Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 56(2):49 1-503 (1997) 28 February 1997 https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1997.56.43 CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Jenny Davis
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Abstract
Davis, J., 1997. Conservation of aquatic invertebrate communities in central Australia. Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 56(2): 491-503. Central Australian waterbodies are an important focus for both nature conservation and
tourism within the arid zone. Recent sampling of the West MacDonnell Ranges in 1 993 and 1994, and the George Gill Range, in 1986, revealed the presence of 'relict streams' con- taining elements of an invertebrate fauna, and possibly flora, that have persisted since the last 'wet' phase in central Australia. These streams appear to be sustained by localised regions of permanently discharging groundwater and the effects of past landuses, including aboriginal useage and cattle grazing, do not appear to have been major or irreversible. However, the popularity of ecotourism in the region is rapidly increasing and appropriate management is needed to ensure that these important aquatic habitats are not lost or degraded through over-utilisation of the groundwater resource.
Introduction first major scientific study of the ranges and remains one of the few publications on the The ranges of central Australia, including the aquatic invertebrate fauna of the region. The MacDonnells, James, Krichauffand George Gill records of fishes and aquatic invertebrates pub- Ranges, are dominant landscape features within lished as part of the report of the expedition the region and the gorges of the West MacDon- (Spencer, 1 896) are now of considerable value nell and George Gill Ranges are very popular because they provide an indication of species tourist destinations. The ranges lie within one of present in central Australia at the onset of Euro- the driest regions of Australia and the climate is pean settlement. Keast ( 1 959) briefly mentioned characterised by extreme diel and seasonal tem- dragonflies, freshwater snails and fish in a dis- perature differences. The average rainfall is 250 cussion of the relict animals and plants of the per annum and, although summer rain is mm MacDonnell Ranges, and Williams and Siebert dominant, rainfall variability is high. Annual (1963) noted the presence of some species of total evaporation is in the order of 3200 mm. snails, microcrustaceans and insects in their Aspects of the physical and biological character- paper on the chemical composition of central istics of the area are described by Gibson and Australian waterbodies. Davis et al. (1993) Cole (1993), Latz et al. (1981), Thompson described the aquatic invertebrate fauna of the and Van Oosterzee (1991). (1991) George Gill Range and a small number of sites in extreme aridity of the region has resulted The the West MacDonnell Ranges (some 200 km to in the perception that it contains few common the southwest). The fishes of the region have waterbodies. Although large volumes of perma- been more extensively studied than the invert- nent surface water are not present, the central ebrate fauna although much of this work exists contain a wide variety of aquatic habi- Ranges as unpublished reports or as collections in permanent groundwater fed tats, ranging from museums. Published accounts include Glover and springs to deep gorges, permanent and seeps and Sim (1978), Glover (1982), Larson and semi-permanent river pools, shallow river wet- Martin (1989), Crowley and Ivantsoff (1990) temporary and ephemeral rock pools and lands, and Kodric-Brown and Brown (1993). Recently, claypans. The only waterbodies not represented Gibson and Cole (1993) provided a list of permanently flowing streams and rivers. are species of fish known from some of the region and the belief The aridity of the permanent waterbodies within the West little surface (amongst limnologists, at least) that MacDonnells. water is present, have undoubtedly been the reasons as to why so little has been known of the Davis et al. (1993), in their work on the aquatic ecosystems within the central Ranges. aquatic systems of the George Gill Range noted The Horn Scientific Expedition of 1 894 was the that a small proportion of the fauna appeared to
491 492 J. DAVIS
be a relictual stream fauna. In particular, the range of aquatic microhabitats as possible. presence of an obligate stream invertebrate, the Many sites could only be reached on foot which waterpenny, Sclerocyphon j'uscus, was of interest limited the amount, and type, of collecting because it was unlikely to be capable of dispersal apparatus that could be used. In the larger water- across the large tracts of arid land that now bodies six replicate samples were collected by separate the George Gill Range from southern sweeping a long handled net (250 micron mesh) Australia where it is also found. through the water column and against the sub- The objectives of this study were to extend the strate, in a yo-yoing motion, over a distance of
work of Davis et al. ( 1 993) to describe the invert- 10 m. In the smaller stream sites kick samples ebrate fauna of the waterbodies of the West were collected by disturbing the sediments at the MacDonnell Ranges and to determine the extent front of the net. Invertebrates were also hand- of the distribution of the waterpenny, and picked with forceps from individual rocks and relictual stream habitats, in central Australia. wood. Expandable mesh traps, baited with chicken pellets, were set overnight at the larger Methods waterbodies to catch yabbies. Although some samples were sorted in the Physico-chemical variables and the aquatic field most were preserved in 100% alcohol and invertebrate and fish fauna of waterbodies in the returned to the laboratory for sorting and identi- West MacDonnell Ranges were sampled in Sep- fication. Identified material is currently stored, tember 1993 and over the period February to in 70% ethanol, in the School of Biological and April, 1994. The locations of sampling sites are Environmental Sciences at Murdoch Univer- listed in Table 1 and illustrated in Fig. 1. The sity. majority of the waterbodies studied occurred Fish were sampled in the larger waterbodies within the headwaters of tributaries of the Finke using a 1 mm mesh seine net dragged over a dis- River, including Ellery Creek and the Hugh tance of approximately 25 m. In smaller water- River. Data from an earlier study of the George bodies fish were caught with a long handled net. Gill Range was also included to enable a wider All fish were identified in the field and returned comparison of aquatic invertebrate communi- to the water with the exception of a small ties within central Australia. number of representative specimens. These Conductivity and pH were recorded at all were preserved in 100% alcohol and stored for sites. Semi-quantitative and qualitative collec- subsequent confirmation of identification in the tion methods were used to sample as wide a laboratory.
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*) Table 1. Names, codes, conductivity, pH and presence of fishes and waterpennies (denoted by for sites sampled in the West MacDonnell Ranges and other localities within the Central Ranges, Northern Territory.
Sites Code Conductivity PH Presence Presence of uS/cm of fish waterpenny Sclerocyphon West MacDonnell Ranges fuscus * Redbank Gorge REDB 190 7.1 Upper Redbank Gorge URED 190 7.1 * Pioneer Creek PION 12 800 7.8 * Waterhole above Glen Helen ABGH 8 140 7.8 * Glen Helen Gorge GHG 2 330 7.8 * Ormiston Gorge ORMG 160 7.4 Pool above Ormiston Gorge UORM 160 7.4 Pool below Ormiston Gorge ORMP 160 7.4 * Serpentine Gorge SERP 134 7 * Upper Serpentine Gorge USER 71 6.6 * Ellery Creek Big Hole ECBH 242 6.8 * Redcliff Waterhole REDC 462 7.8 * Giles Yard Spring GYS 27 5.8 * Giles Spring GS 53 4.8 * Hugh Gorge 193 8 * Spencers Gorge SPEN NA NA * Spencers Waterhole SPW 440 7.8 * 8 Stuart's Pass 400 * Fishhole on Ellery Ck 338 7.6 * Talipata Springs TALI 80 8.2 Berry Pass BERR NA NA Ilparpa Swamp ILP NA NA East MacDonnell Ranges Emily Gap 300 7.7 NA 7A * John Hayes Rockhole 119 Trephina Gorge TRE 855 7.78 NA Glen Annie Gorge 690 9.5 NA Krichauff and James Ranges * Kanara Ck (Oasis Ck) 1400 8.76 * West Palm Paddock Spring 1142 8.4 * Finke Gorge Pool 1 NA NA * 393 7.8 Little Palm Ck * 8 Finke Gorge Pool 2 1624 494 J. DAVIS
Table 1 continued
* Boggy Hole BH 1 190 7.6 * Running Waters 1880 8.2 Illamurta Spring NA NA * Illara Waterhole 1830 7.5
George Gill Range Kings Canyon KC 27 5.7 * Penny Springs PS 99 6.7
Tjindri Tjindri TT 76 6.6 Reedy Rockhole RR 362 6.3 Wanga Ck WC NA NA Kathleen Springs KS 540 6.8 * Stokes Ck SC 73 6.3
A site by species matrix was constructed using only the fauna from 20 sites (18 West an Excel spreadsheet. Multivariate analyses MacDonnell sites plus Boggy Hole and Trephina were performed using the cluster and ordination Gorge) were processed and analysed within the techniques available from the PRIMER soft- resources available for the project. The 20 sites ware package of Clarke and Warwick (1994). for which entire macroinvertebrate community data are available are indicated by the presence
Results of a code in Table 1. The presence or absence of taxa at the 20 sites is given in Table 2. The pres- Physicochemistry ence or absence of the waterpenny, Sclerocyphon The waterbodies of the West MacDonnell fuscus, and the presence or absence offish, were Ranges display a wide range of salinities (Table noted for all sites (Table 1 ) because this infor- 1). The freshest sites were Giles Yard Spring (27 mation could be determined directly in the uS/cm), Upper Serpentine Gorge (71 uS/cm) field. and Talipata Springs (80 uS/cm). Pioneer Creek A total of 75 macroinvertebrate taxa was (a pool adjacent to a small mound spring) was recorded from the West MacDonnell Ranges the most saline waterbody sampled, with a con- (Table 2). Although this total represents the ductivity of 12,800 uS/cm. Conductivities were majority of species present it remains an under- also high at waterbodies downstream of Pioneer estimate of the entire fauna for several reasons. Creek, with a conductivity of 8,140 uS/cm Greater sampling effort, for example, at seasonal recorded at the waterhole above Glen Helen, or monthly intervals and at additional sites, will and 2,330 uS/cm recorded at Glen Helen undoubtedly increase this total. Additional Gorge. species will be added when further groups, Many sites were circumneutral (Table 1) with including the Oligochaeta, Hydracarina, respect to pH. Giles Spring was the most acidic Chironomidae and microcrustacea are fully site with a pH of 4.8 while Talipata Springs was identified to the level of species. the most alkaline at 8.2. The highest pH Ormiston Gorge (26 taxa), Ellery Creek Big recorded from all waterbodies sampled within Hole (23 taxa) and Boggy Hole (22 taxa) were the the region was 9.5 at Glen Annie Gorge at the most species-rich sites while Pioneer Creek (4 eastern end of the East MacDonnell Ranges. The taxa) and Trephina Gorge (4 taxa) were the most lowest pH was 5.7 recorded at the Garden of depauperate. A total of 19 species recorded in Eden in Kings Canyon, in the George Gill the West MacDonnell Ranges did not occur in Range. the George Gill Range. These include the gastro- Aquatic invertebrate fauna pods Austropeplea lessoni and Thiara sp., the Although a total of 36 sites were sampled in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium sp., the dam- the West MacDonnell Ranges, East MacDonnell selilies, Austrolestes aridus and Caliagrion Ranges and Krichauff Range (Palm Valley) billinghursti, the dragonflies, Aeshna brevistyla during the period September 1993 to April 1994, and Notolibullela hicolor. the water strider, i S !
CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 495
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DAVIS I • • LO £ • o • - a • • « • CM s « < • * CM * • • i « a> • 1 o * * « • § CO * • « * « • • « « * « 1 CAJ « • * 1 • « • ^3- * • * , 1 r~- § • « « • • « « • * • * « * CC g • « • • C\J •D • « « • « 1) 1 3 _C « • « * c I o o • • • CO | CO X) « « * • * • * * • OJ 1 t • • « « • « • « * | LO * * • « « • 1 « • CD § O • « « * 1 3 in « « « • • « • * « « C c C TO TO TO CO cd TO CO TO CO CO o TO > cd CD a 0) a) _ a TO 3 I I > to" E TO 3 1 Gerridae, the caddisfly, Triplectides volda, and Gorge and Penny Springs and upper Stokes the beetles, Necterosoma regulars Sternopriscus Creek in the George Gill Range. Additional multimaculatus, Eretes australis, Cybister trip- records of the waterpenny at Talipata Gorge and unctatus and Berosus sp. A further 18 species Bowmans Gap were provided by David recorded in the George Gill Range have not been Albrecht and Terry Mahney, respectively. The recorded from the West MacDonnells. These large diving beetle, Sandracottus bakewelli, include the pea clam, Pisidium, the dragonfly, which has been recorded from Upper Redbank Trapezostigma stenoloba, the dipteran, Gorge, Talipata Springs, upper Hugh Gorge and Thaumaleidae. and numerous beetles. the George Gill Range appears to only occur in The Insecta were more diverse, in terms of waterbodies where fish are absent. A similar dis- species richness, than the Crustacea, which tribution has also been recorded for the large probably reflects the predominantly fresh nature backswimmer Enithares sp. In contrast to the of these waterbodies. Similar to results recorded restricted distributions of Sclerocyphon and previously for the George Gill Range no Amphi- Sandracottus, the small dytiscid, Necterosoma poda, Isopoda or Plecoptera were recorded in regulare, appeared to be a highly tolerant the West MacDonnell Ranges. species, being widespread and the only organism The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) recorded in large numbers in the most saline and the Coleoptera (beetles) were the most waterbody. Pioneer Creek. diverse groups of insects present, both being rep- Although the Chironomidae, as a family, are resented by 16 taxa. The Odonata are perhaps diverse and widespread, occuring within almost the most spectacular invertebrates associated all aquatic habitats in the West MacDonnell with aquatic systems in central Australia. The Ranges, one species, Dicrotendipes nr taylori. most common species were Diplacodes haema- appeared to be restricted to Giles Yard Spring todes and Orthetmm caledonicum. Distri- and Talipata Springs. Within these habitats it butional records (Watson 1974; Watson et al. was both abundant and conspicuous on the 1991) indicate that these species and others, upper surfaces of the rocky substrate, where it including Austroagrion watsoni, Ischnura aur- occurred within cases constructed from sedi- ora, Xanthaghon erythroneurum, Diplacodes ment and algae. bipunctata, Hemicordulia tail, Hemicordulia watsoni, and Aeshna brevistyla, are widespread Fishes throughout Australia. Caliagrion billinghursti Eleven species of fish have been recorded has previously been recorded from Victoria, from the waterbodies of the West MacDonnell Eight species were coastal NSW and southern coastal Queensland. Ranges (Davis, in press). Orthetmm migratum also occurs in coastal recorded from central Australia by the Horn Queensland and northern Australia. Trapezos- Expedition (Zietz, 1896), of which five were tigma stenoloba which has a similar distribution new. With the exception of one species, Nema- is a synonym ofMela- to Orthetrum migratum and occurs in the tocentris winnecki, which (the desert rainbowfish) George Gill Range, was not recorded in the West nolaenia splendida tatei MacDonnells. Austrogomphus gordoni has only all species are still present within central Aus- Red- previously been recorded from the Pilbara tralia. Fish were not recorded from Upper Serpentine Gorge, Hugh region of WA and from the George Gill Range. bank Gorge, Upper Giles Spring, Talipata Notolibellula bicolor which was only recorded Gorge, Giles Yard Spring. Springs, nor any sites in the from Giles Yard Spring and Talipata Springs, Springs. Berry Pass Gill Range. has also been recorded from the northern NT George generally absent from cen- and the Kimberley region of WA. Hemicordulia Introduced fish are Australia with the exception of the mosqui- flava appears to be endemic to the Central tral recorded from John Ranges region. tofish, Gambusia affinis, the swordtail, Xiphophorus Several species of Coleoptera displayed Hayes Rockhole and recorded in a dam near Pine Gap (both of specific environmental preferences. The water- helleri, isolated from the Finke drainage penny, Sclerocyphon Justus which displays a dis- which are junct distribution occurring in the George Gill system). Range, South Australia and western Victoria, Multivariate analyses was restricted to the relict stream habitats. To Giles Yard The dendogram produced by the PRIMER date it has been recorded from from the presence/absence Spring. Giles Spring (sampled in 1986), Talipata program CLUSTER macroinvertebrate data for 20 sites (Table 2) is Springs, Upper Serpentine Gorge, upper Hugh 498 J. DAVIS given in Fig. 2. Samples (sites) were grouped A slightly different clustering pattern was using a Bray-Curtis similarity matrix and hier- evident when all sites, from both the West archical agglomerative clustering. The sites MacDonnell Ranges 1993/94 study and the regarded as relict streams formed the first major George Gill Range 1986/87 study were included group comprising Upper Serpentine Gorge, in a single analysis (Fig. 3). Upper Serpentine Giles Yard Spring and Talipata Springs. Serpen- separated first, however, it must be noted that tine Gorge also grouped within this cluster, only a small number of species were recorded which is possibly not surprising as it was separ- from this site due to the difficulties with sam- ated by only 400 m (approximately) and a small pling (this site could only be reached by swim- waterfall from the Upper Serpentine site. Upper ming through the gorge). All George Gill Range Redbank Gorge, Spencers Gorge and Berry Pass sites were within the same group at the second Springs formed a second cluster on the basis of division, indicating that the fauna of these sites the similarity of their macroinvertebrate fauna. were more similar to each other than to the None of the sites which clustered first contained majority of the West MacDonnell Range sites, fish, with the exception of Serpentine Gorge. with the exception of the relict stream sites. Tal- Spencers Waterhole, the pool above Glen Helen, ipata Springs, Giles Yard Spring, Giles Spring Trephina Gorge and Pioneer Creek formed a and Serpentine Gorge also grouped with the discrete group. These appeared to be the poorest George Gill Range sites. The remaining sites sites with respect to water quality. The largest formed groups which were essentially identical grouping comprised all the Ormiston sites, Red- to those of the previous dendogram (Fig. 2). bank and Glen Helen gorges, Ellery Creek Big Ordination of the West MacDonnell Ranges Hole, RedclifT Waterhole and Boggy Hole. sites (Fig. 4) on the basis of their macro- USER SPEN ABGH TREP PION UOBM BEDC ORMP GHG HEDB ORMG ECBH BM as GYS SERP TAU UP.ED SPEC 9ERR 40. 50. 8RAV-CURTTS SHIH-»ftlT> Figure 2. Dendogram produced by hierarchical Figure 3. Dendogram produced by hierarchical clus- clustering of macroinvertebrate communities at tering of macroinvertebrate communities at water- watcrbodies in the West MacDonnell Ranges and bodies in the West MacDonnell Ranges, George Gill other Central Ranges localities, using group average Range and other Central Ranges localities using group linking of Bray-Curtis similarities. Site codes are average linking of Bray-Curtis similarities. Site codes in defined Table 1. are defined in Table 1. CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 499 invertebrate fauna using non-metric multi- dimensional scaling, from the PRIMER package MDS, revealed the interrelationships between sites. Three relict stream sites, Giles Yard Spring, Upper Serpentine Gorge and Talipata Springs, plus Upper Redbank Gorge were located some distance from the main group which comprised all other sites. Ordination of the same sites, by MDS, on the basis of environmental variables (Fig. 5), revealed a similar but more discrete separation into two groups. Giles Yard Spring, Upper Serpentine Gorge, Talipata Springs and Upper Redbank Gorge were all located towards the righthand side of the plot. Fish were absent at relict stream sites these sites and conductivities were low. The fish absent remaining sites, which were all located towards fish. gra- the left side of the plot contained A Figure 5. Ordination of waterbodies in the West dation in conductivity was also evident within MacDonnell Ranges, on the basis of environmental these groups with the freshest sites at the top of variables (conductivity, pH, presence/absence of fish, non-metric multi- the plot and the saltiest at the base. substratum and exposure) using dimensional scaling (MDS). Site codes are defined in An ordination of all sites from both the West MacDonnell Ranges 1993/94 study and the Table 1. George Gill Range 1 986/87 study is given in Fig. 6. Some sites, in particular Wanga Creek (in the GGR), Trephina Gorge, Pioneer Creek, the pool below Ormiston Gorge, Upper Redbank Gorge and Spencers Gorge are clearly outliers. Relict stream sites from both regions were located together on the left side of the plot. BEDC SPW UOflM ABGH relict stream sites George Gill Ra. sites — relict stream sites — fish absent Figure 6. Ordination of macroinvertebrate communi- MacDonnell Ranges communi- ties at waterbodies in the West Figure 4 Ordination of macroinvertebrate Ranges, and George Gill Range, using non-metric multi- waterbodies in the West MacDonnell ties at (MDS). Site codes are defined in scaling (MDS). dimensional scaling using non-metric multi-dimensional Table 1. Site codes are defined in Table 1. 500 J. DAVIS Discussion across the large tracts of arid land that now sep- arate the Central Ranges from the other As noted by Williams and Siebcrt (1963), the localities where it occurs in southern Australia, i waterbodiesofthe West MacDonnell Ranges are This species, and several others, appear to be ' probably the most isolated freshwater habitats members of a relictual stream fauna that have in Australia, being separated by arid or semi- persisted since the interior of the continent was arid lands from the the high rainfall regions of much wetter than it is today. the north by approximately 1000 km and from The occurrence of the waterpenny in central the southeast and southwest by approximately Australia is not a recent discovery, however the 1600 km. Despite the isolation, and the aridity, occurrence of a number of populations spanning the waterbodies support a rich and abundant a region of several 100 km in area was not pre- invertebrate fauna, although species richness viously known. Spencer (1896: 77-78) noted the appears to be slightly lower than that of the presence of 'a curious Orthopteran insect resem- waterbodies of the George (Jill Range, to the bling a small flattened-out cockroach which southwest, where 109 taxa were recorded by adheres almost as closely to the surface of sub- Davis et al. (1993). The fauna of the West merged leaves as a limpet to a rock' at Penny MacDonnell Ranges is markedly different to Springs in the George Gill Range. This descrip- that of the mound springs of South Australia. tion more closely describes a waterpenny, than The mound springs to the south and west of Lake any other aquatic invertebrate. Eyre are moderately saline environments with The restriction of the distribution of the genus conductivities ranging from 5,600 to 14,700 Sclerocyphon to primarily southern and coastal uS/cm (Mitchell 1985). Important elements of regions of Australia (Fig. 7) indicates a Gondwa- the fauna of these springs, such as the phreatoi- nan origin. Reconstruction of the phylogenetic cid isopod, Phreatomerus latipes, hydrobiid history of the waterpenny genus Sclerocyphon gastropods and an unidentified amphipod places S. Juscus in one of the most recently (Mitchell 1985) were not present in the West derived species groups (Davis, 1 986), suggesting MacDonnell Ranges. that dispersal of this species may have occurred Previously, Davis et al. (1993) had suggested during a pluvial phase of the Quaternary, rather that a small proportion of the fauna present at than earlier in the Tertiary. Dispersal of this the George Gill Range appeared to be a relictual species from localities in coastal South Australia stream fauna. This supported Chippendale and western Victoria is most likely to have (1963) who regarded some of the ranges of cen- tral Australia, including the MacDonnell, James, Krichauff and George Gill Ranges as relict areas 'where plants of a higher rainfall period have survived'. These results also sup- ported the work of Latz et al. ( 1 98 ) who found 1 the George Gill Range to be very floristically rich with a small but significant percentage of the flora being rare or of relict distribution. The present study of the West MacDonnell Ranges, together with that of Davis et al. (1993) indicates that a total of nine relict stream sites, Giles Yard Spring, Giles Spring, Upper Serpen- tine (Jorge, Bowmans Gap, Upper Hugh Gorge, Talipata Springs, Talipata Gorge, Stokes Creek and Penny Springs, are now known within the Central Ranges based on the occurrence of the walerpenny, Sclerocyphon Juscus (Coleoptera: Psephenidae) an obligate, rocky stream invert- ebrate. Waterpennies graze the biofilm associ- ated with rocky substrates and so are restricted Figure 7. Currently known distribution of water- to cobble and pebble, rather than sand or mud, pennies (genus Sclerocyphon) and possible route of substrates. Davis et al. (1993) suggested that S. dispersal of Sclerocyphon fiiSCUS from southeastern fuscus, which also in occurs South Australia and Australia to the headwaters of the Finke River, prior to Victoria, would not be capable of dispersal the onset of aridity in central Australia. CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 501 occurred through the Finke River system (Fig. 7) as a result of active translocations. No record of when it existed as a major flowing water system the yabby in the George Gill Range was given by in central and southern Australia, possibly as Spencer and Hall (1896) but it appears to have recently 1 as 8 000 years ago. been introduced to Bagot Creek in the 1 930s and Species such as the case dwelling chironomid, Stokes Creek in the 1960s to provide a food Dicrotendipes, the larval dipteran, Stratiomy- source and for recreational fishing (Davis et al., dae, which clings to wet rock walls, the large 1993). The translocation of yabbies in central golden-spotted beetle, Sandracottus bakewelli Australia mirrors widespread translocations and the large backswimmer, Enithares, and the elsewhere in Australia (Horwitz and Knott, dragonflies, Hemicordulia flava, Orthetrum 1995) but the introduction of yabbies to water- migration and Notolibullela bicolor, all appear to bodies where they did not previously occur must predominantly associated with relict stream be regarded as a serious threat to the conser- sites. The low conductivities recorded at the vation of the original aquatic communities relict stream sites suggest that the presence of through both habitat alteration and potential permanently discharging groundwater is vital to competition. the maintenance of these habitats. The ground- European settlement, and the advent of the water that supports the relict stream communi- pastoral industry, have had a major and continu- ties also supports mosses and ferns and further ing effect within the region. The use of water- work is needed to fully document the plant com- holes as drinking points by introduced ver- munities associated with relict stream habitats. tebrates associated with the pastoral industry, The presence of damp terrestrial microhabitats including cattle, horses, camels and donkeys has at these relict sites may be an important environ- severely degraded many waterbodies, particu- mental requirement for S. fuscus. as both the larly within the lower regions of the Central pupa and adults of species recorded elsewhere in Ranges. Trampling of banks and excess algal Australia are often associated with damp moss growth as a result of nutrient enrichment are evi- and leaf litter. dent at many waterbodies, particularly those The presence, or absence, offish appears to be that lie outside the West MacDonnell National important in determining invertebrate com- Park. Nutrient enrichment may also have pro- munity structure in the waterbodies of the West moted the growth of submerged aquatics such as MacDonnell Ranges. Different invertebrates Myriophyllum at the expense of other species were present at sites where fish were present such as Potamogeton and VaUisneria. Similarly, compared to those where fish were absent. The the spread of the bulrush, Typha, is promoted by lack of large numbers of introduced species of disturbed and nutrient-rich conditions. fish in central Australian waterbodies suggests As more people visit central Australia the that the composition offish communities in this demand for water for consumption, sanitation region may be largely unchanged since European and other associated support activities (swim- settlement. The lack of exotic species, in com- ming pools, gardens, aquaculture ventures, etc) parison to those of waterbodies in more popu- increases. As noted by Shepard (1993). water to lous regions of Australia, may be explained by support these activities has to come from nearby low human population densities within the sources or associated aquifers to be economi- region, reduced dispersal opportunities and the cally feasible. There is a very real risk that highly variable hydrological regimes and human uses will compete with aquatic ecosys- physico-chemical attributes of many arid zone tems for the limited supplies of water present in waterbodies. It is extremely important, for the arid Australia. This risk must be acknowledged conservation and preservation of the aquatic and addressed to ensure that overpumping of ecosystems, that exotic fish are not introduced groundwater aquifers does not occur. into central Australia at any time in the Shepard (1993) noted, with regard to North future. American desert springs, that 'with few excep- Spencer and Hall (1896) recorded the yabby, tions, aquatic biologists have avoided work in Astacopsis bicarinatus, now recognised as deserts. The result is that a high diversity fauna Cherax destructor, from Running Waters and full of vicariant strandings and speciations, Hermannsburg and noted that it occurred fre- unusual adaptations and varying responses to a quently in waterholes along the Finke River. harsh environment, remains unstudied.' Anecdotal information suggests that the distri- Replace the word 'desert' with 'arid zone' and bution of the yabby in central Australia has the same statement can be applied to the water- increased since the time of the Horn Expedition bodies of central Australia. Comparison of the 502 J. DAVIS records of the Horn Expedition with the results (eds). Exploring central Australia: society, the Horn Expedition. of this study and other recent research (Davis, in environment and the 1S94 Surrey Bcatty and Sons: Chipping Norton. press) suggests that the aquatic fauna of central Davis, J. A., Harrington, S.A. and Friend, J. A., 1993. Australia has essentially survived the impacts of Invertebrate communities of relict streams in the European settlement, despite problems such as arid zone:the George Gill Range, central erosion. nutrient enrichment and bank The Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and challenge is to ensure that these communities, Freshwater Research 44: 483-505. particularly the relictual stream communities, Gibson, D.F. and Cole, J. R.. 1 993. Vertebrate fauna of continue to survive undiminished by human the West MacDonnell Ranges. Northern Terri- activities. tory. Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory Report. Alice Springs. Glover, C.J.M., 1982. Adaptations of fishes in arid Acknowledgements Australia. Pp. 241-246 in: Barker, W.R. and Greenslade, P.J.M. (eds). Evolution of the flora The study of aquatic ecosytems in the West Mac- and fauna ofarid Australia. Peacock Publications: Donnell Ranges was supported by the Australian South Australia. Nature Conservation in collab- Agency (ANCA) Glover, C.J.M. and Sim, T.C., 1978. A survey of Aus- oration with the Parks and Wildlife Commission tralian ichthyology. The Australian Zoologist 19: of the Northern Territory and the Power and 245-256. Water Authority of the Northern Territory. The Horwitz, P. and Knott, B., 1995. The distribution and study of aquatic ecosystems in the George Gill spread of the yabby Cherax destructor complex in Range was supported by the Australian Water Australia: speculations, hypotheses and the need Resources Advisory Council (AWRAC). Valu- for research. Freshwater Crayfish 10: 81-91. Keast. A.. 1959. Relict animals and plants of the able assistance with fieldwork and advice MacDonnell Ranges. Australian Museum Maga- regarding possible field sites was also provided zine 13: 81-86. by David Gibson, David Albrecht, Ian Bennett, Kodric-Brown, A. and Brown, J.H., 1993. Highly Jeff Cole, Mike Fleming, Don Langford, Peter structured fish communities in Australian desert Latz, Michael Lawton, Tony Friend and Alan springs. Ecology 74: 1847-855. Russ. Peter Cranston provided taxonomic Larson, H.K. and Martin, K.C., 1989. Freshwater assistance with the Chironomidae and Kerry fishes of the Northern Territory. Northern Terri- Trayler assisted with the use of PRIMER. The tory Musuem of Arts and Sciences: Darwin. Latz, P.K., Gillam. 1981..4 support and provision of facilities by Murdoch Johnson, K.A. and M.W., biological survey of the Kings Canyon area of the University is also gratefully acknowledged. George Gill Range. Internal report. CCNT, Alice Springs. References Mitchell, B.D., 1985. Limnology of mound springs and temporary pools, south and west of Lake Blackburn. T., 1896. Coleoptera. Pp. 254-261 in Eyre. Pp. 5 1-63 in: Greenslade, J.. Joseph. L. and Spencer, W.B. (ed.). Report on the work of the Reeves, A. (eds). South Australian Mound Springs. Horn Scientific Expedition to central Australia., Nature Conservation Society of South Australia: Part 2. Melville, Mullen and Slade: Melbourne. Adelaide. Clarke, K.R. and Warwick, R.M., 1994 Change in Shepard, W.D., 1993. Desert springs — both rare and marine communities — an approach to statistical endangered. Aquatic Conservation; Marine and analysis and interpretation. Plymouth Marine Freshwater Ecosystems 3: 351-359. Laboratory: Plymouth. Spencer, W.B. (ed.). 1896. Report on the work of the Chippendale, G.M.. 1963 The relic nature of some Horn Scientific Expedition to central Australia., central Australian plants. Transactions of the Part 2. Melville, Mullen and Slade: Melbourne. Royal Society of South Australia 86: 31-34. Spencer, W.B. and Hall, M.A., 1896. Crustacea. Pp. Crowley, L.E.M. and Ivantsotf. W.. 1990 review of A 227-248 in: Spencer, W.B. (ed.). Report on the species previously identified as Crateroccphalus work of the Horn Scientific Expedition to central eyresii (Pisces: Atherinidae). Proceedings the of Australia, Part 2. Melville, Mullen and Slade: Linnean Society ofNSW 112: 87-103. Melbourne. Davis, J. A., 1986. Revision of the Australian Psephe- Tate. R.. 1896. Mollusca. Pp. 181-226 in: Spencer, nidae (Coleoptera): systematics, phylogeny and W.B. (ed.). Report on the work ofthe Horn Scien- historical biogeography. Australian Journal of tific Expedition to central Australia, Part 2. /.oology. Supplementary Series 119: 1-97. Melville. Mullen and Slade: Melbourne. Davis. J. in press. Aquatic in A., ecosystems central Thompson, R.B., 1991. A guide to the geology and Australia: comparison of recent records of fishes landforms ofcentral Australia. Northern Territory- and invertebrates with those of the Horn Geological Survey: Darwin. Expedition. In: Morton, S.R. and Mulvancy, D.J. CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 503 Watson, J.A.L., 1974. The distributions of Australian Van Oosterzee, P., 1991. The Centre — the natural dragonflies (Odonata). Journal of the Australian history ofAustralia's desert regions. Reed Books: Entomological Society 13: 137-49. Sydney. W.B. Watson, J.A.L., Theischinger, G. and Abbey, H.M., Zietz, A., 1 896 Pisces. Pp. 1 76- 1 80 in: Spencer, 1991. The Australian dragonflies. CSIRO: Can- (ed.), Report on the work of the Horn Scientific berra and Melbourne. Expedition to central Australia, Part 2. Melville, Williams, W.D. and Siebert, B.D., 1 963. The chemical Mullen and Slade: Melbourne. composition of some surface waters in central Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 166-175.