Fishes and freshwater crayfishes of major catchments of the Leschenault Estuary: Preston and Brunswick River, including first record of a freshwater gudgeon (Eleotridae) from south-western Australia

Morgan, D.L. and Beatty, S.J. (2008) Fishes and freshwater crayfishes of major catchments of the Leschenault Estuary: Preston and Brunswick River, including first record of a freshwater gudgeon (Eleotridae) from south-western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 91 (2). pp. 155-161.

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Abstract

A paucity of information exists on the fish and crayfish communities of two major rivers that flow into the Leschenault Inlet, south-western Western Australia. This study documents these communities and assesses their ecological significance. During February 2006, seven sites were sampled for fish and freshwater crayfish on each of the Brunswick River and Preston River with additional sites having been previously sampled in the summer of 1999/2000. The rivers generally had similar native fish communities with four endemic species, Freshwater Cobbler, Western Minnow, Western Pygmy Perch and Nightfish making up 60% of all fish captures (2670) with the remaining being from three feral freshwater and six estuarine species. Two native species of freshwater crayfish were also recorded, the Marron and Gilgie. The endemic Western Minnow and Western Pygmy Perch were the most common and widespread native fish species in both rivers. This study recorded what appears to be the Empire Gudgeon in the Preston River; the first record of this northern Australian species in the South-west Drainage Division, and its presence was attributed either to marine larval drift or as a result of an aquarium release. The potential impact of instream barriers on native fish migrations in these systems is discussed.