The macrophytes of six lagoons in the Darwin region were recorded over a period of
approximately one year. Results showed a large variety of plant species per lagoon and a
strong individuality of lagoon plant lists. A total of 160 plants was recorded, 49 of which were
aquatic or aquatic/terrestrial. Only six species were found in all six lagoons. The group of
introduced plants totalled 26.
The general paucity of information on wetland plants in lagoons and billabongs in the Top End
was pointed out.
Water quality parameters were measured during the plant surveys. No relation between plant
species composition and water quality were found. Neither was a relation between land use in
the lagoon catchment and plant species composition observed.
A wetland health indicator based on plant species richness and the presence of declared weeds
was calculated. Two of the lagoons reached the highest score being classed as ‘largely
unmodified’. Three lagoons ranked as ‘slightly modified’ and one lagoon ‘moderately modified’.
These scores were based on data collected during one wet season. More data would be
needed to assess the validity and suitability of the indicator and its weighting of the components
of species richness and weeds.
It is assessed that the current macrophyte indicator is not ideal due to the high variability in data
collection and the large effort required in the field. Suggestions are made to trial weeds or
vegetation cover as indicators for wetland health.,
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).,
Notes
Acknowledgements:
The project was financially supported by the National Land and Water Resources Audit, Project DN8. Dave Wilson was invaluable in the field due to his great knowledge of local aquatic plants as well as many other creatures. Many people participated in the field work and we would like to thank Julia Fortune, George Maly, Daryl Browne and Angela Estbergs.
Ben Stuckey and Phil Short from the NT Herbarium provided the identification service for the macrophytes collected in the field, which is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Donna Lewis and Ben Stuckey for advice on the never ending discussion on aquatic and floodplain versus terrestrial plants. Most macrophyte photographs were taken by Dave Wilson.,
6 lagoons in the Darwin region are:
Girraween, Herbert, Knuckey North East, McMinns, Waterlily and Woodford.,
Language
English,
Subject
Wetland ecology -- Northern Territory -- Darwin Region,
Water quality biological assessment -- Northern Territory -- Darwin Region,
Lagoons -- Environmental aspects -- Northern Territory -- Darwin Region,
Publisher name
Department of Land Resource Management,
Place of publication
Darwin,
Series
Report 11/2012,
Format
86 pages : colour illustrations and map ; 30 cm.,
File type
application/pdf.,
ISBN
9781743500194,
Copyright owner
Check within Publication or with content Publisher.,