A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia’s Northern
Tropical Rivers

Sub-project 1 of Australia’s Tropical Rivers – an integrated data assessment and analysis (DET18)

George LukacsA,C & Max FinlaysonB

A Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
B Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia
C National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research, C/- James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

A report to Land & Water Australia, September 2008

Authors

G.P. Lukacs -	Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland Australia

C.M. Finlayson -	Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury 2640, New South Wales Australia

This report should be cited as follows:

Lukacs, G.P. and Finlayson, C.M. (eds) 2008. A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia’s Northern Tropical Rivers. Sub-project 1 of Australia’s Tropical Rivers – an integrated data assessment and analysis (DET18). A report to Land & Water Australia. Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research, Townsville, Queensland.

Contact information

Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research
James Cook University
Townsville 4811
Queensland Australia

Funding statement

This project was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust Phase 2 (NHT2) and Land & Water Australia
(LWA) as part of the Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project (TRIAP).

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the National Centre for Tropical Wetlands Research and its partners. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this report are factually correct, some essential data rely on the references cited and the NCTWR do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency or completeness of the contents of this report, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the report. Readers should exercise their own skill and judgment with respect to their use of the material contained in this report.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

GENERAL INTRODUCTION G Lukacs & M Finlayson

TECHNICAL REPORT 1.	Geomorphology M Saynor, W Erskine & J Lowry

TECHNICAL REPORT 2.	Estuaries M Eliot & I Eliot TECHNICAL REPORT 3.	Hydrology D Moliere TECHNICAL REPORT 4.	Riparian vegetation J Dowe TECHNICAL REPORT 5.	Water quality B Butler
TECHNICAL REPORT 6.	Aquatic macroinvertebrates C Humphrey, J Hanley & C Camilleri

TECHNICAL REPORT 7.	Freshwater fish D Burrows TECHNICAL REPORT 8.	Aquatic reptiles G Fox TECHNICAL REPORT 9.	Waterbirds D Franklin GENERAL SUMMARY M Finlayson & G Lukacs

Acknowledgments

Many people contributed in many ways to the preparation of this report. Before acknowledging those who contributed to specific chapters, it is important we first thank a number of people who were instrumental in the conceptualisation, development and implementation of the overall TRIAP project in various significant ways. These significant contributors are: Dr Rick van Dam, Dr Renee Bartolo, Dr Peter Bayliss, Dr Arthur Johnston (Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, Commonwealth Government); Prof  Richard  Pearson  (James  Cook  Univetrsity);  Dr  George  Begg (formerly eriss); Mr Theo Hooy and Mr Bruce Gray (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; DEWHA); and Mr Colin Creighton, Dr Ian Prosser and Mr Brendan Edgar (Land & Water Australia). Also, we would like to thank the Board of Management and the Advisory Committee of the National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research (NCTWR) for supporting the project.

The authors of the individual chapters are acknowledged for their efforts in bringing the information and data together and for completing their analyses. The individual papers form the backbone of this project and represent an outcome from the combined efforts of many researchers from many institutions over many years.