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Study reveals 'pristine' inland rivers

Posted November 27, 2008 09:17:00

A new study of inland rivers in Queensland has revealed they are among the most pristine in the nation.

Griffith University student Adam Kerezsy has been studying rivers in the Lake Eyre Basin for several years, including the Cooper, Diamantina, Georgina and Thomson River systems.

He says he has been surprised at how well the systems are coping and the lack of introduced species.

"In every system from the Bulloo across, I mean we've caught over 50,000 or 60,000 fish now and there's literally been less than 10 individuals that are what you'd call alien species - species that are originally from overseas - whereas if you did the same sort of work in southern Australia you'd be catching up to 90 per cent alien fish," he said.

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