DOCSLIB.ORG

Stygofauna Diversity and Distribution in Eastern Australian Cave and Karst Areas

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Stygofauna Diversity and Distribution in Eastern Australian Cave and Karst Areas --- - ------------------------------ DOI: 10.18195/issn.0313-122x.64.2001.049-062 Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No. 64: 49-62 (2001). Stygofauna diversity and distribution in Eastern Australian cave and karst areas 1 2 3 Mia E. Thurgate *, Jane s. Gough , Arthur K. Clarke , Peter Serov4and Andy Spate! 1 Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust, Locked Bag, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales 2790, Australia e-mail: [email protected] 2 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, PO Box 2115, Queanbeyan, New South Wales 2620, Australia 3 School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-05, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia 4 Centre for Natural Resources, Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, University of New England, PO Box U245, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia * For correspondence Abstract - This paper reviews the diversity and distribution of the stygofauna of Eastern Australia on a regional basis. Most of the stygofauna is concentrated in the highland karsts of New South Wales and Tasmania. Two hundred and thirty-eight taxa are present and amphipods, syncarids and hydrobiid gastropods are the dominant and most widespread groups. Nearly half of the total fauna are stygobites (82 taxa) and stygophiles (34 taxa). Also present are taxa with Gondwanan and Pangaean affinities, taxa that are phylogenetic and distributional relicts, and locally endemic taxa. Diversity and distribution at the local karst scale is also discussed using a case study of Wombeyan Caves, one of the richest stygofauna sites in Eastern Australia. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research. INTRODUCTION surveys suggest this is also an important region of The presence of a diverse global stygofauna stygofauna diversity (Eberhard et al., 1991; (fauna inhabiting groundwater environments) has Eberhard and Spate, 1995). led to groundwater ecology becoming a major This paper synthesises the available information discipline of scientific endeavour (Gibert et al., on the stygofauna of Eastern Australia inhabiting 1994), particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. In karst and cave areas. We describe patterns in terms of global composition, crustaceans dominate composition, diversity and distribution focussing the fauna, there is a paucity of insects, and particularly on the crustacean and molluscan fauna gastropods are regionally significant (Botosaneanu, of New South Wales and Tasmania. Our intention 1986; Culver and Sket, 2000; Sket, 1999). The is to highlight the stygofauna of Eastern Australia, diversity of these groundwater ecosystems was draw attention to what is known of its significance, recently highlighted by the identification of and encourage further discussion and research. stygofauna 'hotspots' in North America and Europe (Culver and Sket, 2000). Despite considerable continental aridity and a METHODS AND SOURCES OF INFORMAnON paucity of cave and karst areas by world standards, The information presented in this paper is based Australia has been identified as a regional centre of on several databases, unpublished reports and stygofauna diversity (Holsinger, 1993; Knott, 1986; records of the authors'. Published information is Williams, 1986). Support for this statement arises also used for Tasmania (Eberhard et al., 1991; from research in Western Australia, particularly in Clarke, 1997), New South Wales (Eberhard and Cape Range, Barrow Island and Yanchep (e.g. Spate, 1995; Bradbury and Williams, 1997b) and Humphreys, 2000a; Jasinska and Knott, 2000). The South Australia (Zeidler, 1983; Thurgate, 1995). two richest sites in the world for stygal amphipods Details of the locations of specimens and the status are the Ethel Gorge calcrete and Barrow Island, both of taxonomic determinations are available from the in northwestern Australia (Humphreys, 2001; authors. Bradbury, 2000). There are also more stygal dytiscid Most karst and cave areas in Eastern Australia beetles in the Yilgarn region (southwestern have been cursorily sampled, although a few Australia) than in the remainder of the world selected areas in Tasmania (e.g. Ida Bay, Mole combined (Humphreys, 2001). Less attention has Creek) and New South Wales (e.g. Wombeyan, been paid to the stygofauna of Eastern Australia Jenolan) have been more intensively surveyed. (defined herein as east of 138° longitude) but Surveys have employed a mixture of techniques 50 M.E. Thurgate, }.S. Gough, A.K. Clarke, P. Serov, A. Spate . v. NNC wsw FRE DE 250 o 250 500 km i s Figure 1 Distribution of stygofauna sites in Eastern Australia. Each dot on the map represents one or more karst areas. Boundaries for IBRA regions are also shown and follow Thackway and Cresswell (1995). Codes for IBRA regions are given in Table 1, except for MII (Mount Isa Inlier) and MGD (Mitchell Grass Downs). These latter two regions are not included in Table 1 as the diversity and composition of their stygofauna is completely undetermined. -----------------------~....._ ..._--- Stygofauna of Eastern Australia 51 including active searching, nets and aspirators, and relictual and are perched above the water table for trapping with modified baited 'yabbie' pots much of the year. In the Mount Gambier karst (Eberhard et al., 1991; Eberhard and Spate, 1995; (Naracoorte Coastal Plain Region) groundwater is Clarke, 1997). present at shallow depths in many caves. Much of the stygofauna is undetermined, but we In the Einasleigh Uplands Region, the karsts are have included information on these taxa to give a residual tropical forms (karst towers) rising above more complete indication of the diversity of these the surrounding plains. They formed during the ecosystems. Where multiple specimens have not wetter conditions of the Tertiary Oennings, 1982). been clearly assigned to a particular genus or Numerous individual towers are distributed over species, we have treated these as belonging to a several hundred kilometres. Subdued tower karsts single taxon. Given the distribution patterns are also found in the North Coast Region, and these discussed below (i.e. highly localised with many developed in the Cretaceous (Osborne and endemics), improved taxonomic information will Branagan, 1988). This region is a transition zone undoubtedly result in an overall increase in between the tropical karsts described above and diversity. temperate karsts described below. Few caves extend to groundwater in either of these regions. Nature and Extent of Karst Areas At least 90 small karst areas are widely scattered The karsts of Eastern Australia are not uniformly in the South Western Slopes, South East Highlands distributed (Figure 1). Instead, they form a series of and Australian Alps Regions of New South Wales scattered outcrops that are concentrated in the (Figure 1). Often these are ancient karsts, some of southeast of Eastern Australia. The distribution of which developed in the Permian (Osborne and karst styles broadly corresponds to the Branagan, 1988; Osborne, 1993, 1999). These karst biogeographic region boundaries developed under areas are impounded, that is, surrounded by higher- the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for lying non-carbonate terrains so groundwater Australia (!BRA: Thackway and Cresswell, 1995). systems are generally small and discontinuous. These regions (Figure 1) are based on similarities in Approximately 80 small karst areas are located in surface climate, geology, landform and biological the Woolnorth, West and South West and attributes. We use the !BRA regions as an D'Entrecasteaux Regions of Tasmania, and are of a organisational framework for discussing the similar age and style to those of southeast New biogeography of the stygofauna, and it is not our South Wales, but are more extensive and deeper intention to infer causality. systems (Kiernan, 1995). In both states, the karsts Most of the Eastern Australian karsts are of small are found throughout a range of climatic and size with limited surface expression (Table 1). altitudinal gradients. Exceptions to this pattern are found in the extensive The impounded karsts of New South Wales and Mitchell Grass Downs and Naracoorte Coastal Plain Tasmania are complex systems, and many of them Regions (Figure 1) where the karsts form broad, have experienced multiple phases of karstification undulating plains in flat-bedded rock. Many of the interspersed with periods of marine transgression, caves in these regions have deep open shafts or burial, infilling and exhumation (Osborne and sinkholes at their entrance. Most caves at Branagan, 1988; Osborne, 1993, 1999; Clarke, 1995). Camooweal (Mitchell Grass Downs Region) are In addition, many karst areas of Tasmania lie Crustacea 130 Gastropoda Other Insecta o 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 No. oftaxa Figure 2 Composition of stygofauna in Eastern Australia. The group designated as 'other' includes protozoans, turbellarians, oligochaetes, nematomorphans, arachnids and bivalves. Table 1 Karst area characteristics and associated stygofauna families occurring within IBRA regions as defined by Thackway and Cresswell (1995). Representative sites Ut include locations in New South Wales and Tasmania with a high stygofauna diversity (ie more than 10 taxa present). Families with five or more taxa present in a N given IBRA region are also indicated. IBRA Region Location, karst styles and climatic regime1 Representative sitesz Characteristic faunaI elements (lBRA Code) (Total no. taxa) Einasleigh QLD: Numerous bluffs (tower karst) over several hundred Mitchell-Palmer (1), ChilIagoe (I), Paramelitidae Uplands (EIU) kilometres. Watertable
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of Spring-Associated Hydrobiid Snails of the Great Artesian Basin, Australia
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34 (2005) 545–556 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of spring-associated hydrobiid snails of the Great Artesian Basin, Australia Kathryn E. Pereza,¤, Winston F. Ponderb, Donald J. Colganb, Stephanie A. Clarkc,1, Charles Lydearda a Department of Biological Sciences, Biodiversity and Systematics, University of Alabama, Box 870345, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345, USA b Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia c Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Campus, Locked Bag 1797 Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia Received 6 July 2004; revised 15 November 2004 Available online 6 January 2005 Abstract The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) of Australia underlies some of the driest parts of South Australia and Queensland and feeds numerous freshwater springs. Prominent and endangered components of the GAB spring community are snails of the family Hydro- biidae. This paper examines the evolutionary relationships of the entire hydrobiid fauna associated with the GAB, and includes appropriate non-GAB species to place the GAB fauna in a broader phylogenetic context. The Queensland genus Jardinella is a focus of this paper, providing a Wne scale examination of relationships between spring supergroups in the northeastern regions of the GAB. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses performed on 16S, CO1, and combined sequence data from 40 hydrobiid taxa found four major clades of Australian taxa. The analysis revealed that at least three separate colonization events of the GAB spring fauna have occurred. Two of these are represented by considerable radiations, (1) Jardinella to the north and east and (2) Caldicochlea, Fonscochlea, and possibly Trochidrobia in South Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae): a Morphostatic Radiation of Freshwater Gastropods in Southeastern Australia
    © Copyright Australian Museum, 2003 Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 28 (2003): 1–109 ISBN 0-7347-2313-X Revision of the Snail Genus Austropyrgus (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae): A Morphostatic Radiation of Freshwater Gastropods in Southeastern Australia STEPHANIE A. CLARK1, ALISON C. MILLER AND WINSTON F. PONDER Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia 1 current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Biodiversity & Systematics, University of Alabama, Box 870345, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, Unites States of America [email protected] · [email protected] · [email protected] ABSTRACT. The species that comprise a morphostatic radiation in southeastern Australia of the hydrobiid genus Austropyrgus Cotton are described using shell, opercular, anatomical and radular characters, and the genus is redefined. The previously described taxa have been included under several generic names, including Fluvidona (now a separate genus), Rivisessor, Pupiphryx and Angrobia, which are now treated as synonyms of Austropyrgus. Seventy-four species are described from southeastern Australia, fifty- seven of them new. These are grouped into six informal morphological groups to aid identification. Two recently described outlying species, A. bunyaensis from Mt Bunya, southern Queensland and A. centralia from Dalhousie Springs, northern South Australia, are not included in this revision. Members of the genus are typically found in streams, although a few species live in springs, rivers or lakes. A large number of the species have restricted distributions and several are known only from single locations. In southern New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia Austropyrgus is the dominant native freshwater hydrobiid genus whereas in Tasmania it is often sympatric with the native freshwater hydrobiid genera Beddomeia and/or Phrantela.
    [Show full text]
  • Austropyrgus Tathraensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
    Austropyrgus tathraensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003 Diagnostic features This is one of several species of Austropyrgus found in the southern half of New South Wales. They are all very similar, being separated on small differences in size and shape of the shells and Distribution of Austropyrgus tathraensis. Austropyrgus tathraensis (adult size 2.1-2.8 mm) in anatomical details. They have elongate-conic shells with adults having a slightly thickened aperture and the operculum bears several pegs. Like most species of Austropyrgus, it is geographically isolated and has a restricted range. This species is found around Bega and Tathra. Austropyrgus tathraensis is most similar to A. sparsus, A. wombeyanensis, A. buchanensis and A. abercrombiensis. t differs from A. sparsus in lacking a simple outer lip (i.e, it is not reflected). From A. wombeyanensis it differs in its slightly narrower shell and in some radular differences while A. buchanensis has a slightly broader shell and some anatomical differences. Classification Austropyrgus tathraensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003 Class Gastropoda I nfraclass Caenogastropoda Order Littorinida Suborder Rissoidina Superfamily Truncatelloidea Family Tateidae Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942 Original name: Austropyrgus tathraensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003. Clark, S. A., Miller, A. C. and Ponder, W. F. (2003). Revision of the snail genus Austropyrgus (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae): A morphostatic radiation of freshwater gastropods in southeastern Australia. Records of the Australian Museum Supplement 28: 1ĕ109. Type locality: Tributary of Wapengo Creek, on Tathra-Bermagui Road, New South Wales. Biology and ecology n small streams on water weeds, hard substrata (rocks etc.) and crawling on litter and sediment. Can be locally abundant.
    [Show full text]
  • Caenogastropoda
    13 Caenogastropoda Winston F. Ponder, Donald J. Colgan, John M. Healy, Alexander Nützel, Luiz R. L. Simone, and Ellen E. Strong Caenogastropods comprise about 60% of living Many caenogastropods are well-known gastropod species and include a large number marine snails and include the Littorinidae (peri- of ecologically and commercially important winkles), Cypraeidae (cowries), Cerithiidae (creep- marine families. They have undergone an ers), Calyptraeidae (slipper limpets), Tonnidae extraordinary adaptive radiation, resulting in (tuns), Cassidae (helmet shells), Ranellidae (tri- considerable morphological, ecological, physi- tons), Strombidae (strombs), Naticidae (moon ological, and behavioral diversity. There is a snails), Muricidae (rock shells, oyster drills, etc.), wide array of often convergent shell morpholo- Volutidae (balers, etc.), Mitridae (miters), Buccin- gies (Figure 13.1), with the typically coiled shell idae (whelks), Terebridae (augers), and Conidae being tall-spired to globose or fl attened, with (cones). There are also well-known freshwater some uncoiled or limpet-like and others with families such as the Viviparidae, Thiaridae, and the shells reduced or, rarely, lost. There are Hydrobiidae and a few terrestrial groups, nota- also considerable modifi cations to the head- bly the Cyclophoroidea. foot and mantle through the group (Figure 13.2) Although there are no reliable estimates and major dietary specializations. It is our aim of named species, living caenogastropods are in this chapter to review the phylogeny of this one of the most diverse metazoan clades. Most group, with emphasis on the areas of expertise families are marine, and many (e.g., Strombidae, of the authors. Cypraeidae, Ovulidae, Cerithiopsidae, Triphori- The fi rst records of undisputed caenogastro- dae, Olividae, Mitridae, Costellariidae, Tereb- pods are from the middle and upper Paleozoic, ridae, Turridae, Conidae) have large numbers and there were signifi cant radiations during the of tropical taxa.
    [Show full text]
  • Austropyrgus Centralia (Ponder, Colgan, Terzis, Clark & Miller, 1996)
    Austropyrgus centralia (Ponder, Colgan, Terzis, Clark & Miller, 1996) Diagnostic features This species is distinguished from the similar and co-occurring Caldicochlea harrisi by its small, conical shell and more evenly conical spire outline. A. centralia also differs from both species Distribution of Austropyrgus centralia. Austropyrgus centralia (adult size 1.4-2.2 mm) of Caldicochlea in its prominent opercular pegs, multiple (not two) basal denticles on the central teeth, as well as considerable differences in the female genital system and penial morphology. Classification Austropyrgus centralia (Ponder, Colgan, Terzis, Clark & Miller, 1996) Class Gastropoda I nfraclass Caenogastropoda Order Littorinida Suborder Rissoidina Superfamily Truncatelloidea Family Tateidae Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942 Original name: Fluvidona centralia Ponder, Colgan, Terzis, Clark & Miller, 1996. Ponder, W. F., Colgan, D. J, Terzis, T., Clark, S. A and Miller, A. C. (1996). Three new morphologically and genetically determined species of hydrobiid gastropods from Dalhousie Springs, northern South Australia, with the description of a new genus. Molluscan Research 17: 49ĕ106. Type locality: Spring Cd11, Dalhousie Springs, South Australia. Biology and ecology Found in a few small (cold) isolated seeps and in shallow lower cold outflows distant from the warm to hot water sources of large springs. Distribution Dalhousie Springs, northern South Australia. Notes This is one of two species of Austropyrgus occurring far outside the range of the majority of species, being found in Dalhousie Springs in the far north of South Australia, while the other (A. bunyaensis) is found in southern Queensland. Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, and this one is no exception.
    [Show full text]
  • South, Tasmania
    Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions Guide to Users Background What is the summary for and where does it come from? This summary has been produced by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPC) for the Natural Resource Management Spatial Information System. It highlights important elements of the biodiversity of the region in two ways: • Listing species which may be significant for management because they are found only in the region, mainly in the region, or they have a conservation status such as endangered or vulnerable. • Comparing the region to other parts of Australia in terms of the composition and distribution of its species, to suggest components of its biodiversity which may be nationally significant. The summary was produced using the Australian Natural Natural Heritage Heritage Assessment Assessment Tool Tool (ANHAT), which analyses data from a range of plant and animal surveys and collections from across Australia to automatically generate a report for each NRM region. Data sources (Appendix 2) include national and state herbaria, museums, state governments, CSIRO, Birds Australia and a range of surveys conducted by or for DEWHA. Limitations • ANHAT currently contains information on the distribution of over 30,000 Australian taxa. This includes all mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and fish, 137 families of vascular plants (over 15,000 species) and a range of invertebrate groups. The list of families covered in ANHAT is shown in Appendix 1. Groups notnot yet yet covered covered in inANHAT ANHAT are are not not included included in the in the summary. • The data used for this summary come from authoritative sources, but they are not perfect.
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrobiidae Descriptions
    An Ecological, Morphological and Molecular Investigation of Beddomeia Species (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae) in Tasmania Karen Richards BScEd, Melbourne College of Advanced Education BAppSc (Hons), Deakin University A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Tasmania September 2010 ii Declaration This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma by the University or any other institution. To the best of my knowledge the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where acknowledgement is made in the text. Karen Richards Date Statement of Authority of Access This thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying is permitted in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. Karen Richards Date iii iv Abstract Narrow-range endemic species are thought to have naturally small distributions, limited by size, mobility, dispersal capabilities, specific habitat requirements and biogeographical boundaries. Many narrow range taxa are poorly reserved and most threatened freshwater invertebrate taxa in Tasmania, including the majority of Beddomeia species, fall into this category. Management of such taxa is reliant on informed ecological data which is not currently available for many freshwater invertebrates. To address the need for more detailed information on one such group of aquatic invertebrates, this study obtained spatial and ecological data for a number of Beddomeia species and identified habitat variables that together explained the snail distributions. A combination of geology, catchment size, forest type, flow and disturbance were identified as significant explanatory variables of Beddomeia presence within a river catchment.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Summary: Wimmera, Victoria
    Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions Species List What is the summary for and where does it come from? This list has been produced by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPC) for the Natural Resource Management Spatial Information System. The list was produced using the AustralianAustralian Natural Natural Heritage Heritage Assessment Assessment Tool Tool (ANHAT), which analyses data from a range of plant and animal surveys and collections from across Australia to automatically generate a report for each NRM region. Data sources (Appendix 2) include national and state herbaria, museums, state governments, CSIRO, Birds Australia and a range of surveys conducted by or for DEWHA. For each family of plant and animal covered by ANHAT (Appendix 1), this document gives the number of species in the country and how many of them are found in the region. It also identifies species listed as Vulnerable, Critically Endangered, Endangered or Conservation Dependent under the EPBC Act. A biodiversity summary for this region is also available. For more information please see: www.environment.gov.au/heritage/anhat/index.html Limitations • ANHAT currently contains information on the distribution of over 30,000 Australian taxa. This includes all mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and fish, 137 families of vascular plants (over 15,000 species) and a range of invertebrate groups. Groups notnot yet yet covered covered in inANHAT ANHAT are notnot included included in in the the list. list. • The data used come from authoritative sources, but they are not perfect. All species names have been confirmed as valid species names, but it is not possible to confirm all species locations.
    [Show full text]
  • Glenelg Hopkins, Victoria
    Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions Guide to Users Background What is the summary for and where does it come from? This summary has been produced by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPC) for the Natural Resource Management Spatial Information System. It highlights important elements of the biodiversity of the region in two ways: • Listing species which may be significant for management because they are found only in the region, mainly in the region, or they have a conservation status such as endangered or vulnerable. • Comparing the region to other parts of Australia in terms of the composition and distribution of its species, to suggest components of its biodiversity which may be nationally significant. The summary was produced using the Australian Natural Natural Heritage Heritage Assessment Assessment Tool Tool (ANHAT), which analyses data from a range of plant and animal surveys and collections from across Australia to automatically generate a report for each NRM region. Data sources (Appendix 2) include national and state herbaria, museums, state governments, CSIRO, Birds Australia and a range of surveys conducted by or for DEWHA. Limitations • ANHAT currently contains information on the distribution of over 30,000 Australian taxa. This includes all mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and fish, 137 families of vascular plants (over 15,000 species) and a range of invertebrate groups. The list of families covered in ANHAT is shown in Appendix 1. Groups notnot yet yet covered covered in inANHAT ANHAT are are not not included included in the in the summary. • The data used for this summary come from authoritative sources, but they are not perfect.
    [Show full text]
  • [ISSN 1025-2517], Ecology. Besides Descriptionon the Publishing): X +
    SPIRULA - nr. 342 (2005) 31 Nieuwe boeken New books R.A. Bank * BARKER, G.M. (ed.) (2004): Natural and research onpredators, parasites and students, and amateurs who are inter- enemies of terrestrial molluscs. - pathogens. The book will be of signifi- ested in the identification of freshwater Oxfordshire (CABI Publishing): X + cant interest to researchers in zoology, mussels (Order Unionoida) in Min- and It contains 644 pp. [ISBN 0-85199-319-2], ecology pest management. nesota. photographs, J. A. ALLEN: Avian and mammalian descriptions of shell characteristics, * predators of terrestrial gastropods (1- CLARK, S.A., A.C. MILLER & W.F. general habitat associations, and distri- W.O.C. SYMONDSON: for all the freshwater 36); Coleoptera PONDER (2003): Revision of the snail bution maps mus- (Carabidae, Staphylinidae,Lampyridae, genus Austropyrgus (Gastropoda: sel species known to occur in Minneso- Drilidae and Silphidae) as predators of Hydrobiidae). A morphostatic radiation ta. The guide also contains general terrestrial gastropods (37-84); J.B. of freshwater gastropods in southeast- information about mussel biology, the COUPLAND & G.M. BARKER: - the Aus- Diptera as ern Australia. Records of importance of mussels, threats to mus- predators and parasitoids of terrestrial tralian Museum, Supplement28: 1-109. sels, collection methods, and collection gastropods, with empahsis on Phoridae, Sydney. [ISBN 0-7347-2313-X]. regulations. Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Musci- * * dae and Fanniidae (85-158); G.M. EGOROV, R.V. (2004): Directory of SVERLOVA, N.V. (2003): Scientific BARKER, L. KNUTSON, J.-C. VALA, J.B. malacologists and conchologists of the nomenclature of the land mollusks of the Ukrainian fauna. - Kivev: 78 COUPLAND & J.K.
    [Show full text]
  • Austropyrgus Bungoniensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003
    Austropyrgus bungoniensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003 Diagnostic features This is one of several species of Austropyrgus found in the southern half of New South Wales. They are all very similar, only separated by small differences in size and shape of the shells Distribution of Austropyrgus bungoniensis. Austropyrgus bungoniensis (adult size 1.8-2.6 mm) and in anatomical details. They have elongate-conic shells, where adults possess a slightly thickened aperture, and the operculum bears several pegs. Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges. This species is found in Bungonia Gorge. Classification Austropyrgus bungoniensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003 Class Gastropoda I nfraclass Caenogastropoda Order Littorinida Suborder Rissoidina Superfamily Truncatelloidea Family Tateidae Genus Austropyrgus Cotton, 1942 Original name: Austropyrgus bungoniensis Clark, Miller & Ponder, 2003. Clark, S. A., Miller, A. C. and Ponder, W. F. (2003). Revision of the snail genus Austropyrgus (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae): A morphostatic radiation of freshwater gastropods in southeastern Australia. Records of the Australian Museum Supplement 28: 1ĕ109. Type locality: Bungonia Gorge Base, NSW. Biology and ecology n seepages, streams and the main river on water weeds, hard substrata (rocks etc.) and crawling on litter and sediment. Can be locally abundant. Assumed to feed by scraping bacteria and microalgae. Lay solitary capsules containing a single egg. Direct development. Distribution Known only from the small streams in Bungonia Gorge, New South Wales. Notes Most species of Austropyrgus are geographically isolated and have restricted ranges, and this one is no exception. Further reading Clark, S. A., Miller, A. C. & Ponder, W. F. (2003). Revision of the snail genus Austropyrgus (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae): a morphostatic radiation of freshwater gastropods in southeastern Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • For the South East NRM Region
    Water quality Information Sheet Aquatic ecosystem condition reports 2019 panel assessment of creeks and drains from the South East NRM region Issued May 2020 EPA 1126/20: This information sheet describes the outcome of the panel assessment of creeks and drains from the South East Natural Resources Management (NRM) region, which was sampled in spring 2019. Introduction The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) coordinates a monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) program on the aquatic ecosystem condition of South Australian creeks and rivers. This MER program is designed to meet several objectives: Providing a statewide monitoring framework for creeks and rivers that revolves through the NRM regions with sufficient frequency to allow for state of the environment reporting purposes. Describing aquatic ecosystem condition for broad general public understanding. Identifying the key pressures and management responses to those pressures. Providing a useful reporting format that can support environmental decision making within government, community and industry. This information sheet provides a summary of the scientific work used in assessing monitoring data from creeks and rivers. Aquatic ecosystem science is not always rigid and precise; it is often open to different interpretations in several respects. Therefore, the EPA has decided that the best way to assess the condition of streams is through an expert panel deliberation that uses a consistent descriptive modelling approach. The panel members comprised an environmental consultant and two biologists from the EPA (the authors of this assessment). All have at least 20 years’ experience in monitoring and assessing a range of streams across South Australia. The panel members were: Peter Goonan, EPA Tracy Corbin, EPA Chris Madden, Freshwater Macroinvertebrates This information sheet is a technical document that contains relatively sophisticated concepts and content.
    [Show full text]