Arafura swamp water resources study
Williams, D.; Chudleigh, I.; Jolly, P.
E-Publications; E-Books; PublicationNT; Report ; 45/2003
2003
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
Date:2003
English
Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment
Darwin
Report ; 45/2003
application/pdf.
Check within Publication or with content Publisher.
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/229247
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/673198
11 Vegetation and Wildlife The following description has been taken from the register of the National Estate (refer to Appendix A). The main vegetation types are shown on Figure 9. The swamp and its catchment comprise a complex mosaic of plant communities. Its striking features include large areas of paperbark open forest, numerous lagoons and their associated flora and fauna, and grassland plains over which are scattered numerous examples of the rare talipot palm. Other plant species of significance include Livistona Rigida, Carpentaria Acuminata, Hanguana Malayana, occurring in some of the billabongs, and Colocasia Esculenta (taro). Fringing the wetland are extensive woodlands and patches of monsoon forest. Within the catchment of the swamp are found a diverse range of landforms including eucalypt woodlands and open forests, swamps with undisturbed floating mat communities, sandstone hills, sinkholes and springs. The swamp provides an important refuge and breeding area for a diverse fauna including both Crocodylus Porosus and Crocodylus Johnstonii, and abundant waterfowl including magpie geese, pygmy geese, black duck and whistling duck. The swamp discharges in the Glyde River, which is tidal for approximately 35 kilometres inland from its mouth. The coastal floodplain supports sedge and grasslands. The Arafura Wetlands and catchment are in a relatively undisturbed condition, in part due to its remote locality and restricted access to European influences, and difficulties of access to feral animals. Feral buffalo and domestic and feral cattle are present, although in low numbers. The fringes of the swamp, coastal grasslands and adjacent higher country are burnt annually in a traditional burning regime.