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Lacustrine ecology

Lacustrine wetlands (lakes) are dominated by open water. Although lakes may have fringing vegetation, the majority of the wetland area is open water. Dams and other artificial or modified wetlands often have similar characteristics to natural lacustrine systems in that they also have deep, standing or slow-moving waters. Lacustrine systems in Queensland, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, are highly variable. Some are known to dry out and to support species adapted to these large changes while others stay wet for long periods and provide a refuge for many species during dry times.

For more information about individual lacustrine habitat types in Queensland choose a wetland type conceptual model below.

Lake Yamma Yamma water retreating Photo by Roger Jaensch Wetlands International

Quick facts

69,000ha
is the approximate size (when full) of the largest inland ephemeral lacustrine area in Queensland—Lake Yamma Yamma.[1]
 

The conceptual models below show information about hydrology, geomorphology, flora, fauna, nutrient dynamics and other aspects of natural lacustrine wetland ecology. Some systems occur in both coastal and inland areas, e.g. artificial lakes.

Coastal and subcoastal

Floodplain lakes

Non-floodplain lakes

Arid and semi-arid

The The Development of Semi-Arid and Arid Wetland Conceptual Models report is also available and is primarily concerned with the water resources in the Darling River basin including the Border Rivers, Moonie, Gwydir, Namoi-Peel, Macquarie, Castlereagh, Condamine-Balonne, Nebine, Warrego, Paroo, Barwon-Darling and the Lower Darling sub-basins.

Additional information

Pages under this section


References

  1. ^ Bird Life International, (2004). Lake Yamma Yamma. [online] Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-yamma-yamma-iba-australia [Accessed 1 January 2013].

Last updated: 22 March 2013

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2013) Lacustrine ecology, WetlandInfo website, accessed 18 March 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/aquatic-ecosystems-natural/lacustrine/

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of Environment, Science and Innovation