A study of the Werewilka Inlet of the saline Lake Wyara, Australia: a harbour of biodiversity for a sea of simplicity

Lake Wyara receives most of its water from Werewilka Creek, with the area between the two forming Werewilka Inlet which is highly variable in area, and salinity and has high habitat heterogeneity. Over 12 years, 84 species of macroinvertebrate were found in the inlet, but only 34 in the lake. Halobi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2001-12, Vol.466 (1-3), p.245-254
Main Author: TIMMS, Brian V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Brackish
Brackish water ecosystems
Freshwater lakes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Habitats
Harbors
Heterogeneity
Homogeneity
Macroinvertebrates
Salinity
Salt lakes
Speciation
Species richness
Synecology
Wave action
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Summary:Lake Wyara receives most of its water from Werewilka Creek, with the area between the two forming Werewilka Inlet which is highly variable in area, and salinity and has high habitat heterogeneity. Over 12 years, 84 species of macroinvertebrate were found in the inlet, but only 34 in the lake. Halobiont and halophilic species were the same in each, but there were many fewer salt-tolerant species in the lake and no freshwater species. The latter were excluded by salinity, but habitat homogeneity due to strong wave action in the lake seems to limit many salt-tolerant species to the inlet. Species richness in large saline lakes in inland Australia is limited by salinity, poor speciation opportunities engendered by their episodic nature, and habitat homogeneity.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1023/A:1014597131801