Creek life

Here, at the point furthest from the carpark, you will hear almost no traffic noise. Pause, and allow the quiet sounds of the gully to be heard. Bird calls in the trees, the whispering of leaves, maybe the trickling water in the creek. Imagine what the whole Mornington Peninsula looked like and sounded like before it was cleared.

In the water, you may notice a red algae. This is not generally a sign of pollution here, but instead an essential component of this freshwater habitat. Algae plays a critical role in nutrient cycling, as food and shelter for invertebrates and small fish. At Endeavour Fern Gully, the algae flocculate iron from natural iron salts in the fertile red soils, causing the coloration you may notice. At least 12000 marine, freshwater and terrestrial species of algae are thought to occur in Australia, but many are yet to be described or fully documented.

You may also notice mud chimney like structures, with a central hole, which are the home of freshwater burrowing crayfish. Unlike their marine counterparts, burrowing crayfish are too small to eat. What other fascinating creatures live along the creek bank that we cannot see?