Volume 119 (4) 2002, pp. 149-212

Murray River  Special Issue
Part 2

Murray River Special Issue Part 2

Fish of the Murray River

John Koehn

Fish are an integral component of the Murray River, contributing to its biodiversity, ecology and cultural heritage, as well as providing commercial and recreational fishing opportunities. Fish are an important way of connecting the community to the river system. The number of species in the Murray River is low by world standards; species range from the large, well known Murray Cod to smaller, lesser known species, such as Australian Smelt. Seven fish species are considered to be nationally threatened, with several other species threatened on a regional basis. Many of the threats to the fish species relate to the use of water and its associated infrastructure. Changes to flows, barriers to fish passage, cold water pollution, snag removal and habitat alterations, commercial and recreational utilisation, and interactions with introduced fish species have all contributed to the decline in fish populations. Many of these threats are currently being addressed or under consideration for changed management regimes to reduce their impact. Issues such as the provision of more water for improved environmental flows will pose ongoing challenges. The restoration of riverine ecological processes is a key way by which fish populations may be restored, and this needs to be undertaken with the support of the community.
(The Victorian Naturalist 119 (4), 2002, 152-159)

Back to Table of Contents

Niche Segregation between Three Species of Freshwater Turtle in a Large Billabong During Flood

Catherine E Meathrel, Phillip J Suter and Nada M Radford

Abstract
During the summer of 1996/97 habitat and dietary overlap of three species of freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis, C. expansa and Emydura macquarii in Lake Moodemere, a large billabong in north-east Victoria, were studied to assess their level of niche segregation. Lake Moodemere was inundated by flood waters and was connected to the Murray River for the first four weeks of the study. Five separate habitat types of varying complexity were identified within the billabong, ranging from open water to dense reed beds. All three species of turtle preferred the more complex habitats in which to forage, but very few turtles contained food. During times of flood, all turtles appeared to become opportunistic and consumed any food items available. Prey refugia were unimportant during times of flood.
(The Victorian Naturalist 119 (4), 2002, 160-173)

Back to Table of Contents

Invertebrates of the River Red Gum Forests of the Murray River

Andrea Ballinger and Alan L Yen

Abstract
The Murray River is surrounded by River Red Gum forests for much of its length. These forests are habitat to a rich and diverse invertebrate fauna, both in the dominant River Red Gum trees and in the surrounding ground layer. A brief introduction is provided to some of the important ecological roles played by invertebrates in these forests. The responses of some of these invertebrates to flooding is discussed.
(The Victorian Naturalist 119 (4), 2002, 174-179)

Back to Table of Contents

A Preliminary Survey of the Arboreal Invertebrate Fauna
of Two River Red Gum Trees Eucalyptus camaldulensis near the Murray River

Alan L Yen, Simon Hinkley, Peter Lillywhite, John Wainer and Ken Walker

Abstract
In February and October 1999, the canopy and bark invertebrates from two individual River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees in the Moira State Forest NSW were collected. A total of 458 morphospecies was collected from the canopy and 69 morphospecies from beneath the bark. In view of the wide distribution of River Red Gum across Australia, this preliminary survey suggests that there is a high level of invertebrate biodiversity associated with this tree species.
(The Victorian Naturalist 119 (4), 2002, 180-185)

Back to Table of Contents

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates of the Murray River

Phillip J Suter and John H Hawking

Abstract
The aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna of the Murray River is presented based on surveys and scientific literature. Insects dominate the aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna but the non-insect groups such as the crustaceans, molluscs, worms and other primitive classes are also well represented. The distribution of the fauna is discussed in relation to the four physical and biological zones of the river; the Headwater, Riverine, Mallee and Lower Murray tracts. The biology and ecology of many groups is documented and, where possible, the impacts of human influences on the invertebrates of the Murray River are given.
(The Victorian Naturalist 119 (4), 2002, 186-200)

Back to Table of Contents

The Swamp Yabby (Cherax sp.) of the Murray River Catchment

Geoffrey N Edney, Dale G McNeil and Susan H Lawler

Abstract
The Swamp Yabby has been recently collected from Barmah State Forest, the Ovens River, Victoria and Deniliquin, NSW. Here we present the species in general terms and provide figures for identification. The Swamp Yabby differs from other Cherax species both in morphology and ecology. This animal resides primarily in burrows rather than the river. Burrowing Cherax were previously unknown in Victoria.
(The Victorian Naturalist 119 (4), 2002, 200-204)

Back to Table of Contents

Murray River Microfauna

Russell J Shiel

Abstract
The microfauna of the Murray and tributaries is a speciose, albeit neglected, component of the riverine biota. The community derives from diverse in-stream ,and, seasonally, off-stream sources. There are regional differences in species composition – tributaries may contribute different taxa to the mainstream river. A mixed assemblage of protists, rotifers and microcrustaceans persists into the lower Murray, with longitudinal changes in species composition during long travel times to the river mouth. Effects of river regulation, land use and salinisation on microfaunal biodiversity are summarised.
(The Victorian Naturalist 119 (4), 2002, 205-211)

Back to Table of Contents