The aquatic macrophyte flora of saline wetlands in Western Australia in relation to salinity and permanence

Abstract

This paper reports a study of fluctuations of salinity, permanence and macrophyte occurrence in a wide range of saline wetlands between 1978 and 1982. Monitoring of salinity and depth of wetlands reserved for the conservation of flora and fauna began in 1978 as part of a Fisheries and Wildlife programme to annually assess conditions for waterfowl breeding. Over 100 reserves have gauges which are monitored at two monthly intervals. Cataloguing of the macrophytes in these reserves began in 1980 and has continued through 1982. Species of the two monocotyledon genera Ruppia and Lepilaena and the charophyte Lamprothamnium show wide tolerance of both salinity fluctuation and habitat drying. These plants occur in both permanent and ephemeral wetlands with salinities which show extremely large seasonal salinity fluctuations from slightly saline to hypersaline. The potential use of data on macrophytes in wetland management is considered.