The aquatic plant communities of the Pilbara region of Western Australia: a region of arid zone wetland diversity

Michael N. Lyons; David A. Mickle; Michelle T. Casanova

doi:10.1071/PC24078

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Previous Next Contents Vol 31(1)

The aquatic plant communities of the Pilbara region of Western Australia: a region of arid zone wetland diversity

Michael N. Lyons

^A ^* , David A. Mickle ^A ^B and Michelle T. Casanova ^C ^D ^E

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, Australia.

^B Department of Education, Hampton Senior High School, Morley, WA, Australia.

^C Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, South Yarra, Vic, Australia.

^D Charophyte Services, PO Box 80, Lake Bolac, Vic, Australia.

^E The Future Regions Research Centre, IISS, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, Ballarat, Vic, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: mike.lyons@dbca.wa.gov.au

Handling Editor: Mike van Keulen

Pacific Conservation Biology 31, PC24078 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC24078

Submitted: 11 October 2024 Accepted: 15 December 2024 Published: 23 January 2025

© 2025 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

Decision making in conservation depends on robust biodiversity data. Well-designed systematic and rigorous surveys provide consistent and taxonomically broad datasets needed for conservation planning. This is important in areas such as the Pilbara of Western Australia with extensive mining and pastoralism. The collection of biodiversity data for aquatic plants represents a major contribution to assist in conservation planning and management of the region’s wetlands and rivers.

Aims

We documented the diversity and major patterns in the aquatic flora of Pilbara wetlands and rivers, to provide data to inform conservation planning and manage impacts of major land uses such as mining and pastoralism.

Methods

We undertook a systematic quadrat-based survey of the aquatic flora of 98 Pilbara wetlands and rivers. The full range of wetland types was sampled. Composition of charophytes and vascular aquatic plant communities were analysed against wetland permanence and water body type.

Key results

A diverse aquatic flora with several novel taxa was discovered. Charophytes were a major component of the aquatic flora. Floristic composition was strongly related to wetland type and water permanence with permanent sites showing higher richness. Less permanent sites captured a distinct component of the Pilbara aquatic flora.

Conclusions

The aquatic flora of the Pilbara represents a significant component of the region’s biodiversity. Patterning was concordant with previous studies of the riparian plant communities and aquatic invertebrates of the region providing synergies in reserve system design and management efforts.

Implications

High quality spatial biodiversity data particularly for poorly surveyed regions or biotic groups can provide major insights critical for effective conservation planning and management.

Keywords: aquatic plants, arid zone, biodiversity survey, charophytes, claypans, conservation planning, Pilbara, river pools, Western Australia, wetlands.

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