A study of the Werewilka Inlet of the saline Lake Wyara, Australia – a harbour of biodiversity for a sea of simplicity

Lake Wyara receives most of its water from Werewilka Creek, with the area between the two forming Werewilka Inlet which is highly variable in area, and salinity and has high habitat heterogeneity. Over 12 years, 84 species of macroinvertebrate were found in the inlet, but only 34 in the lake. Halobiont and halophilic species were the same in each, but there were many fewer salt-tolerant species in the lake and no freshwater species. The latter were excluded by salinity, but habitat homogeneity due to strong wave action in the lake seems to limit many salt-tolerant species to the inlet. Species richness in large saline lakes in inland Australia is limited by salinity, poor speciation opportunities engendered by their episodic nature, and habitat homogeneity.