Refugia for biological diversity in arid and semi-arid Australia
Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 4
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker, with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Biodiversity Unit
Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, 1995
10. Refugia in Western Australia (continued)
10.15. Reference number WA15
Refuge area: Rudall River
Biogeographic region: Great and Little Sandy Desert
Type of refuge: Wetland/ecological refuge
Lat./Long. 22°30’S / 122°00’E (headwaters) to 22°07’S / 123°00’E (Lake Dora)
Quality of refuge: Significant (2)
Area (km²): <10,000
Chief refuge value
Habitat for waterbirds and potentially for other organisms.
General description
Rudall River flows about 120 km into Lake Dora (30,000 ha). Major river pools or waterholes are Curran Curran Waterhole and Coondegoon Pool. Permanent pools and soaks with stands of Melaleuca cajuputi in addition to Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. microtheca in an otherwise dry landscape.
ANZECC-listed species
None identified.
Regional endemics
None identified.
Relict species
None identified.
Other significant species
Eleven species of waterbirds, mainly at relatively low numbers1,2. The presence of relatively regular plant production may also provide an ecological refuge for other organisms.
Key threats
Camels and human settlement; possibly mining2.
Land tenure
Rudall River National Park3.
Key references
1. Burbidge and McKenzie (1983)
2. Jaensch and Lane (1993)
3. Burrows et al. (1994)
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