Virtual Poster, Presentation Summary Australian Freshwater Sciences Society Conference 2018

Seasonal use of waterholes by terrestrial vertebrate fauna in central Australia (#123)

Valerie Caron 1 2 , Supun Perera 1 , Eva Suve 1 , Veronica P Dobson 1 , Victor Dobson 1 , Jayne Brim Box 3 , Jenny Davis 4 , Fiona Dyer 1
  1. University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
  2. Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO, Canberra, ACT
  3. Northern Territory Government, Alice Springs, NT, Australia
  4. Charles Darwin University, Darwin

Waterholes are crucial to native fauna and indigenous peoples in central Australia, providing refuge and resources in an otherwise dry landscape. This research investigated the use of two culturally important waterholes by terrestrial vertebrate fauna near Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa): Salt and Hayes Springs. Camera traps were used to capture images of fauna visiting the waterholes between 2016 and 2017. Seasonal variation in visitation was evaluated using the local indigenous calendar (that includes 7 seasons). Waterholes were heavily used by native fauna, but visitation varied between seasons. Our study supports the importance of waterhole conservation.