The faunal assemblage in freshwater crayfish burrows in sedgeland and forest at Lightning Plains, western Tasmania

Abstract

The faunal assemblage of crayfish burrows was examined intensively at Lightning Plains in wesrern Tasmania, in sedgeland and adjacent forest, to determine variations in species occurrences and abundances both within one habitat type and between two habitats. Species -sample curves showed that over 90% of the species found in ten samples could be collected by taking only five. Despite the fact that the host crayfish species was the same, each habitat was found to display a characteristic assemblage. Variations between the assemblages are attributed to differences in soil conditions, vegetation structure and watertable behaviour.