Figure 1

Study area, the Coorong (South Australia). This shallow coastal lagoon, located approximately 90 km south-east of Adelaide in South Australia, is bordered by adjacent fresh water lake (Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert) and separated from the open ocean by a network of sand dunes. This coastal lagoon forms the Murray Mouth with the lower lakes, which is the terminal lake system of the River Murray. More than 140 km in length, the Coorong is characterised by a strong salinity gradient with salinity values ranging from ca. 2.0% close to the Murray Mouth to more than 15.0% near Salt Creek. Location of the 20 sampling sites (black star; S₁ from S₂₀).