547
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_25, © Springer India 2013
The continent of Australasia includes the countries
Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. There are
many lentic bodies in this continent having
different characteristics.
25.1 Wetlands of Australia
Australia has a rich diversity of wetlands in different parts. The wetlands contain diverse types
of fl ora and fauna.
25.1.1 About the Australian
Wetlands Database
An important resource for wetland managers is
sound data and information about the values of
wetlands on which to base management decisions. There are databases which provide online
access to information on Australia’s Ramsar
wetlands and sites listed in the Directory of
Important Wetlands of Australia, which are
Australia’s internationally and nationally important wetlands. Ramsar sites are listed under the
Convention on Wetlands because of their international importance in one or more areas, which
may include ecology, botany, zoology, limnology, hydrology, etc.
Criteria for Determining Wetlands of International
Importance
The directory identifi es and provides information
on the values of nationally important wetlands
across Australia.
Criteria for Determining Nationally Important
Wetlands
These may be available in the Australian Wetlands
Database, which may be browsed for information on Australia’s Ramsar wetlands, as well as
the nationally important wetlands listed under
the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia .
25.1.2 Wetlands of Eastern Australia
The eastern part of Australia has typical wetlands
with characteristic bioresources.
25.1.2.1 Billabongs
Billabong (bɪləbɒŋ/, BIL -ə-bong ) is an Australian
English word meaning a small lake, specifi cally
an oxbow lake, a section of still water adjacent to
a river, cut off by a change in the watercourse.
Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a
creek or river changes, leaving the former branch
with a dead end. Billabongs, refl ecting the arid
Australian climate in which these ‘dead rivers’
are found, are fi lled with water seasonally and are
dry for a greater part of the year.
Etymology
The etymology of the word ‘billabong’ is disputed. The word is most likely derived from the
indigenous Wiradjuri term bilabaŋ , which means
‘a watercourse that runs only after rain’, and is
derived from ‘bila’, meaning ‘river’, and, possibly,
‘bong’ or ‘bung’, meaning ‘dead’. One source
claims a Scottish Gaelic origin of the term. As the
25
Wetlands of Australasia
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_25, © Springer India 2013
The continent of Australasia includes the countries
Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. There are
many lentic bodies in this continent having
different characteristics.
25.1 Wetlands of Australia
Australia has a rich diversity of wetlands in different parts. The wetlands contain diverse types
of fl ora and fauna.
25.1.1 About the Australian
Wetlands Database
An important resource for wetland managers is
sound data and information about the values of
wetlands on which to base management decisions. There are databases which provide online
access to information on Australia’s Ramsar
wetlands and sites listed in the Directory of
Important Wetlands of Australia, which are
Australia’s internationally and nationally important wetlands. Ramsar sites are listed under the
Convention on Wetlands because of their international importance in one or more areas, which
may include ecology, botany, zoology, limnology, hydrology, etc.
Criteria for Determining Wetlands of International
Importance
The directory identifi es and provides information
on the values of nationally important wetlands
across Australia.
Criteria for Determining Nationally Important
Wetlands
These may be available in the Australian Wetlands
Database, which may be browsed for information on Australia’s Ramsar wetlands, as well as
the nationally important wetlands listed under
the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia .
25.1.2 Wetlands of Eastern Australia
The eastern part of Australia has typical wetlands
with characteristic bioresources.
25.1.2.1 Billabongs
Billabong (bɪləbɒŋ/, BIL -ə-bong ) is an Australian
English word meaning a small lake, specifi cally
an oxbow lake, a section of still water adjacent to
a river, cut off by a change in the watercourse.
Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a
creek or river changes, leaving the former branch
with a dead end. Billabongs, refl ecting the arid
Australian climate in which these ‘dead rivers’
are found, are fi lled with water seasonally and are
dry for a greater part of the year.
Etymology
The etymology of the word ‘billabong’ is disputed. The word is most likely derived from the
indigenous Wiradjuri term bilabaŋ , which means
‘a watercourse that runs only after rain’, and is
derived from ‘bila’, meaning ‘river’, and, possibly,
‘bong’ or ‘bung’, meaning ‘dead’. One source
claims a Scottish Gaelic origin of the term. As the
25
Wetlands of Australasia