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Carnarvon to Kalgoorlie Fairy Shrimp (Branchinella denticulata)

Branchinella denticulata is an Australian fairy shrimp. Its appearance, life cycle and habitat are poorly documented. Western Australian records are sparse, so crews should take a precautionary approach wherever works may affect freshwater habitats.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 3.

Seasonal information

Activity, breeding and movement months are not known for this species. The row below is a general planning prompt, not a species-specific seasonal window.

Known months: None are recorded.

Planning: Assess potential impacts whenever works may affect freshwater features.

Seasonal timing is not inferred from other Branchinella species or from general fairy shrimp information.

  • Freshwater feature checks: General planning prompt only. No species-specific seasonal window is known; check potentially affected freshwater features whenever work is planned.

Identification: Appearance and size

Branchinella denticulata is a fairy shrimp, but a diagnostic description has not been documented.

Branchinella denticulata is a crustacean in the fairy shrimp genus Branchinella. Its size, colour and distinguishing body features have not been documented.

  • Do not identify the species from a general fairy shrimp appearance alone.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

Similar species and field signs specific to B. denticulata have not been documented. No species-specific surface sign, resting stage or other feature is known.

  • Treat any possible identification as provisional until checked by a suitably experienced aquatic invertebrate ecologist.

Distribution: Known range

The species is recorded in Western Australia, but the records do not name individual sites.

Atlas of Living Australia records show three Western Australian records at two distinct 0.1-degree locations, spanning latitudes -29 to -24.7 and longitudes 114.2 to 122.3. Records outside Western Australia were excluded from that summary as likely errors.

The DBCA common name refers to Carnarvon to Kalgoorlie, but named collection localities are not available to confirm a more precise range.

Distribution: WA regions and status

DBCA flags the Goldfields and Midwest regions for the species. It is described as poorly known, known from several locations and not under imminent threat. No national listing is recorded.

  • DBCA Priority 3 is a priority-list category, not a threatened-species listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Habitat: Habitat information

Species-specific habitat has not been documented.

The waterbody type, water chemistry, substrate, vegetation and landscape setting used by B. denticulata are unknown.

Habitat: Site planning

As a general precaution for a freshwater invertebrate, identify waterbodies and other wet features that could be affected by works. Do not assume that a site is unsuitable simply because the species has not been recorded there.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding

The diet and feeding habitat of this species are unknown.

Its diet, feeding method and foraging location have not been documented.

Foraging habitat: Precaution

Do not infer feeding needs from records for other Branchinella species or from general fairy shrimp information. Where works could affect freshwater habitat, avoid unnecessary disturbance while the site's ecological values are assessed.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding habitat, reproductive biology and seasonal timing are poorly known.

Breeding sites, egg or resting-stage information, clutch size, development time and breeding months have not been documented for this species.

Breeding habitat: Works precautions

Do not schedule works on the assumption that breeding is absent at a particular time of year. Seek site-specific ecological advice where freshwater features may be affected.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter and persistence

Where this species shelters or persists between periods of activity is unknown.

Species-specific shelter, refuge, dormant stage and persistence strategy have not been documented.

Sheltering habitat: Precaution

Avoid disturbing sediments, wet depressions and other freshwater features as a precaution, but do not treat any of these as confirmed shelter or habitat for this species.

Threats: Known information

Specific threats to B. denticulata have not been identified.

A species-specific threat assessment is not available. The DBCA Priority 3 category indicates that the species is poorly known, recorded from several locations and not considered under imminent threat.

Threats: Potential worksite pressures

As a general freshwater precaution, manage sediment, contaminants, runoff and changes to water levels or drainage to minimise avoidable impacts to aquatic habitats. These are general worksite risks, not documented species-specific threats.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific detectability and validated survey methods are unknown.

Check available fauna records and map freshwater features within and near the proposed disturbance area. Sparse records do not establish absence from unrecorded sites.

Survey methodology: 2. Field assessment

Have a suitably experienced aquatic invertebrate ecologist assess potentially affected freshwater features. General aquatic invertebrate survey methods, such as careful net sampling of water where appropriate, may help assess fauna, but no method has been validated for detecting B. denticulata.

  • Record survey conditions, locations, water features sampled and identification confidence.
  • Avoid spreading organisms or contaminants between waterbodies by following appropriate equipment hygiene procedures.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Confirm the work area

Plan surveys and controls before works that may alter freshwater features or their drainage.

Map the disturbance footprint, access routes, drainage pathways and freshwater features that could be affected. Obtain ecological advice where site values or potential impacts are uncertain.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Set precautions

Brief crews on the possibility of poorly known aquatic fauna and establish practical controls to prevent avoidable water loss, sediment movement and contamination. Do not rely on a particular season as a safe period.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Protect water features

Keep disturbance to freshwater features as limited and controlled as practicable.

Keep vehicles, stockpiles and sediment-generating activities away from freshwater features where practicable. Maintain agreed drainage and pollution controls.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to a possible find

If a possible fairy shrimp is found, pause the activity affecting the immediate feature and contact the project ecologist for identification and advice. Do not move animals or water between sites unless this is part of an authorised, ecologist-led action.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Inspect and record

Check that worksite controls remain effective and document any findings or incidents.

Inspect affected freshwater features and controls after works, particularly where drainage, sediment or water quality could have changed. Record any observations and pass possible species records to the project ecologist.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Escalate concerns

If an impact or possible mortality is observed, stop the relevant activity where safe to do so and follow the project's environmental incident process. Seek advice on any further survey or response.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore site conditions

Rehabilitation should address affected freshwater features without assuming unrecorded species requirements.

Reinstate disturbed areas and drainage in line with the approved rehabilitation plan. Prevent loose soil, waste and contaminants from entering freshwater features.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Review outcomes

Monitor rehabilitation against project objectives and seek ecologist advice if water features have changed or fauna observations warrant follow-up. Species-specific rehabilitation targets are not documented.

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