Publications
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker
with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Refuge area Dalhousie Springs
Biogeographic region Stony Plains
Type of refuge Mound springs
Lat./Long. 26o 11’ S / 135o 24’E
Quality of refuge Highly significant (6)
Area (km2) <100
Chief refuge value
Highly restricted habitat for species confined for long periods of time to tiny and isolated pockets.
General description
Artesian springs of the Great Artesian Basin1.
ANZECC-listed species
The plant Eriocaulon carsonii (E)1.
Regional endemics
Endemics among invertebrates include the isopod Phreatomerus latipes, the ostracod Ngarawa dirga, further undescribed ostracods, a phreatic amphipod Phreatochiltonia anophthalma, further species of the amphipod genus Austrochiltonia, possibly endemic copepods, and a macrostomid flatworm2. There is a substantial radiation of hydrobiid snails endemic to Dalhousie Springs6. The fishes Chlamydogobius sp., Neosilurus sp., Craterocephalus dalhousiensis and C. gloveri are endemic to the Dalhousie basin4. A plant - Nicotiana burbidgeae - is endemic to the springs complex5.
Relict species
One plant is the only record for central Australia (Lemna disperma), and three constitute the only records for northern South Australia (Baumea arthrophylla, Hydrocotyle verticillata and Polygonum salicifolia)5. Most of the endemics mentioned in the previous section represent evolutionary relicts.
Other significant species
None identified.
Key threats
Water drawdown, pressure from visitors, feral animals and infestations of date palms.
Land tenure
Within Witjira National Park.
Key references
1. Harris (1992)
2. Ponder (1986)
3. Zeidler and Ponder (1989)
4. Kodric-Brown & Brown (1993)
5. Mollenmans in Zeidler and Ponder (1989)
6. Ponder et al. (1989)
