Api Aquila: Baseline Aquatic Ecosystem Surveys

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Api Aquila: Baseline Aquatic Ecosystem Surveys API AQUILA: BASELINE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM SURVEYS prepared for Australian Premium Iron by Wetland Research & Management August 2009 Study Team Project Management: Andrew Storey Field Reconnaissance: Andrew Storey, Adam Harman Field work: Adam Harman, Caroline Lever, Jess Lynas & Carlin Bowyer Macroinvertebrate identification: Adam Harman & Jess Lynas Microinvertebrate identification: Russ Shiel (University of Adelaide) Report: Adam Harman & Jess Lynas Reviewed by: Andrew Storey Recommended Reference Format WRM (2009) API Aquila: Baseline Aquatic Ecosystem Surveys. Unpublished report by Wetland Research & Management to Australian Premium Iron. August 2009. Acknowledgements This project was undertaken by Wetland Research & Management (WRM) for Australian Premium Iron – AQUILA. WRM would like to thank all API staff who assisted in various capacities throughout this project. In particular, Michelle Carey is thanked for project management, and Caroline Lever is thanked for assistance in the field. WRM would also like to acknowledge Dr Don Edward (UWA) for assistance with Chironomidae taxonomy. Disclaimer This document was based on the best information available at the time of writing. While Wetland Research & Management (WRM) has attempted to ensure that all information contained within this document is accurate, WRM does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility to any third party for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information supplied. The views and opinions expressed within are those of WRM and do not necessarily represent API policy. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of API and WRM. This document has been printed on „Reflex Green Recycled Paper‟. Frontispiece (clockwise from left): WPIOP reference waterhole (REF60); spangled perch Leiopotherapon unicolor; and a WPIOP potential exposed site (KB58). i Baseline WPIOP Aquatic Surveys Wetland Research & Management CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................... VI 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................ 9 1.2 Study objectives ......................................................................................................................... 9 2 METHODS ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Study area .................................................................................................................................. 10 2.2 Sites and sampling design ......................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Water quality .............................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 Microinvertebrates ...................................................................................................................... 15 2.5 Hyporheic fauna ......................................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Macroinvertebrates .................................................................................................................... 17 2.7 Fish ............................................................................................................................................. 18 2.8 Data analysis .............................................................................................................................. 18 2.8.1 Multivariate analysis .......................................................................................................................... 18 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Water quality .............................................................................................................................. 20 3.1.1 Physico-chemistry ............................................................................................................................. 20 3.1.2 Patterns in water quality data .......................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Microinvertebrates ...................................................................................................................... 28 3.2.1 Taxonomic composition and species richness.............................................................................. 28 3.2.2 Conservation significance of microinvertebrates .......................................................................... 29 3.2.3 Patterns in microinvertebrate assemblage structure .................................................................... 30 3.3 Hyporheic fauna ......................................................................................................................... 32 3.3.1 Taxonomic composition and species richness.............................................................................. 32 3.3.2 Hyporheos taxa .................................................................................................................................. 33 3.4 Macroinvertebrates .................................................................................................................... 34 3.4.1 Taxonomic composition and species richness.............................................................................. 34 3.4.2 Conservation significance of macroinvertebrates ......................................................................... 35 3.4.3 Functional feeding groups ................................................................................................................ 36 3.4.4 Patterns in macroinvertebrate assemblage structure .................................................................. 37 3.5 Fish ............................................................................................................................................. 38 3.5.1 Species richness ............................................................................................................................... 38 3.5.2 Length-frequency analysis ............................................................................................................... 40 4 POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS .................................................................................................... 46 4.1 De-watering impacts .................................................................................................................. 46 4.2 Discharge operation impacts ...................................................................................................... 46 4.2.1 De-watering discharge ...................................................................................................................... 46 4.2.2 Aquatic invertebrates ........................................................................................................................ 47 4.2.3 Fish ...................................................................................................................................................... 48 4.2.4 Other aquatic fauna........................................................................................................................... 49 5 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 51 5.1 Water Quality.............................................................................................................................. 51 5.2 Microinvertebrates ...................................................................................................................... 51 5.3 Hyporheic fauna ......................................................................................................................... 51 5.4 Macroinvertebrates .................................................................................................................... 52 5.5 Fish ............................................................................................................................................. 52 6 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 54 7 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................................. 55 APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................................................... 60 Appendix 1. Site photographs ............................................................................................................... 61 ii Baseline WPIOP Aquatic Surveys Wetland Research & Management Appendix 2. ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) trigger values for the protection of aquatic systems
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