Macrobenthic community structure in the Fitzroy River Estuary, Queensland

Although it is widely accepted that estuarine ecosystems are highly productive and critical to the maintenance of coastal bird-life and fisheries, very little is known about the invertebrate faunas that inhabit them. Invertebrate organisms play important roles in the diets of many shorebird and fish species, and can profoundly influence the abundance and species composition of these tertiary consumers (Bottom and Jones, 1990; Skagen and Oman, 1996; Stillman et at., 2000). Invertebrates also play an integral role in the recycling of nutrients and conservation of water quality within estuarine systems (Harris, 1999; Peterson and Heck, 1999). Understanding temporal and spatial change in invertebrate community structure, and the factors underpinning them, is therefore essential to the better management of these waterways -- Introduction.