The comparative ecology of waterfowl in north Queensland

Abstract

While the ecology of waterfowl in temper­ ate Australia has been investigated by Frith (e.g. 1961), less is known about the tropical species. Indeed relatively few studies have been made on waterfowl in the tropics. From 1958 to 1964, therefore, detailed investigations were made on each of the species of Anatidae occurring in Queensland north of the Tropic of Capricorn. These investigations have been the sub­ ject of a series of detailed papers (Lavery 1966a, b, c, d; 1967a, b, c, d, e; 1969a, b; 1970a, b, c, d; Lavery et al. 1968). The present paper seeks to summarise this work and to point out the main ecological conclusions that can be drawn from it. The study region (outlined in Figure 1) is that around Townsville (19°18'S., 146° 49'E.) from Ingham extending 200 miles south-eastwards to Bowen and westwards to Powlathanga, approximately 100 miles inland across the Great Dividing Range, which was used to separate the region into Coastal and Inland areas.