Limnology of Lake Buchanan, a tropical saline lake, and associated pools, of North Queensland

Abstract

During 1974-1984, Lake Buchanan and seven peripheral pools usually contained water for only a few months each year, commencing in late summer. They ranged in salinity from 1 to 202 g l-1, their waters were dominated by sodium chloride, but with Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ratios of c. 1, and were generally alkaline. The fauna of 53 species included three halobionts (e.g. Parartemia minuta, Diacypris compacts), 18 halophilics (e.g. Mytilocypris splendida, Trigonocypris globulosa, Microcyclops dengizicus) and many salt- tolerant freshwater forms, mainly insects. Overall, the fauna was distinctly Australian, but some prominent taxa found in southern salt lakes were absent and others were replaced by local endemics and tropical species. Past climatic cycles have probably influenced the composition of the fauna.