This charming report of 117 pages by biologist Evelyn Elfick commences with a generic explanation of aquatic systems then includes a list of some 89 aquatic invertebrates identified during a survey, with information and original drawings for each one. Hotel Creek is in the Chichester State Forest adjacent to Barrington Tops National Park in central New South Wales.
Although the title is Aquatic Insects of the Chichester State Forest, the list of fauna includes one fish (a gudgeon) and several molluscs, crustaceans and other invertebrates that are not insects.
The introductory ~20 pages could form a useful introduction to aquatic systems for secondary-level teachers as it is not site-specific.
Evelyn Elfick has supplied the following explanation by way of background:
“While studying as an undergraduate at the University of New England, I started collecting for a visiting lecturer from the USA. Her PhD was on freshwater aquatic insects and I collected ephemeroptera [mayflies] from rivers and streams from the South Coast at Bega to just north of the Hunter.
“I became so interested in the diversity of the then “unpolluted” freshwater systems that I decided to continue and chose Burra Creek as the main study area. This booklet was originally produced in A5 format to be used as a field guide for people working in the area.”
Evelyn may be contacted via elfick AT SYMBOL bigpond.com.