Darling Riverine Plains Bioregional Scoping Study

Sunset at beautiful Menindee Lakes. Photo: P Flemons

In November/December 1999 the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Research (CBCR) began a sampling regime within the Darling Riverine Plains (DRRP) Bioregion in New South Wales. New South Wales contains seventeen interim bioregions, each of which contains ecosystems with similar vegetation, soils, climate, geology and landforms. The DRRP Bioregion comprises an area of 105 511km² in western New South Wales.

The aim of the project was to provide a baseline inventory of terrestrial invertebrates from selected taxonomic groups (eg. ants, beetles, spiders) from throughout the Darling Riverine Bioregion. A baseline inventory is undertaken when data for a particular area is patchy or absent, though the inventory itself may not result in the collection of all the fauna in the region. The data collected from a baseline inventory allows for comparison with data collected in the future, allowing for examination of patterns in the fauna that may result from environmental changes.

A broad scale invertebrate pitfall-sampling program, stratified by land tenure (eg. crown land, leasehold etc.) and vegetation type, was conducted throughout the bioregion. This project has amply demonstrated the potential usefulness of terrestrial invertebrates in biodiversity assessment. The study also resulted in new species being discovered and range extensions being recorded for others.