Intertidal mud above mean sea level unconsolidated mud (claypan/saltpan)

Long description

Intertidal mud above mean sea level (MSL) including: mud banks, saltpans, claypans, or river banks above the mangrove line (approximately MSL). Typically these areas appear to be bare, unvegetated areas, which may or may not have a crust of benthic microalgae (BMA).

May have similar biota equivalent to ecosystem type bare above MSL (type 17), which is mapped by the Herbarium. These ecosystems are typically adjacent to saltmarsh and mangrove communities, and the boundary between the bare area and the saltmarsh and mangroves can shift in association with changes in catchment runoff (rainfall, stormwater, altered flows, land use), and in the longer term sea level rise. Can include channels and pools. BMA provides food for crustaceans (e.g. crabs) and molluscs (e.g. whelks). Breaking the BMA mat or crust (e.g. motorbikes and 4WDs) can damage the ecology of the area and bring about erosion, and it may take a long time to restore.

Special values

Important fisheries habitat that can provide for feeding, growth and reproduction[1]. Vegetated and non-vegetated saltpan-associated ecosystems are used by a high number and diversity of fishes (many of economic importance), particularly in association with intertidal mangrove-lined creeks[3]. Fiddler and marsh crabs feed in these ecosystems following inundated by rainfall or tide, and shelter in burrows at other times.

Unvegetated saltpan adjacent to coastal wetlands provide feeding areas for high value fisheries species. Fish, such as sand whiting, yellow fin bream, threadfin salmon and flathead feed on benthic crustaceans, bivalve molluscs and polychaete worms that are abundant in these bare areas[2].

Can provide part of the habitat complex for the water mouse (Xeromys myoides)[6][5].

Potential feeding areas and roosting areas for shorebirds provided by the habitat complex of bare areas adjacent to mangroves. Different species feed and roost in different habitat units of the complex[4]. Many shorebirds Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999-listed species (EPBC).

Potentially these areas are habitat for non-filtering feeding infauna (bottom feeding detritus such as polychaete worms), and habitat for filter-feeders in highly riverine or strong current areas with slightly clearer water.

Diagnostic attributes

Inundation 'Intertidal – Medium undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High', 'Intertidal – Undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High undifferentiated'

Sediment texture 'MUD', 'gravelly MUD', 'muddy SAND', ''(slightly gravelly) sandy MUD', '(slightly gravelly) MUD', 'sandy MUD' (note that the dominant grain size is capitalised)

Benthic depth 'Intertidal (>0m)'

Qualifiers

Can includes the high intertidal sections of mapped modified ecosystems that have modified Benthic depth and Terrain morphology including dredged channels, bunds and infilling of the intertidal area. Although unmapped, Period and Trend qualifiers are also relevant as the Energy magnitude may also vary seasonally and episodically with respect to wave action and king tides and storm surges.

Distribution

Common up and down the Queensland coast, particularly in association with river mouths along protected coastlines in protected waters such as bays and inlets.

The following relates to distribution of this ecosystem type within the Central Queensland mapping area:

• This ecosystem type is yet to be mapped as claypan/saltpan (type 17) and the relatively large areas mapped in Central Queensland may or may not meet the criteria for intact remnant saltpan. Potentially it could be important fisheries habitat from Round Hill Head to Tin Can Inlet, in term of productivity, includes the Kolan, Elliott, Burrum, Mary and Susan rivers, Baffle and Kauri creeks, Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Inlet. The smaller Broadwater, Littabella and Beelbi creeks are also important in terms of habitat diversity and connectivity with the larger nearby systems (Baffle Creek, and the Kolan and Burrum rivers)[2].

Comments

Other relevant attributes can include Freshwater input volume, Freshwater input source, Tidal range, Terrain relative relief, Terrain morphology, Terrain slope, Terrain pattern and Sediment composition.

Additional Information

Intertidal mud flats - Queensland Museum

Tidal planes - Maritime Safety Queensland

References

1. ^ Beumer, J, Carseldine, L, Zeller, B, Queensland, Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries Group (1997), Declared fish habitat areas in Queensland, Fisheries Group, Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Brisbane, Qld..
2. ^ a b Bruinsma, C & Danaher, K (2001), Queensland Coastal Wetland Resources: Round Hill Head to Tin Can Inlet.. [online], vol. QI99081, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government., Brisbane. Available at: http://era.daf.qld.gov.au/id/eprint/3545/.
3. ^ Connolly, RM (1999), 'Saltmarsh as habitat for fish and nektonic crustaceans: Challenges in sampling designs and methods', Austral Ecology. [online], vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 422-430. Available at: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1046/j.1442-9993.1999.00974.x [Accessed 6 June 2019].
4. ^ Department of Environment and Science, QG (2019f), Assessment of Common Conservation Values - Intertidal and Subtidal Environs of the Baffle to Fitzroy Coast, Version 1.1., Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government., Brisbane, Queensland.
5. ^ Department of the Environment and Resource Management (2010), National recovery plan for the water mouse (false water rat) Xeromys myoides - Report to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra, Brisbane, Queensland.
6. ^ Van Dyck, S & Gynther, I (January 2003), Nesting strategies of the water mouse Xeromys myoides in southeast Queensland. [online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290249920_Nesting_strategies_of_the_Water_Mouse_Xeromys_myoides_in_southeast_Queensland.

Last updated: 22 July 2019