Biophysical Interactions 

Overview: Ecosystem functioning

Biophysical Interactions

The wetland is located in a wide shallow basin (lithosphere) between Watanobbi and Warnervale Airport. In rainy weather the basin quickly fills up with water. In dry weather it slowly dries out. (atmosphere / hydrosphere) There are about 200 different kinds (biosphere) of plants each adapted to different biophysical conditions. On the edges of the wetland, near Watanobbi and Warnervale village where it does not often flood, there are plants that prefer dryer conditions like prickly paperbarks and woollybutts. Further into the wetland, where water flows after rain, there are plants that like wetter conditions such as laced paperbarks and swamp mahogany gum trees with an understorey of small plants like river buttercups and knotweeds. Along channels and in deeper pools and billabongs where it is almost always wet, there are plants that are always happy in water such as  reeds, rushes and sedges. 

More details can be found in the Case Study Summary notes.

Ecosystem functioning and values

There is significant primary production or primary biomass in the wetland and the ecological functioning of the wetland depends on this. The biosphere provides habitat (shade, shelter and food) for 60 kinds of birds, 25 kinds of mammals, 16 kinds of frogs as well as lizards, snakes, crayfish. spiders and insects. Each animal has a preferred habitat, in the wetland. (biosophere). Plant communities also support terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate and detrivores (primary consumers) that feed on dead and decaying plants and animals recycling nutrients in the wetland. 

Several Australian and overseas migratory bird species rely on PCW eg during the summer months species migrate from Northern. Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and at times of drought provides a refuge for large numbers of birds from inland wetlands.