DOCSLIB.ORG

The Status of Herons and Their Wetland Habitat in Southeastern Australia, 2000-2010

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Status of Herons and Their Wetland Habitat in Southeastern Australia, 2000-2010 Copyright © 2011. Maddock, M. 2011. The status of herons and their wetland habitat in southeastern Australia, 2000-2010. Journal of Heron Biology and Conservation 1:7 [online] www.HeronConservation.org/JHBC/vol01/art07/ The status of herons and their wetland habitat in southeastern Australia, 2000-2010 Max Maddock 78 Ballydoyle Dr., Ashtonfield, NSW 2323 Australia; [email protected] Abstract This paper presents an update on the status of herons in southeastern Australia from 2000 to 2010, with emphasis on the situation in the Murray-Darling Basin river system. During the period, four major stud- ies contributed to an enhanced understanding of heron biology and conservation of herons in Australia. In the Lower Hunter Region of New South Wales, Rufous Night Herons (Nycticorax caledonicus) have not been recorded as a breeding species following the destruction of their colony site in the 1980’s. Since 2000, there has been little action with regard to the conservation of the Australasian Bittern (Bo- taurus poiciloptilus), listed as Endangered by IUCN and as Critically Endangered by the Heron Special- ist Group. The federal government listed the species as nationally Endangered in 2011, but otherwise, little has been done to stop habitat destruction of specific sites. Two studies of the Cattle Egret, the Lockyer Valley Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis) study and the Project Egret Watch study of the two Lower Hunter colonies (Seaham and Shortland colonies) provide considerable information on the changing sta- tus of this species. Nesting populations in the Lower Hunter Valley decreased precipitously as critically important wetland sites became adversely affected by development pressures. The Murray-Darling river system traditionally provided major support of nesting and year round activities of the four species of egrets, three of bitterns and three of other herons, as well as other waterbirds. Drought and bad water management created water shortages and adversely affected heron numbers through 2006. Thereafter, overall favorable conditions for breeding and foraging returned and threats from water management were substantially reduced. Despite nesting success in response to floods and recent moves by some rur- al property owners to be proactively supportive of the water birds, the overall assessment is of a bleak future for Australian herons due to lack of governmental and popular support for sound environmental policies. The situation is still volatile due to continued political conflict and a finding in a new study re- leased as this report was going to press that previous estimations of flooding extent in the basin had been over estimated. Key words: Ardea; Botaurus; conservation; egrets; Egretta; Murray-Darling; New South Wales; Nyctico- rax; populations; wetlands. Journal of Heron Biology and Conservation 1:7, page !2 Introduction ticipated. Maddock (2000) summarized the status of herons in Australia as part of a global assessment of Results and Discussion heron conservation (Kushlan and Hafner 2000). The purpose of the present paper is to provide an Significant studies. Since 2000, four major stud- update of the breeding populations of key species ies have expanded the knowledge of heron biolo- through the end of the first decade of the 21st gy and conservation. century. This update discusses the current status of the populations, the habitat on which they de- McKilligan (2001) studied Cattle Egret nesting in pend, and the complex socio-economic and polit- the Lockyer Valley, Queensland. Cattle Egrets ical influences that have affected them. started nesting in the area in the 1974/75 season. The study encompassed the 20 years from 1979 Maddock (2000) concluded that there was a de- to 1998 and is an important example of the value creasing trend in breeding numbers of Eastern of long-term research in understanding processes Great (Ardea modesta), Intermediate (Ardea in- at work in controlling fluctuations in numbers of termedia), Little (Egretta garzetta) and Cattle nests and breeding success. (Ardea ibis) egrets in coastal New South Wales (NSW) colonies and recommended that conser- McKilligan (2005) filled a gap in Australian lit- vation status of the Great, Intermediate and Little erature. This was the first book to deal exclusive- Egrets should be raised to vulnerable. He sug- ly with the 14 Australian species of Ardeidae, gested that the erratic nature of breeding of the covering distribution, movements, feeding, breed- Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron (Nycticorax ing, population dynamics and conservation. The caledonicus) in its major nesting areas in the publisher’s description of the book on the back Murray-Darling Basin and the continued overall cover described the chapter on population and decline of the water regime of the basin could conservation as a useful summary of the status of have long term consequences for its population. the species, some thriving and others in a very He also noted that very little was known at that precarious position, with northern Australia ac- time about the Australasian Bittern (Botaurus commodating large numbers of certain species, poiciloptilus). He pointed out the serious plight but the southern half of the continent having of the water regime of the Murray-Darling Basin, some species which had become very scarce and historically a major breeding area for herons and were at risk of local extinction. other waterbirds, and discussed its associated controversies and the resultant decline in water- Maddock (2008a) provided a comprehensive his- bird nesting. torical review of the growth of the Seaham and Shortland nesting sites from their establishment The present contribution documents that the situ- in the late 1970’s onwards until 2008. The report ation has worsened since that 2000 paper. The details the record of the rise of the Great, Inter- precipitous decline in the egret nesting popula- mediate, Little, and Cattle egrets until 1989, fol- tion in the Hunter Region of NSW is continuing lowed by a short, rapid downward plunge be- as part of a general pattern of ecological degrada- tween 1989-1995, and then a fluctuating but tion of wetlands. The further catastrophic col- overall declining trend thereafter (a warning lapse of the Murray-Darling ecosystem due to trend that the tipping point to local extinction political and sociological antagonism is to be an- may have been imminent). It includes a mapping Journal of Heron Biology and Conservation 1:7, page !3 of the changes over time of nest locations within area from that time through the 1980’s. Limited the two colonies and an analysis of the possible data available suggests a moderate recovery in impacts on the declining egret nesting popula- numbers at the Wetlands Centre, but not to the tions by a steadily increasing White Ibis nesting levels prior to 1972. No nesting has been record- population which began at Shortland in 2004. It ed anywhere in the Lower Hunter Region since also reviews the changes in the Straw-necked the demise of the original Kooragang colony. The (Threskiornis spinnicolis) and White Ibis (Thres- results from regular monitoring of Rufous Night kiornis aethiopicus) populations, which share the Heron numbers at Wallbridge Reserve, Raymond same wetland habitat with the egrets. Terrace since 2003, taken in conjunction with records of the herons present in the Shortland Maddock (2008b) provides a comprehensive his- egret colony during the nesting seasons, pointed torical review of the literature and monitoring to an annual departure of the birds from the re- data on the conservation issues involved in the gion to an unknown breeding site or sites else- continuous decline in ecological characteristics where. The Murray-Darling system would have of Lower Hunter (NSW) regional wetlands for to be a prime candidate as their destination. more than 200 years. Natural estuarine shorelines and floodplain wetlands have been altered, de- Despite regular monitoring for the presence of stroyed, drained, filled and severely degraded for Rufous Night Herons during the Shortland egret industrial and urban development to the detri- nesting season (nest counting 1981/82-2009/10 ment of flora and fauna, a process which acceler- and the annual program of wing-tagging egrets ated from the 1970’s onwards. The degradation 1995-2004), no nests were discovered, although occurred in both protected reserves and unpro- the species was regularly seen and recorded in tected areas alike. It resulted in negative impacts evening observations during winter, often in large on key, highly threatened species which require numbers. In the 2009/10 nesting season, 7 nests essential interactive ecological processes across a were located in tall trees on a property adjacent wide range of sites and disrupted critical conser- to the Shortland colony, reported as “the first vation management effort. In recent years, failed confirmed nesting for several decades” (Stuart and ecologically inappropriate compensatory off- 2009, p. 27). However, no nesting was located in set projects have become the norm. Case studies the 2010/11 season. include the Australasian Bittern as well as other waterbirds and demonstrate the vital role of The weekly monitoring program was maintained maintenance of the wider wetland ecological sys- during 2001-2010 at the Rufous Night Heron day tem for all species and all phases of the life cycle roost site at the Wallbridge Reserve, a local of these birds. Photographic evidence illustrated council reserve at Raymond Terrace near the the progressive degradation of the ecological junction of the Hunter and Williams Rivers. It characteristics of both the Seaham and Shortland revealed that numbers fluctuate year to year but wetlands up until 2008. in general show a pattern of low numbers in Jan- uary-April increases over the winter months, Rufous Night Heron. Maddock (2008a) con- June-August, and then a declines again to the end cluded that the status of the Rufous (Nankeen) of the year. The highest maximum number on Night Heron in the study area was somewhat ob- record was 85 in November 2004, the next high- scure.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Lake Hamilton & Grange Wetlands
    3. LakeHamilton Location: This impoundment on the Fauna: Breeding resident water birds Grange Burn in Hamilton is adjacent to the include Musk Duck (pictured below, DL), Hamilton-Dunkeld railway line just east of Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, the town. From the town centre, drive Eurasian Coot and Pacific Black Duck. northeast along Gray St to access the west Blue-billed Duck are occasional visitors. side, or along the Glenelg Highway Spotted, Spotless and Baillon’s Crakes, (Ballarat Rd) and turning left at Riley St (to Buff-banded and Lewin’s Rails may be park at the spillway), or Rippon Rd to seen in the summer months, especially access the south side swimming beach between the beach and the footbridge at and playground area. A walking/cycling the eastern end of the lake. path 4.2 km in length runs through the parkland surrounding the Lake. The lake An Australian Little Bittern was heard in the was created in the 1970s for recreational reeds near the island early in 2009. (swimming, fishing, rowing and speed Spoonbills, herons and egrets may occur boats) and scenic purposes. in the reed beds all around the lake along with Australian Reed-warblers and Little Landform and geology: The lake is Grassbirds. The common honeyeaters are shallow and formed on the Grange Burn White-plumed, New Holland and Red floodplain. The landscape is basaltic Wattlebirds. The lake has permanent plains. The eastern end with the large water and may serve as an important island is pictured below (DL). refuge for water birds during droughts when large numbers of birds may be Flora: Little original native vegetation can present.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetation Extent and Condition Mapping of the Macquarie Marshes and Floodplains 1991, 2008, 2013
    Technical report: Vegetation extent and condition mapping of the Macquarie Marshes and floodplains 1991, 2008, 2013 May 2019 Bowen, S., Simpson, S.L., Honeysett, J., Hosking, T. and Shelly, D.S. (2019) Technical report: Vegetation extent and condition mapping of the Macquarie Marshes and floodplains 1991, 2008, 2013. NSW Office of Environmental and Heritage. Sydney. Publisher NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet Title Technical report: Vegetation extent and condition mapping of the Macquarie Marshes and floodplains 1991, 2008, 2013 Subtitle Authors Bowen, S., Simpson, S.L., Honeysett, J., Hosking, T. and Shelly, D.S. Acknowledgements Field surveys were undertaken for this 2013 mapping in April 2014 by: Tim Hosking, Darren Shelly, Debbie Love, Garry Germon, Jane Humphries and Katherine Fontaine. We thank landholders for allowing access to their properties. Keywords Floodplain wetlands, Ramsar wetlands, environmental flows Cover photos: Red Gum woodland in Wilgara Private Ramsar Site 2012 (Credit S. Bowen) River cooba lignum in Zoo Paddock 2008, (Credit S. Bowen) Former water couch meadows in the Southern Nature Reserve 2008 (Credit S. Bowen); River Red Gum forest Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve surveyed during Autumn spring 2013 (Credit: S. Bowen). 2 Table of Contents 1. Background ..................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Report purpose ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Wetlands Australia
    Wetlands Australia National wetlands update August 2014—Issue No 25 Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment. © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2014 Wetlands Australia National Wetlands Update August 2014 – Issue No 25 is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au This report should be attributed as ‘Wetlands Australia National Wetlands Update August 2015 – Issue No 25, Commonwealth of Australia 2014’ The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party] ’. Cover images Front cover: Wetlands provide important habitats for waterbirds, such as this adult great egret (Ardea modesta) at Leichhardt Lagoon in Queensland (© Copyright, Brian Furby) Back cover: Inland wetlands, like Narran Lakes Nature Reserve Ramsar site in New South Wales, support high numbers of waterbird breeding and provide refuge for birds during droughts (© Copyright, Dragi Markovic) ii / Wetlands Australia August 2014 Contents Introduction to Wetlands Australia August
    [Show full text]
  • The Murray–Darling Basin Basin Animals and Habitat the Basin Supports a Diverse Range of Plants and the Murray–Darling Basin Is Australia’S Largest Animals
    The Murray–Darling Basin Basin animals and habitat The Basin supports a diverse range of plants and The Murray–Darling Basin is Australia’s largest animals. Over 350 species of birds (35 endangered), and most diverse river system — a place of great 100 species of lizards, 53 frogs and 46 snakes national significance with many important social, have been recorded — many of them found only in economic and environmental values. Australia. The Basin dominates the landscape of eastern At least 34 bird species depend upon wetlands in 1. 2. 6. Australia, covering over one million square the Basin for breeding. The Macquarie Marshes and kilometres — about 14% of the country — Hume Dam at 7% capacity in 2007 (left) and 100% capactiy in 2011 (right) Narran Lakes are vital habitats for colonial nesting including parts of New South Wales, Victoria, waterbirds (including straw-necked ibis, herons, Queensland and South Australia, and all of the cormorants and spoonbills). Sites such as these Australian Capital Territory. Australia’s three A highly variable river system regularly support more than 20,000 waterbirds and, longest rivers — the Darling, the Murray and the when in flood, over 500,000 birds have been seen. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, Murrumbidgee — run through the Basin. Fifteen species of frogs also occur in the Macquarie and despite having one of the world’s largest Marshes, including the striped and ornate burrowing The Basin is best known as ‘Australia’s food catchments, river flows in the Murray–Darling Basin frogs, the waterholding frog and crucifix toad. bowl’, producing around one-third of the are among the lowest in the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Using Bayesian Networks to Link Environmental Flows to Ecosystem Services in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
    International Environmental Modelling and Software Society (iEMSs) 7th Intl. Congress on Env. Modelling and Software, San Diego, CA, USA, Daniel P. Ames, Nigel W.T. Quinn and Andrea E. Rizzoli (Eds.) http://www.iemss.org/society/index.php/iemss-2014-proceedings Using Bayesian Networks to link Environmental Flows to Ecosystem Services in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia Sina K. Frank1, Carmel A. Pollino2, Petra Döll1 1Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany 2CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia Abstract: In water resources management and planning, it is important to understand both (1.) the linkages between environmental flows and ecosystem condition as well as (2.) the linkages between ecosystem condition and ecosystem services. Bayesian Networks (BNs) are an integration-based modeling tool that could be suitable for representing and quantifying these linkages. To evaluate this, we developed a BN, using the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia) as a case study. The Murray-Darling Basin has both agricultural and ecological values, and has more than a century of water resource development and planning. Recently, ecosystem services have been proposed as a means to progressing water resource planning methods in the basin, and a means to engaging stakeholders in the planning process. On the basis of existing Ecological Character Descriptions of the 16 Ramsar sites of the Murray-Darling Basin, complimented with expert knowledge, we developed four sub- networks: ecosystem condition; regulating services; provisioning services; and cultural services. Our preliminary results showed that Bayesian Networks are very useful as integration tool to visualize and quantify the linkages between environmental flows and ecosystem services. However, the complexity and size of the combined Bayesian Network might be problematic for stakeholder engagement and communication.
    [Show full text]
  • Australasian Bittern (Botaurus Poiciloptilus) Western Australian Recovery Plan
    Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) Western Australian Recovery Plan Wildlife Management Program No. 64 Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions August 2018 Wildlife Management Program No. 64 Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) Western Australian Recovery Plan August 2018 Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983 Foreword Recovery plans are developed within the framework provided in Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Corporate Policy Statement No. 35 (Parks and Wildlife, 2015c), and the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy Recovery Planning Compliance Checklist for Legislative and Process Requirements (DoE, 2014). Recovery plans outline the recovery actions that are needed to urgently address those threatening processes most affecting the ongoing survival of threatened taxa or ecological communities, and begin the recovery process. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds necessary to implement actions are subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. This plan will operate for a 10 year period but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced and will be reviewed at least at five year intervals. This recovery plan was approved by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia. Approved recovery plans are subject
    [Show full text]
  • Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 Version
    Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 14, 3rd edition). A 4th edition of the Handbook is in preparation and will be available in 2009. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. Water and Wetlands Strategy Section DD MM Y Y Office of Environment and Heritage PO Box A290 Sydney South, NSW 1232 Designation date Site Reference Number Australia Phone: +61 2 9995 5515 Fax: + 61 2 9995 5924 Email: [email protected] 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: April 2011 3. Country: Australia 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Wetlands Australia © Commonwealth of Australia, 2017
    Wetlands Australia © Commonwealth of Australia, 2017. Wetlands Australia is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/au/ This report should be attributed as ‘Wetlands Australia, Commonwealth of Australia 2017’. The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party] ’. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment and Energy. ii / Wetlands Australia Contents Introduction 1 Wetlands and climate change: impacts and building resilience to natural hazards. Working together for the Great Barrier Reef 2 Ridding the river of blackberries: revegetation for climate change resilience 3 Climate risk and adaptation strategies at a coastal Ramsar wetland 5 Managing coastal wetlands under climate change 7 Inland wetland rehabilitation to mitigate climate change impacts 9 Constructed wetlands for drought disaster mitigation 11 Wetland management tools: science, modelling and assessment. Our northern wetlands: science to support a sustainable future 13 Predicting the occurrence of seasonal herbaceous wetlands in south east Australia 15 Models of wetland connectivity: Supporting a landscape scale approach to wetland management 17 Lake Eyre Basin Condition Assessment 2016 19 “Where are the wetlands in NSW?” A new semi-automated method for mapping wetlands 20 Method for the long-term monitoring of wetlands in Victoria 22 Muir-Byenup Ramsar wetlands: Are they changing? 24 Looking below the surface of the Vasse Wonnerup wetlands 26 Indigenous values and connection to wetlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Barmah Forest Ramsar Site Strategic Management Plan
    Barmah Forest Ramsar Site Strategic Management Plan Department of Sustainability and Environment Parks Victoria developed this Strategic Management Plan in conjunction with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and key stakeholders, and coordinated the public comment process on the draft document. This report was prepared with financial support from the National Wetlands Program, under the Natural Heritage Trust. © The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2003 This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical or graphic) without the prior permission of the State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment. All requests and enquiries should be directed to the Copyright Officer, Library Information Services, Department of Sustainability and Environment, 5/250 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002. Disclaimers This publication may be of assistance to you and every effort has been made to ensure that the information in the report is accurate. The Department of Sustainability and Environment does not guarantee that the report is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence, which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, the Federal Minister for Environment and Heritage, or the Department of the Environment and Heritage.
    [Show full text]
  • Narran Ecosystem Project the Response of a Terminal Wetland
    MURRAY-DARLING BASIN COMMISSION 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Narran Ecosystem Project The response of a terminal wetland system to variable wetting and drying. Final report to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission MURRAY-DARLING BASIN COMMISSION 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Narran Ecosystem Project The response of a terminal wetland system to variable wetting and drying. Final report to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission Project Leader Professor Martin Thoms Science Team Dr Samantha Capon, Dr Cassandra James, Dr Mark Padgham, Dr Scott Rayburg September 2007 Published by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission Postal address: GPO Box 409, Canberra ACT 2601 Office location: 51 Allara Street, Canberra City Australian Capital Territory Telephone: (02) 6279 0100, international + 61 2 6279 0100 Facsimile: (02) 6248 8053, international + 61 2 6248 8053 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.mdbc.gov.au For further information contact the Murray-Darling Basin Commission office on (02) 6279 0100 This report may be cited as: The Narran Ecosystem Project: the response of a terminal wetland system to variable wetting and drying. Final report to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. MDBC Publication No. 40/08 ISBN 978 1 921257 80 3 © Murray-Darling Basin Commission /eWater CRC 2008 This work is copyright. Graphical and textual information in the work (with the exception of photographs, artwork and logos) may be stored, retrieved and reproduced in whole or in part provided the information is not sold or used for commercial benefit and its source The( Narran Ecosystem Project: the response of a terminal wetland system to variable wetting and drying.
    [Show full text]
  • Condamine–Balonne Regional Fact Sheet
    Condamine–Balonne region Overview The Condamine–Balonne catchment First Nations of the region include is one of the largest in the Murray– Barunggam, Bidjara, Bigambul, Darling Basin. Most of the region is in Euahlayi, Gomeroi/Kamilaroi, Giabel, Queensland (84%) with the remainder Githabul, Gunggari, Guwamu/Kooma, in New South Wales (NSW). The area Jarowair, Kambuwal, Mandandanji, covers 13% of the Murray–Darling Basin. Murrawarri and Wakka Wakka. The floodplains fo the region are Land use is dominated by cattle ecologically significant and home to and sheep grazing on dryland endangered ecological communities, pasture. Grain and cotton crops are a including the Brigalow–Gidgee significant contributor to the regional woodland/shrubland in the Mulga economy and are grown using dryland Lands and Darling Riverine Plains and irrigated farming. Bioregion. Environmental and economic benefits Wetlands of national importance include are derived from water availability the Great Artesian Basin Springs, Lake through the support of irrigation Broadwater, the Gums Lagoon, the developments and important Culgoa River Floodplain and Dalrymple environmental assets, dependent on and Blackfellow creeks. The lower flow. These include the Narran Lakes Balonne is a complex floodplain channel and the National Parks of the Culgoa system with nationally-significant Floodplain. wetlands such as the Narran Lakes. Image: Condamine River near Cecil Plains on the Darling Downs, Queensland Carnarvon N.P. Legend r State border r ve National Park e i v R i o Basin border Internationally- r R g e e e r v r River/creek i v i a significant wetland R N W o Town/city l Irrigation area g r Augathella n e Water storage/lake a v L i R d r a Chesterton W Range N.P.
    [Show full text]
  • Palaeoenvironmental Change in the Macquarie Marshes, NSW, Australia
    University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 1954-2016 University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2014 Palaeoenvironmental change in the Macquarie Marshes, NSW, Australia Lili Yu University of Wollongong Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses University of Wollongong Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorise you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author. Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. A court may impose penalties and award damages in relation to offences and infringements relating to copyright material. Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong. Recommended Citation Yu, Lili, Palaeoenvironmental change in the Macquarie Marshes, NSW, Australia, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, 2014. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/4250 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong.
    [Show full text]