Abstract
About sixty species of waterbird live in the Paroo area of Australia and most of these have been recorded on its 150+ saline lakes of various salinities and sizes. Unlike water plants, invertebrates and fish, avian species richness is hardly influenced by salinity in the Paroo, although the data suggest that richness might be lower in hypersaline lakes. Common species at salinities , 30 g/l include Eurasian coot, Black swan, Pink-eared duck, Grey teal, and Australian pelican while at salinities > 100 g/l Red-necked avocets and stilts are common. Because saline lakes generally have more abundant food than freshwater lakes, waterbirds tend to be more abundant on them. However, most species do not utilize them for breeding, unless islands are present as in Lake Wyara. Bird numbers fluctuate widely in response to many factors, including food availability and state of wetlands elsewhere in the inland. Birds move freely between fresh and saline waters and are nomadic between wetlands across the vast Australian inland. Some Paroo salinas and their birds are threatened by localized siltation and local freshwater lakes could be destroyed by water harvesting for desert irrigation. The effect of water harvesting on other inland wetlands could also affect the Paroo and its salinas.
Recommended Citation
Timms, Brian V.
(2009)
"Waterbirds of the Saline Lakes of the Paroo, arid-zone Australia: A review with special reference to diversity and conservation,"
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues: Vol. 15, Article 46.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/nrei/vol15/iss1/46
