SPAWNING OF THE ENDANGERED AUSTRALIAN LUNGFISH (NEOCERATODUS FORSTERI) IN A HEAVILY REGULATED RIVER: A PULSE FOR LIFE

摘要: The Australian lungfish is an endangered native species currently protected under various state, federal and international agreements. Scarce information on their early life history available due to the absence of juveniles collected in wild. This has led concerns about sustainability become a driver for conservation effort lungfish. study aimed consolidate knowledge critical hydraulic habitat requirements this within water resource management context. In study, spawning was found be seasonal strategy that highly reliant variable low-flow regime riverine habitat. Suitable conditions were characterized by small flow events early-to-mid spring when temperatures are between 18 28 °C, leading oviposition short dense macrophytes shallow water. Importantly, many key environmental factors driving ecological response manageable through existing infrastructure. Specifically, releases from storages current distribution should mimic natural inflow temperature period, also provide suitable projected full supply limits. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.