Impacts and interactions of feral pigs and macropods on artesian mound springs

Artesian mound springs are an important and endangered ecological community. This study aimed to examine the activity levels of pigs (Sus scrofa) and macropod sp. (Macropus.rufus, M.fuliginosus, M.giagantus, and M.robustus) on mound springs at Peery lake Paroo-Darling National Park, in western New South Wales and determine if these activity rates can be correlated to levels of impact recorded at springs through diggings, trampling, rooting and wallowing and alterations in water quality. This study found a link between sites with water and animal activity for pigs ( p = 0.007) and a significant link for macropods ( p = 0.0053). There was a link found between water nutrients total nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon for surrounding habitat TN p = 0.05 and habitat and size p = 0.05 and for DOC p = 0.007 for habitat and p = 0.0053 for habitat and size, while no relationship was found for total phosphorous. No link was found between animal activity and impact measures recorded.