Wamberal Lagoon Catchment Aquatic Survey Final Report (PDF ...

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Wamberal Lagoon Freshwater Aquatic Biodiversity Survey 2010 © Australian Aquatic Biological Pty Ltd, PO Box 3, Karuah, NSW, 2324 Email Correspondence: info@aabio.com.au www.aabio.com.au Reference Project:100056 Aquatic Biodiversity Survey and Baseline Mapping of Freshwater Crayfish & Aquatic Species of the Gosford LGA - A Subset of the Australian Crayfish Project No.:100001 & Australian Aquatic Biodiversity Survey No.:100038 About This Project. Australian Aquatic Biological Pty. Ltd. conducts aquatic research around Australia. Two of the major projects currently being conducted are Project No. 100001, the Australian Crayfish Project (ACP) & Project No. 100038, the Australian Aquatic Biodiversity Survey (AABS). The aims of these Projects are to survey the whole of Australia, to record and identify every species of freshwater fauna & their distributions. The present report embodies the findings for a subset of the ACP, Project No. 100056 Aquatic Biodiversity Survey and Baseline Mapping of Freshwater Crayfish & Aquatic Species of the Gosford LGA. Project 10056 is major sponsored by Gosford City Council under their Ecological Research Grants Program 2010. Disclaimer: Every effort has been taken to provide accurate information and taxonomic determinations, and to use names that are current at the time of report preparation. The Australian Aquatic Biological Company has exercised due care and skill in the preparation and compilation of the information and data set out in this publication. Notwithstanding, Australian Aquatic Biological, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence, for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of the information or data set out in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law. The authors accept no liability for errors and omissions. Preferred way to cite this publication: McCormack, R.B, 2010. Wamberal Lagoon, Aquatic Biological Survey 2010. Australian Aquatic Biological for Gosford City Council, Gosford NSW. Cover: Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve Wamberal Lagoon Catchment Report Australian Aquatic Biological P/L 2
Report Summary Biological surveys were undertaken as part of both the broad Australian Crayfish Project (ACP) & Australian Aquatic Biological Survey (AABS) and a targeted sub-project on Gosford LGA (Project #100056, Australian Aquatic Biological 2010). The main sponsors for this project were Australian Aquatic Biological and Gosford City Council under their Ecological Research Grants Program 2010 that was assisting with biological research projects for the whole Gosford LGA. Surveys of the Gosford LGA are completed on a catchment/ drainage basis and Wamberal Lagoon is the first catchment surveyed completely as part of the larger Gosford LGA project. Wamberal Lagoon was surveyed in late May and early June 2010 and the findings are presented in this report. The late May surveys were conducted during flood conditions when all the ephemeral creeks were flowing and the ephemeral swamps in the process of filling. Much of the wetland areas were inundated, all inflows flowing and the lagoon was at its flood height. The early June surveys was entirely different and floodwaters were receding, inflows not flowing and additionally Gosford Council had opened the lagoon to the sea to limit flooding and the lagoon height was now lower than it normally would be. This was very beneficial as it concentrated the upstream waters and reduced habitat area allowing more concentrated biological surveys. A number of native fish species were recorded (particularly large numbers of Gudgeons) as well as exotic Gambusia. We draw particular attention to one new native species of Gramastacus crayfish discovered and an invasive Cherax freshwater crayfish species also proliferating in the catchment. Land crabs and other freshwater crabs were unable to be located, although they are expected to occur in the catchment. Other crustaceans such as amphipods were confirmed in the catchment. Freshwater snails were present and we also draw attention to the size of specimens collected representing the largest ever recorded in Australia by the ACP & AABS. Overall the catchment was in very good condition for a high population suburban and recreational area and the full results of this aquatic biodiversity survey are presented in this paper. Key words: Wamberal Lagoon, crayfish, shrimp, crab, Gambusia, amphipod, gudgeon. Figure 1. Wamberal Lagoon Wamberal Lagoon Catchment Report Australian Aquatic Biological P/L 3
Page 1: Australian Aquac Biological Wambera
Page 5 and 6: Figure 12. Common rush swamps - nor
Page 7 and 8: Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve is s
Page 9 and 10: 4. Research Methods A large proport
Page 11 and 12: Erina Creek Catchment Tuggerah Lake
Page 13 and 14: 1POI001 1POI001 1POI001 1POI001 1PO
Page 15 and 16: 5.1.2. Euastacus Crayfish Despite o
Page 17 and 18: Figure 11. Flooded Wetlands Common
Page 19 and 20: 5.1.4. Cherax The Setose Yabby Cher
Page 21 and 22: Figure 18. Atyidae shrimp 5.1.5. At
Page 23 and 24: 5.2.2. Pseudomugilidae Pacific Blue
Page 25 and 26: Striped Gudgeons (Gobiomorphus aust
Page 27 and 28: 5.4. Insect Larvae Mud eyes, beetle
Page 29 and 30: 6. Field Notes. Survey sites were r
Page 31 and 32: Figure 33. Forresters Creek - flowi
Page 33 and 34: 7. Conclusion The presence of Grama
Page 35 and 36: 10. References: Allen, G.R., Midgle
Page 37: Collecti Weight STATE or Family Gen

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