Wetlands
Arid and semi-arid lakes
Habitat type: Arid and semi-arid lakes
Other key words: Inland wetlands, arid and semi-arid floodplain lakes, arid and semi-arid non-floodplain lakes, arid and semi-arid permanent lakes, and arid and semi-arid saline lakes, lacustrine wetlands
Description: In Queensland, arid and semi-arid lakes are found on the floodplains of inland rivers, in closed local drainage systems, and across sand plains. They occur where rainfall is low and highly variable (averaging 100 to 500mm a year), evaporation rates are very high in comparison to precipitation (3–4m a year), local surface run-off is highly variable and infrequent, and remote rain events periodically trigger large scale flooding which brings water into the systems from far away.
Arid and semi-arid lakes can be temporary or semi-permanent depending on the reliability of their water source. Very few arid and semi-arid lakes are considered truly permanent.
Some lakes are naturally saline due to the pre-existence of salts in the soil and weathered bedrock, and salinity levels range from low to high.
An arid and semi-arid wetland complex of lakes and swamps includes a broad spectrum of habitat types, forming a richly biodiverse oasis in the otherwise dry landscape. These wetlands may support salt-tolerant fringing species such as samphires, rushes, and sparse to open shrublands and grasslands on the slightly higher ground at the edges of lakebeds. Small areas of low open woodlands (commonly comprised of Eucalypt species) often occur on the sandy beaches and fringing dunal areas of these wetlands. If a dry lake bed is filled by a local rainfall event, then fish species will largely be absent; however, the same lake filled from a regional flood event which connects it to a river system may contain a variety of fish species. The presence or absence of fish within the system will subsequently affect the assemblage and numbers of micro-organisms, macro-invertebrates and vertebrates (such as fish-eating birds) to be found within the lake.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Shield shrimps, mussels, freshwater snails, catfishes, gudgeons, gobies, rainbow fishes, hardyheads, water holding frog, eastern snapping frog, northern snapping frog, desert burrowing frog, desert shovelfoot, holy cross frog, chirping froglet, trilling frog, broad palmed rocket-frog, ruddy treefrog, grey grasswren, yellow chat, plumed whistling-duck, black swan, pink-eared duck, Pacific black duck, grey teal, hardhead, hoary-headed grebe, great crested grebe, pied cormorant, little black cormorant Australian pelican, yellow-billed spoonbill, Eurasian coot, black-winged stilt, red-necked avocet, red-capped plover, silver gull, gull-billed tern, whiskered tern, kultarr, dusky hopping-mouse and fawn hopping-mouse.
Coastal non-floodplain sand lakes
Habitat type: Coastal non-floodplain sand lakes
Other key words: Sub-coastal non-floodplain sand lakes, coastal dune lakes, coastal dunefields wetlands, lacustrine wetlands
Description: Coastal dune lakes are non-tidal, freshwater wetlands that occur in sands along coastal dune areas of mainland Queensland from the tip of Cape York Peninsula to New South Wales and the sand mass islands in south-east Queensland (that is, K'gari (formerly Fraser Island), Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island). The origin, evolution and processes involved in the formation of coastal dune lakes are diverse—lakes may be formed in sand hollows created by wind (known as deflation hollows); when dunes advance and form a barrier across hollows and valleys; or between parallel dunes (that is, in dune swales). These lakes depend on local catchment run-off (rainwater) and/or groundwater and are not considered to be part of a floodplain. They are generally permanent in nature but may be semi-permanent or temporary depending on their location and climatic conditions. The water level of coastal dune lakes may change quite markedly between seasons.
Some animals that use this habitat type: ground parrot, Oxleyan pygmy perch, honey blue eye, ornate rainbowfish, poreless gudgeon, onegill eel, northern purple spotted gudgeon, wallum froglet, Cooloola sedgefrog, wallum rocketfrog, wallum sedgefrog, northern sedgefrog, white lipped treefrog, shrill whistlefrog, tawny rocketfrog, Fraser Island short-neck turtle and estuarine crocodile.
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lakes
Habitat type: Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lakes
Other key words: Crater lakes, lacustrine wetlands
Description: Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lakes (crater lakes) form in volcanic craters some time after a volcano has become inactive. In Queensland they are predominantly formed in remnants of basaltic volcanoes. Generally water in crater lakes is fed from stream flow, runoff and floodout from the localised catchment within the crater rim or from underground springs.
In Queensland these lakes mostly occur in the south-east (e.g. Coalstoun Lakes) and north-east (e.g. Lake Eacham).
Some crater lakes are permanent while others are seasonal to intermittent lakes or marshes. Over time, crater lakes may gradually fill with sediment and become relatively shallow swamps such as Bromfield Swamp in north Queensland.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Wandering whistling-duck, hardhead, Pacific black duck, grey teal, whistling kite, grey goshawk, brolga, sarus crane, and Latham’s snipe.
Animals that use rainforest surrounding lakes: green ringtail, lemuroid ringtail, Herbert River ringtail musky rat kangaroo, Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo, Boyd’s forest dragon, amethystine python, ornate nurseryfrog, northern whistling frog, tapping green eyed frog, Lake Eacham rainbowfish.
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lakes and non-floodplain soil lakes
Habitat type: Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lakes and non-floodplain soil lakes
Description: In Queensland, coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lakes occur on alluvial plains and in billabongs no longer connected to channel flow that receive a significant proportion of their water from overbank flow. Non-floodplain soil lakes occur in closed depressions on alluvial plains; they receive most of their water from local rainfall or groundwater, and not from river overbank flow. Both types of lake can exhibit various characteristics—permanent, semipermanent, temporary, deep, shallow, freshwater or saline.
In Queensland, these lakes occur in equatorial, tropical to sub-tropical areas characterised by predominantly summer rainfall and a winter dry season.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Plumed whistling-duck, black swan, pink-eared duck, Pacific black duck, great crested grebe, pied cormorant, little black cormorant, Australian pelican, white-faced heron, straw-necked ibis, yellow-billed spoonbill, black-winged stilt, common greenshank, Latham’s snipe, whiskered tern brolga, eastern snapping frog, ornate burrowing frog, salmon striped frog Dunmall’s snake and ornamental snake.
Arid swamps
Habitat type: Arid swamps
Other key words: Palustrine wetlands, arid tree swamps, arid and semi-arid lignum swamps, arid and semi-arid grass, sedge, herb swamps, and arid and semi-arid saline swamp–isolated and fringing lakes.
Description: Arid swamps vary from predominately fresh to predominately saline, or move from fresh to brackish to saline as they dry out; they might support grass, sedge, herb, shrub or tree vegetation communities and are found in the arid zone.
In Queensland these wetlands occur prolifically in the Channel Country bioregion in the far south-west of Queensland (the arid zone) and to lesser extent in surrounding bioregions (Mitchell Grass Downs, Mulga Lands, Desert Uplands).
Even though some small swamps might support few conspicuous vertebrates, they can harbour a diverse microfauna. Phytoplankton plays a key role in these ecosystems as well. Swamps provide specific shelter and food resources for aquatic invertebrates.
Fish are a key ecosystem component of arid swamps that are replenished through fl oodwaters that form connections to major creek/river systems.
In major flood events, when water persists for several months over several million hectares of swamp in the Channel Country, millions of waterbirds can be present.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Freshwater crayfish, freshwater crab, moonfish, Hyrtl’s tandan catfish, bony bream, spangled perch, desert rainbowfish, western chanda perch, spangled perch, chirping froglet , water holding frog, desert burrowing frog, ruddy treefrog/desert treefrog, eastern snapping frog, grassland collared frog, northern snapping frog, rough collared frog, spotted grassfrog, holy cross frog, straw-necked ibis, Australian white ibis, glossy ibis, royal spoonbill, yellow-billed spoonbill, white-necked heron, Australian spotted crake, black-tailed native-hen, purple swamphen, Eurasian coot, Brolga, black-winged stilt, red-kneed dotterel, Australian pratincole, plumed whistling-duck, black swan, Grey teal, freckled duck, pink-eared duck, hardhead, Australian painted snipe, yellow chat, grey grasswren and long-haired rat.
Semi-arid swamps
Habitat type: Semi-arid swamps
Other key words: Semi-arid tree swamps; arid and semi-arid lignum swamps; arid and semi-arid grass, sedge, herb swamps; and arid and semi-arid saline swamps
Description: Occurring state-wide in the semi-arid zone, semi-arid swamps are mostly confined to minor basins and small depressions, temporarily inundated and dominated by trees and shrubs.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Salmon striped frog, greenstripe frog, broad palmed rocketfrog, planigale spp., dunnart spp., magpie geese, plumed whistling-duck, Pacific black duck, grey teal, wandering whistling-duck hardhead, Australasian grebe , little pied cormorant, darter, white-necked heron, white-faced heron, intermediate egret, glossy ibis, yellow-billed spoonbill, black-necked stork, masked lapwing, red-kneed dotterel, black-winged stilt, Australian crake, white-browed crake, buff-banded rail, purple swamphen, comb-crested jacana, clamorous reed-warbler and whiskered tern.
Coastal grass-sedge wetlands
Habitat type: Coastal grass-sedge wetlands
Description: Coastal grass-sedge wetlands are typified by temporary inundation and seasonal dominance of grasses and sedges such as “bulkuru” spike-rush and Australian rice. Grass-sedge wetlands may also be part of broader wetland complexes including saltmarshes, wet heath and/or coastal melaleuca swamps.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Water mouse, black swan, magpie goose, plumed whistling-duck, wandering whistling-duck, Pacific black duck, radjah shelduck, green pygmy-goose, great egret, intermediate egret, pied heron, little bittern, brolga, sarus crane, glossy ibis, purple swamphen, comb-crested jacana, black-necked stork, buff-banded rail, Baillon’s crake, white-browed crake, white-winged black tern, black-winged stilt, swamp harrier, clamorous reed-warbler, yellow chat, eastern snapping frog, green striped burrowing frog, northern dwarf tree frog, eastern dwarf tree frog, tawny rocket frog, bumpy rocket frog, freshwater crayfish and crabs, leeches and dragonflies (nymphs and adults), young barramundi and mullet.
Coastal and sub-coastal wet heath swamps
Habitat type: Coastal and sub-coastal wet heath swamps
Other key words: Palustrine wetlands
Description: Heaths are essentially treeless plant communities dominated by low shrubs and various other ground flora. Australian heaths are invariably associated with low-nutrient soils deficient in phosphorus and nitrogen. These swamps often support a rich diversity of plant and animal species. These species exhibit unique adaptations and/or behavioural traits that have evolved to meet the demands of a challenging and difficult environment. Even small changes in this environment can result in marked ecological shifts.
There are floristic similarities shared by both ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ heaths in Australia. Heath swamp distribution in Australia is generally not climatically determined. In Queensland, there are no sub-alpine environments and, therefore, wet heath representations are restricted to a number of coastal and sub-coastal lowland situations found mainly across three dispersed bioregions—Southeast Queensland, Central Queensland Coast and Cape York Peninsula.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Water mouse, king quail, ground parrot, Oxleyan pygmy perch, honey blue eye, wallum froglet, wallum rocketfrog, wallum sedgefrog, Cooloola sedgefrog.
Coastal palm swamps
Habitat type: Coastal palm swamps
Other key words: Feather and fan palm swamps; palustrine wetlands
Description: These wetlands are predominately found in the Wet Tropics bioregion of North Queensland. This palustrine wetland habitat type occurs in mesophyll and notophyll vine forests and can be dominated by one or both of the following palm species: the feather palm (also commonly known as Alexandra palm), and the fan palm (also commonly known as licuala palm). Both typically grow in areas with greater than 3000 mm annual rainfall on very wet poorly drained soils and on sand dunes with seasonally impeded drainage of the Wet Tropics coastal lowlands. Feather palm swamps are found in the lowland floodplain and estuarine complexes of river drainage systems. They occur in very wet lowland areas, generally less than 15 m above sea level, on sand dunes with seasonally impeded drainage, or on waterlogged alluvial soils where the water table is always very high. The soils of these areas are derived from basaltic and granitic parent material, and are generally highly fertile when drained. Fan palm swamps are found below 150 m elevation on the foot slopes and alluvial plains of coastal ranges with very poorly draining soils that are seasonally swampy.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Southern cassowary and pied imperial pigeon.
Coastal and sub-coastal tree swamps
Habitat type: Coastal and sub-coastal tree swamps
Other key words: Palestrine wetlands, melaleuca/eucalypt floodplain tree swamps, melaleuca/eucalypt coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree swamps
Description: Coastal and sub-coastal tree swamps are non-tidal, wooded wetlands occurring in equatorial tropical and sub-tropical areas of Queensland. Occupying depressions, drainage lines and dune swales, they might be inundated with water for 3–6 months of the year. They might be dominated by one plant species, such as the melaleucas (commonly known as tea-trees or paperbarks) and might also have a small range of trees, shrubs and grasses.
Coastal and sub-coastal tree swamp habitats are widespread in coastal and sub-coastal districts from the New South Wales border north to Cape York and along the margins of the Gulf of Carpentaria and its river systems.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Mahogany glider, water mouse, Gould’s wattled bat, hoary wattled bat, little bent-winged bat, Beccari’s freetail bat, yellow-bellied sheathtail bat, black flying-fox, spectacled flying-fox, white-necked heron, cassowary, white-faced heron, brown honeyeater, shining flycatcher, little pied cormorant, noisy friar, royal spoonbill, bar-breasted honeyeater, Australian white ibis, straw-necked ibis, scaly-breasted lorikeet, rainbow lorikeet, jungle perch, Oxleyan pygmy perch, honey blue eye, wallum froglet, Cooloola sedgefrog, wallum rocketfrog, wallum sedgefrog, red-bellied black snake, Arafura file snake, freshwater snake, Australian fritillary, Apollo jewel butterfly, golden ant and microscopic aquatic fauna that graze on phytoplankton.
Great Artesian Basin spring wetlands
Habitat type: Great Artesian Basin spring wetlands
Other key words: Mud springs; mound springs; water springs; boggomosses.
Description: Most artesian spring wetlands occur on the outer edge of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) aquifers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of Queensland, South Australia and north-western New South Wales.
The majority of spring wetlands are located where the aquifers are shallow or fractured by a fault and where water escapes to the surface. Artesian spring wetlands give rise to wetland systems that are oases in the arid and semi-arid zones.
The wetlands support plants such as sedges, reeds, grasses, herbs and algae, and provide habitat for fauna including an array of unique crustaceans, fish and snails. Artesian spring wetlands can support lush vegetation, although some springs (commonly known as mud springs) have an un-vegetated, dried exterior from which thick mud occasionally oozes to the surface.
Some animals that use this habitat type: Yellow chat, Edgbaston goby, Elizabeth Springs goby, red-finned blue-eye, 18 species of freshwater snail, freshwater shrimp and two species of freshwater isopod.
Karst wetlands
Habitat type: Karst wetlands
Other key words: Underground wetlands; caves; subterranean wetlands
Description: Karst wetlands are a type of underground wetland system, with or without a surface water component, commonly associated with caves or other underground cavities. Their structures are moulded by naturally acidic water dissolving bedrock.
Fifteen percent of Australia consists of karst landscapes, four percent of which can be seen at the ground surface.
Karsts occur in North Queensland and small areas of karst also occur in central and south-east Queensland. All of these karst systems have at least a small aquatic component.
Within karst wetland caves and subterranean cavities light is a limiting factor, resulting in endemic and highly adapted species. In general subterranean fauna is divided into aquatic groundwater animals and air-breathing subterranean animals.