Wetland Project Data Summary

Student Initials: K.P.

Student Number: 30178745

Demonstrator Group : A (Wednesday)

LOCATION DETAILS

Name of waterbody

Tomato Lake; Belmont

Longitude

90.4E

Latitude

53.8N

Date of sampling

24/4, 28/4, 1/5, 5/5, 8/5/2004

Season

Autumn

Weather at time of sampling

24/4, 28/4 – fine, sunny, a.a.t. ~22 degrees C at 8.30am 1/5, 5/5 – fine, sunny, cloud approaching; 8/5 – overcast, threatening to rain

Classification & water regime

Comments

Category of wetland (Undisturbed, created, urban, agricultural, coloured, saline, acidic, etc)

Urban wetland

Natural wetland but highly modified/disturbed; vegetation almost entirely cleared and much later replanted; previously used as a drain, grow tomatoes; dredging; artificially aerated.

Semeniuk Vegetation Classification

Bacata form

Water regime (permanent, seasonal, episodic)

Permanent

Originally seasonal but now kept topped up over summer for aesthetic values and as a refuge for birdlife

Mean depth of sampling sites (X ± SE) (n)

67cm ± 4.0 cm

Range over 5 sites of 50-95cm

Estimated maximum depth of wetland

~1.5m

Lake over 2.5m deep in winter

Soil association

Bassendeen sands

Sediment types

Anoxic

Odiferous gas escapes when pressure is applied

Water Quality

Temperature °C

20.5°C

pH (X ± SE) (n)

7.52 ± 0.02

(5 sites)

conductivity (µS/cm) (X ± SE) (n)

14.40 ± 0.17

(5 sites)

gilvin (g440/m) (X ± SE) (n)

4.099 ± 0.161

(5 sites)

turbidity (NTU) (X ± SE) (n)

8.61 ± 1.27

Higher than actual value – sediment easily disturbed when taking samples (5 sites)

Secchi disc (m) (n)

0.67 ± 0.04

(5 sites)

P0₄ (µg/l) (n)

370

Bulked water sample from 5 sites

NH₄ (µg/l) (n)

900

Bulked water sample from 5 sites

N0₃ (µg/l) (n)

210

Bulked water sample from 5 sites

chlorophyll a (µg/l) (n)

7.8

Bulked water sample from 5 sites

Aquatic Plants

Total no. of species

3

Total no. of macrophyte species

2

Total no. of algal species

1

Names of most abundant macrophyte taxa

Najas marina

Less than 10% cover, but most abundant

Names of most abundant algal taxa

spirogyra sp.

Found at most sites in small quantities

Total per cent cover

~10%

Percent of wetland area covered

~5-10%

Exotic index

0

Health (excellent/average/poor)

Average

Would not normally be so bad (probably average)

Fringing Vegetation

No. of plant communities

1

Percent of wetland area covered

~5%

Averaged of estimated data

Dominant community 1:

Restored Foreshore

(Project initiated in 2002)

Percent of wetland area covered
Total number of species

~5%
26

Names of most abundant taxa








Structure index

Hypocolema augustifolia
Scirpus lacustris
Melaleuca preissiana
Melaleuca rhaphiophylla
Juncus articulatus
Melaleuca teritifolia
Eucalyptus rudis
3

Five sites were sampled in this community

Total % cover (up to 300%)

120%

Exotic index
Health (excellent/average/poor)

17.5%
Average/poor

Dominant community 2:

Percent of wetland area covered

Total number of species

Names of most abundant taxa

Structure index

Total % cover (up to 300%)

Exotic index

Health (excellent/average/poor)

Terrestrial Vegetation

No. of plant communities

3

Percent of wetland perimeter covered

90%

Dominant community

Remnant woodland

Percent of wetland perimeter covered

~30%

Total number of species

8

Names of most abundant taxa

Melaleuca preissiana
Xanthorrhoea preissii

Structure index

3

Seems very high for an urban wetland!

Total % cover (up to 300%)
Exotic index

3

Seems very high for an urban wetland!

Exotic index
Health (excellent/average/poor)

85%
12.5%

Gr AA had high exotic index and "excellent" health. Am I missing something or are they?

Health (excellent/average/poor)

Average/poor

Aquatic Invertebrates

Mean no. of taxa (X ± SE) (n)

5.6 ± 0.46

Names of most abundant taxa

Corixidae
Daphniidae
Cyprididae

Mean no. of predatory E) (n)

1.2 ± 0.84

Indicator species present

Corixidae
Daphniidae

Dominance of Insecta vs Crustacea

Crustacea

State

(clear, macrophyte-dominated/ turbid , phytoplankton dominated/clear, benthic mat dominated)

Clear

Human Impacts

Disturbance (high/med/low):in water

High

Disturbance (high/med/low):in fringing vegetation

High

Some litter, drains, cleared for roadways, boardwalk, high exotic species index

Number of drains

12