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Lacustrine and palustrine

There are many pressures existing on lacustrine and paulstrine wetlands. Many of these wetlands have been drained and filled and large numbers have been lost, particularly along the Queensland coastline and in South East Queensland. These wetlands have been hydrologically modified and are impacted by landscape-scale activities.

Local impacts on wetlands Photo by Cathy Ellis

Quick facts

The highest
wetland losses were in the palustrine (e.g. swamps) (800ha) and riverine (e.g. creeks) (1100ha) systems. These losses were mainly due to draining, clearing and levelling associated with intensive agriculture and urbanisation in lowland parts of catchments[1].

Pictorial conceptual models of pressures on lacustrine and palustrine wetlands

Off-stream dam. Photo by Cathy Ellis

Pictorial conceptual models of pressures on lacustrine and palustrine wetlands demonstrate how human or other activities interact with the natural processes in a wetland and impact on the wetland. Wetland managers can use this tool to discover pressure and condition indicators that are specific to a particular pressure and wetland type.

Queensland has developed a framework for assessing the impact of pressures on wetlands which follows the drivers, pressure, state, impacts, response (DPSIR) framework outlined on the Pressures page. The logic of the framework is outlined in the figure below.

PRESSURE

e.g. agriculture activities

MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

e.g. correct timing and rates of fertilizer application

STATE

e.g. physical, chemical state — nutrient concentration in water column and biological impacts — plant mass

WETLAND VULNERABILITY

e.g. light availability — highly turbid, well shaded or deep water — increased nutrients will have little or no effect on primary productivity. However in clear, unshaded, shallow waters it will.

The full range of pressure impacting on these wetlands are displayed as pictorial conceptual models.

To view use the links below:

Pages under this section

References

  1. ^ Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, (2011). State of the Environment Report. [online] Available at: https://www.stateoftheenvironment.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1260617/soe-report-2011.pdf [Accessed 10 October 2012].

Last updated: 22 March 2013

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2013) Lacustrine and palustrine, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/management/pressures/lacustrine-palustrine-threats/

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of Environment, Science and Innovation