부산대학교 도서관

Three permanent alpine springs and their associated pools in the Australian Alps were studied over a summer season to understand their hydrochemical function and characterise the (previously unreported) aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. These 'source' pools represent an extremely limited habitat within Australian alpine peatlands and are likely vulnerable to groundwater flow changes associated with climate change. The pools provide an extremely stable habitat for 30 macroinvertebrate taxa in the harsh alpine environment with near chemostatic conditions and pool temperatures constrained to 5.6-6.3°C despite air temperatures varying between −4.5°C and 30.6°C. Although small in area source pools have a significant effect on nitrate concentrations (decreases) and pH (increases) of waters flowing to downstream Sphagnum-dominated peatlands. The macroinvertebrate communities were distinctly different to that found in peatlands and headwater streams and were dominated by the amphipod Austrocrangonyx sp. (76.6% of total abundance), despite the low pH conditions (pH 5.27-5.56). Some of the macroinvertebrate taxa ( Nannochorista, Anzacladius, and Parochlus) have a Gondwanan and circum-Antarctic distribution, similar to the bryophytes that also occur in these pools ( Bartramia and Blindia). These source pools contribute to the diversity of alpine fauna and should be separately recognised and protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]