Studies of waterfowl (Anatidae) in north Queensland. 7. Longterm changes in habitat.

Abstract

Changes in the major type of habitat providing drought-refuge for waterfowl in north Queensland during 1958-1970 are described. Although vegetation distribution and abundance varied considerably each year with rainfall and with invasions of weed species, the principal long-term change of habitat type was due to deposition of silt. Thus deep-water types such as lagoons eventually became shallow-water types such as swamps, with appropriate changes in utilization by waterfowl
species.