003). ‘A report on the study of land-sourced pollutants and their impacts on water quality in and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef.’ Report to the Intergovernmental Steering Committee, GBR Water Quality Action Plan. Available at www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/about/assets/report-impact-of-land-pollutants-on-gbr.pdf [Accessed December 11, 2011].
Balla, S. A., and Davis, J. A. (1995). Seasonal variation in the macroinvertebrate fauna of wetlands of differing water regime and nutrient status on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. Hydrobiologia 299, 147–161.
| Seasonal variation in the macroinvertebrate fauna of wetlands of differing water regime and nutrient status on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blackman, J. G., Perry, T. W., Ford, G. I., Craven, S. A., Gardiner, S. J., and DeLai, R. J. (1996). ‘A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia – Section 1 – Queensland.’ Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Blanchette, M. L., and Pearson, R. G. (2012). Macroinvertebrate assemblages in rivers of the Australian dry tropics are highly variable. Freshwater Science 31, 865–881.
| Macroinvertebrate assemblages in rivers of the Australian dry tropics are highly variable.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boulton, A. J., and Lloyd, L. N. (1991). Macroinvertebrate assemblages in floodplain habitats of the lower River Murray, South Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 6, 183–201.
| Macroinvertebrate assemblages in floodplain habitats of the lower River Murray, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brodie, J., Pearson, R. G., Lewis, S., Bainbridge, Z., Waterhouse, J., and Prange, J. (2009). ‘Water Quality Research: Baseline Synthesis and Year 1 Summary.’ Report to the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns. ISBN 9781921359231.
Cheal, F., Davis, J. A., Growns, J. E., Bradley, J. S., and Whittles, F. H. (1993). The influence of sampling method on the classification of wetland macroinvertebrate communities. Hydrobiologia 257, 47–56.
| The influence of sampling method on the classification of wetland macroinvertebrate communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cheshire, K., Boyero, L., and Pearson, R. G. (2005). Food webs in tropical Australian streams: shredders are not scarce. Freshwater Biology 50, 748–769.
| Food webs in tropical Australian streams: shredders are not scarce.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clapcott, J. E., Collier, K. J., Death, R. G., Goodwin, E. O., Harding, J. S., Kelly, D., Leathwick, J. R., and Young, R. G. (2012). Quantifying relationships between land-use gradients and structural and functional indicators of stream ecological integrity. Freshwater Biology 57, 74–90.
| Quantifying relationships between land-use gradients and structural and functional indicators of stream ecological integrity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clarke, K. R., and Gorley, R. N. (2006). ‘Primer. Version 6. User manual/tutorial.’ Primer–E Ltd., Plymouth, UK.
Connolly, N. M., and Pearson, R. G. (2007). The effect of fine sedimentation on tropical stream macroinvertebrate assemblages: a comparison using flow-through artificial stream channels and recirculating mesocosms. Hydrobiologia 592, 423–438.
| The effect of fine sedimentation on tropical stream macroinvertebrate assemblages: a comparison using flow-through artificial stream channels and recirculating mesocosms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Connolly, N. M., Crossland, M. R., and Pearson, R. G. (2004). Effect of low dissolved oxygen on survival, emergence and drift in tropical stream macroinvertebrate communities. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 23, 251–270.
| Effect of low dissolved oxygen on survival, emergence and drift in tropical stream macroinvertebrate communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Connolly, N. M., Pearson, B., Loong, D., Maughan, M., and Pearson, R. G. (2007a). Hydrology, geomorphology and water quality of four Wet Tropics streams with contrasting land-use management. In ‘Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Health in Wet Tropics Streams’. (Eds A. H. Arthington and R. G. Pearson.) pp. 14–78. CRC for Rainforest Ecology and Management and CRC for the Great Barrier Reef. (James Cook University, Townsville.)
Connolly, N. M., Pearson, B., and Pearson, R. G. (2007b). ‘Macroinvertebrates as indicators of ecosystem health in Wet Tropics streams.’ In ‘Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Health in Wet Tropics Streams’. (Eds A. H. Arthington and R. G. Pearson.) pp. 128–175. CRC for Rainforest Ecology and Management and CRC for the Great Barrier Reef. (James Cook University, Townsville.)
Davidson, T. A., Mackay, A. W., Wolski, P., Mazebedi, R., Murray-Hudson, M., and Todd, M. (2012). Seasonal and spatial hydrological variability drives aquatic biodiversity in a flood-pulsed, sub-tropical wetland. Freshwater Biology 57, 1253–1265.
| Seasonal and spatial hydrological variability drives aquatic biodiversity in a flood-pulsed, sub-tropical wetland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhtVantrjI&md5=946cc530fd03fda2cd51af0be5fde1a7CAS |
Davis, A., Lewis, S., Bainbridge, Z., Brodie, J., and Shannon, E. (2008). Pesticide residues in waterways of the lower Burdekin region: challenges in ecotoxicological interpretation of monitoring data. Australian Journal of Ecotoxicology 14, 89–108.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXnt1yqu7Y%3D&md5=0f7e158eaf816d8f943e3aa02eaa955cCAS |
Douglas, M. M., and O’Connor, R. A. (2003). Effects of the exotic macrophyte, para grass (Urochloa mutica), on benthic and epiphytic macroinvertebrates of a tropical floodplain. Freshwater Biology 48, 962–971.
| Effects of the exotic macrophyte, para grass (Urochloa mutica), on benthic and epiphytic macroinvertebrates of a tropical floodplain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Environment Australia (2001) ‘A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, 3rd edn.’ Available at http://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/databases.html [Accessed 11 December 2011.]
Faithful, J., Brodie, J., Bainbridge, Z. T., Schaffelke, B., Slivkoff, M., Maughan, M., Liessmann, L., and Sydes, D. (2008). Water quality characteristics of water draining different land uses in the Tully/Murray Rivers region. ACTFR Report No. 08/03, James Cook University, Townsville.
Finlayson, C. M., Bellio, M. G., and Lowry, J. B. (2005). A conceptual basis for the wise use of wetlands in northern Australia – linking information needs, integrated analyses, drivers of change and human well-being. Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 269–277.
| A conceptual basis for the wise use of wetlands in northern Australia – linking information needs, integrated analyses, drivers of change and human well-being.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Furnas, M. (2003). ‘Catchments and Corals: Terrestrial Runoff to the Great Barrier Reef.’ (Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, Queensland.)
Gallardo, B., Gascón, S., González-Sanchís, M., Cabezas, A., and Comín, F. A. (2009). Modelling the response of floodplain aquatic assemblages across the lateral hydrological connectivity gradient. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 924–935.
| Modelling the response of floodplain aquatic assemblages across the lateral hydrological connectivity gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Governments of Queensland and the Commonwealth of Australia (2003). Reef Water Quality Protection Plan for catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet, Brisbane.
Growns, J. E., Davis, J. A., Cheal, F., Schmidt, L. G., Rosich, R. S., and Bradley, S. J. (1992). Multivariate pattern analysis of wetland invertebrate communities and environmental variables in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 17, 275–288.
| Multivariate pattern analysis of wetland invertebrate communities and environmental variables in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heckman, C. W. (1998). The seasonal succession of biotic communities in wetlands of the tropical wet-and-dry climatic zone: V. Aquatic invertebrate communities in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. International Review of Hydrobiology 83, 31–63.
| The seasonal succession of biotic communities in wetlands of the tropical wet-and-dry climatic zone: V. Aquatic invertebrate communities in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hogan, A., and Graham, P. (1994). Tully–Murray floodplain fish distributions and fish habitat. Report to the consultants, Tully–Murray Sugar Industry Infrastructure Package. Queensland Department of Primary Industries. Walkamin.
Hopley, D. (1983). Evidence of 15000 years of sea level change in tropical Queensland. Monograph Series, Geography Department, James Cook University, Occasional Paper, 3, pp. 1–93.
Horwitz, P., Rogan, R., Halse, S., Davis, J., and Sommer, B. (2009). Wetland invertebrate richness and endemism on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1006–1020.
| Wetland invertebrate richness and endemism on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXht1ymtLjI&md5=7a34952049cd17c3c185ff84c2a26a78CAS |
Houlahan, J. E., Keddy, P. A., Makkay, K., and Findlay, C. S. (2006). The effects of adjacent land use on wetland species richness and community composition. Wetlands 26, 79–96.
| The effects of adjacent land use on wetland species richness and community composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Januchowski-Hartley, S. R., Pearson, R. G., Puschendorf, R., and Rayner, T. (2011). Fresh waters and fish diversity: distribution, protection and disturbance in tropical Australia. PLoS ONE 6, e25846.
| Fresh waters and fish diversity: distribution, protection and disturbance in tropical Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtlOltLjL&md5=ada191b8c1952558676263886d5f91d2CAS |
Johnson, A. K. L., Ebert, S. P., and Murray, A. E. (1999). Distribution of coastal freshwater wetlands and riparian forests in the Herbert River catchment and implications for management of catchments adjacent the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Environmental Conservation 26, 229–235.
| Distribution of coastal freshwater wetlands and riparian forests in the Herbert River catchment and implications for management of catchments adjacent the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Junk, W. J., Bayley, P. B., and Sparks, R. E. (1989). The flood pulse concept in river-floodplain systems. Special Publication of Canadian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 106, 110–127.
Junk, W. J., Brown, M., Campbell, I. C., Finlayson, M., Gopal, B., Ramberg, L., and Warner, B. G. (2006). The comparative biodiversity of seven globally important wetlands: a synthesis. Aquatic Sciences 68, 400–414.
| The comparative biodiversity of seven globally important wetlands: a synthesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Karim, F.M., and Wallace, J.S. (2008). Assessment of Sediment and Nutrient Transport across the Tully–Murray Floodplain using the SedNet Model. Report to the Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility. CSIRO Land and Water Science Report 59/08.
Karim, F., Kinsey-Henderson, A., Wallace, J., Arthington, A. H., and Pearson, R. G. (2012). Modelling wetland connectivity during overbank flooding in a tropical floodplain in north Queensland, Australia. Hydrological Processes 26, 2710–2723.
| Modelling wetland connectivity during overbank flooding in a tropical floodplain in north Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kevan, S. D., and Pearson, R. G. (1993). Toxicity of Diquat pulse exposure to the tropical freshwater shrimp Caridina nilotica (Atyidae). Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 51, 564–567.
| Toxicity of Diquat pulse exposure to the tropical freshwater shrimp Caridina nilotica (Atyidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXlsFeltbY%3D&md5=be8ae270b530b694d119527821f16c19CAS |
Kouamé, M. K., Dietoa, M. Y., Edia, E. O., Da Costa, S. K., Ouattara, A., and Gourène, G. (2011). Macroinvertebrate communities associated with macrophyte habitats in a tropical man-made lake (Lake Taabo, Côte d’Ivoire). Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 400, 1–18.
Kroon, F. J., and Brodie, J. E. (2009). Catchment management and health of coastal ecosystems: synthesis and future research. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1196–1200.
| Catchment management and health of coastal ecosystems: synthesis and future research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVWqtL%2FF&md5=b647ca33c52c11ec9bddadc65128c676CAS |
Lake, P. S., Schreiber, E. S. G., Milne, B. J., and Pearson, R. G. (1994). Species richness in streams: patterns over time, with stream size and with latitude. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung fur Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie 25, 1822–1826.
Lewis, S. E., Brodie, J. E., Bainbridge, Z. T., Rohde, K. W., Davis, A. M., Masters, B. L., Maughan, M., Devlin, M. J., Mueller, J. F., and Schaffelke, B. (2009). Herbicides: A new threat to the Great Barrier Reef. Environmental Pollution 157, 2470–2484.
| Herbicides: A new threat to the Great Barrier Reef.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXntVGhtLg%3D&md5=063751461ce830df328ed7bc98828ab5CAS |
Mackay, S. J., James, C., and Arthington, A. H. (2010). Macrophytes as indicators of stream condition in the Wet Tropics region, Northern Queensland, Australia. Ecological Indicators 10, 330–340.
| Macrophytes as indicators of stream condition in the Wet Tropics region, Northern Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McCune, B., and Mefford, M. J. (2011). ‘PC-ORD. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data. Version 6.06.’ MjM Software, Gleneden Beach, Oregon, U.S.A.
McJannet, D., Wallace, J., Keen, R., Hawdon, A., and Kemei, J. (2012a). The filtering capacity of a tropical riverine wetland: I. Water balance. Hydrological Processes 26, 40–52.
| The filtering capacity of a tropical riverine wetland: I. Water balance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhs1yrsrzK&md5=708a9d33e9de3b2ac7c2584057156c98CAS |
McJannet, D., Wallace, J., Keen, R., Hawdon, A., and Kemei, J. (2012b). The filtering capacity of a tropical riverine wetland: II. Sediment and nutrient balances. Hydrological Processes 26, 53–72.
| The filtering capacity of a tropical riverine wetland: II. Sediment and nutrient balances.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhs1yrsrzJ&md5=bc4c2ca0fbad7b50d79aabcd9609c01fCAS |
Mitchell, A., Reghenzani, J., Faithfull, J., Furnas, M., and Brodie, J. E. (2009). Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a ‘wet-tropics’ catchment in northern Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1097–1108.
| Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a ‘wet-tropics’ catchment in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVWqtLzE&md5=108b50cc10d3f99cf20778984bd833acCAS |
Mitsch, W. J., and Gosselink, J. G. (2007). ‘Wetlands, 4th edition.’ (John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: New York.)
Moss, A. (2006). Water quality in Wet Tropics streams, estuaries and inshore coastal waters. Water Science Technical Report, Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.
Naiman, R. J., Latterell, J. J., Pettit, N. E., and Olden, J. D. (2008). Flow variability and the vitality of river systems. Comptes Rendus Geoscience 340, 629–643.
| Flow variability and the vitality of river systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norris, R. H., and Hawkins, C. P. (2000). Monitoring river health. Hydrobiologia 435, 5–17.
| Monitoring river health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norris, R. H., Webb, J. A., Nichols, S. J., Stewardson, M. J., and Harrison, E. T. (2012). Analyzing cause and effect in environmental assessments: using weighted evidence from the literature. Freshwater Science 31, 5–21.
| Analyzing cause and effect in environmental assessments: using weighted evidence from the literature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ohtaka, A., Narita, T., Kamiya, T., Katakura, H., Araki, Y., Im, S., Chhay, R., and Tsukawaki, S. (2011). Composition of aquatic invertebrates associated with macrophytes in Lake Tonle Sap, Cambodia. Limnology 12, 137–144.
| Composition of aquatic invertebrates associated with macrophytes in Lake Tonle Sap, Cambodia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Økelsrud, A., and Pearson, R. G. (2007). Acute and post-exposure effects of ammonia toxicity to juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer [Bloch]). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 53, 624–631.
| Acute and post-exposure effects of ammonia toxicity to juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer [Bloch]).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Outridge, P. M. (1987). Possible causes of high species diversity in tropical Australian freshwater macrobenthic communities. Hydrobiologia 150, 95–107.
| Possible causes of high species diversity in tropical Australian freshwater macrobenthic communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pearson, R. G., and Connolly, N. M. (2000). Nutrient enhancement, food quality and community dynamics in a tropical rainforest stream. Freshwater Biology 43, 31–42.
| Nutrient enhancement, food quality and community dynamics in a tropical rainforest stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXhtV2rsbg%3D&md5=9730e19749e8c66534425fb0bbf4c5dfCAS |
Pearson, R. G., and Penridge, L. K. (1987). The effects of pollution by organic sugar mill effluent on the macro-invertebrates of a stream in tropical Queensland, Australia. Journal of Environmental Management 24, 205–215.
Pearson, R. G., Crossland, M., Butler, B., and Manwaring, S. (2003). ‘Effects of cane-field drainage on the ecology of tropical waterways, volumes 1, 2 and 3.’ Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research Report No. 3/04,1–3. James Cook University, Townsville.
Pearson, R. G., Arthington, A. H., and Godfrey, P. C. (2010). ‘Ecosystem Health of Wetlands of the Great Barrier Reef Catchment: Tully–Murray Floodplain Case Study.’ Final Project Report for the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility. (Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Ltd, Cairns.)
Perna, C., and Burrows, D. W. (2005). Improved dissolved oxygen status following removal of exotic weed mats in important fish habitat lagoons of the tropical Burdekin River floodplain, Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51, 138–148.
| Improved dissolved oxygen status following removal of exotic weed mats in important fish habitat lagoons of the tropical Burdekin River floodplain, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXitF2gtLw%3D&md5=4ba7db51017fa469d25912c16337dfbdCAS |
Poi de Neiff, A., Galassi, M. E., and Franceschini, M. C. (2009). Invertebrate assemblages associated with leaf litter in three floodplain wetlands of the Paraná River wetlands. Wetlands 29, 896–906.
| Invertebrate assemblages associated with leaf litter in three floodplain wetlands of the Paraná River wetlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pusey, B. J., and Kennard, M. J. (1996). Species richness and geographical variation in assemblage structure of the freshwater fish fauna of the Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland. Marine and Freshwater Research 47, 563–573.
| Species richness and geographical variation in assemblage structure of the freshwater fish fauna of the Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pusey, B. J., Kennard, M. J., and Arthington, A. H. (2007). Origins and maintenance of freshwater fish biodiversity in the Wet Tropics region. In ‘The Wet Tropics Rainforests of Australia.’ (Eds N.E. Stork and S. Turton). Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management, James Cook University, Cairns.
Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (QDERM) (2012). ‘Wetlandinfo’. Available at http://wetlandinfo.derm.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ [Accessed 6 March 2012.]
Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) (1993). ‘The Condition of River Catchments in Queensland.’ (Queensland Government: Brisbane.)
Queensland Government (2003). ‘State of the Environment Report 2003.’ (Queensland Government: Brisbane.)
Rayner, T. S., Pusey, B. J., and Pearson, R. G. (2008). Seasonal flooding, instream habitat structure and fish assemblages in the Mulgrave River, north-east Queensland: towards a new conceptual framework for understanding fish-habitat dynamics in small tropical rivers. Marine and Freshwater Research 59, 97–116.
| Seasonal flooding, instream habitat structure and fish assemblages in the Mulgrave River, north-east Queensland: towards a new conceptual framework for understanding fish-habitat dynamics in small tropical rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Richardson, C. J. (1994). Ecological functions and human values in wetlands: A framework for assessing forestry impacts. Wetlands 14, 1–9.
| Ecological functions and human values in wetlands: A framework for assessing forestry impacts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rosser, Z., and Pearson, R. G. (1995). Responses of rock fauna to physical disturbance in two Australian tropical rainforest streams. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 14, 183–196.
| Responses of rock fauna to physical disturbance in two Australian tropical rainforest streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sarma, S. S. S., and Nandini, S. (2006). Review of recent ecotoxicological studies on cladocerans. Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part. B, Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes 41, 1417–1430.
| Review of recent ecotoxicological studies on cladocerans.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xht1yjt7%2FJ&md5=b14077cbf9074de57d1f59726fcd34fcCAS |
Smith, R. E. W., and Pearson, R. G. (1987). The macro-invertebrate communities of temporary pools in an intermittent stream in tropical Queensland. Hydrobiologia 150, 45–61.
| The macro-invertebrate communities of temporary pools in an intermittent stream in tropical Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stenert, C., and Maltchik, L. (2007). Influence of area, altitude and hydroperiod on macroinvertebrate communities in southern Brazil wetlands. Marine and Freshwater Research 58, 993–1001.
| Influence of area, altitude and hydroperiod on macroinvertebrate communities in southern Brazil wetlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomaz, S. M., Dibble, R. D., Evangelista, L. R., Higuti, J., and Bini, L. M. (2008). Influence of aquatic macrophyte habitat complexity on invertebrate abundance and richness in tropical lagoons. Freshwater Biology 53, 358–367.
Tockner, K., Bunn, S., Gordon, C., Naiman, R. J., Quinn, G. P., and Stanford, J. A. (2008). Flood plains: critically threatened ecosystems. In ‘Aquatic Ecosystems’ (Ed. N.V.C. Polunin), pp. 45–61. (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.)
Veitch, V., and Sawynok, B. (2005). Freshwater Wetlands and Fish. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Sunfish Queensland Inc. Report No. SQ200401.
Wallace, J., Stewart, L., Hawdon, A., and Keen, R. (2008). The role of coastal floodplains in generating sediment and nutrient fluxes to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon in Australia. Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology 8, 183–194.
| The role of coastal floodplains in generating sediment and nutrient fluxes to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXht1Wht77O&md5=dbc0a902db003ca732a62e603908b8a0CAS |
Wallace, J., Stewart, L., Hawdon, A., Keen, R., Karim, F., and Kemei, J. (2009). Flood water quality and marine sediment and nutrient loads from the Tully and Murray catchments in north Queensland, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1123–1131.
| Flood water quality and marine sediment and nutrient loads from the Tully and Murray catchments in north Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVWqtLzM&md5=77ad54d085ff60fe2a6b0797dc5fabcdCAS |
Werren, G., and Arthington, A. H. (2002). The assessment of riparian vegetation as an indicator of stream condition, with particular emphasis on the rapid assessment of flow-related impacts. In ‘Landscape Health of Queensland.’ (Eds J. Playford, A. Shapcott and A. Franks.) pp. 194–222. (Royal Society of Queensland: Brisbane.)
Winemiller, K. O., Tarim, S., Shormann, D., and Cotner, J. B. (2000). Fish assemblage structure in relation to environmental variation among Brazos River Oxbow lakes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129, 451–468.
| Fish assemblage structure in relation to environmental variation among Brazos River Oxbow lakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |