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aquatic ecosystems

Drought, the “creeping disaster”

 An interview with Senior Research Fellow, Professor Sam Lake Karin Holzknecht spoke to Professor Sam Lake about his Fellowship, his research, and about Australia’s “creeping disaster”: drought. To begin, could you please summarise your experience of being a Land (more)...

Environmental water allocation in poorly understood aquatic ecosystems across Australia

Unlike the well-studied stressed rivers, there is a dearth of research in the less heavily used rivers. Most lie in tropical Australia along the coastline, in Tasmania and in the semi-arid inland. In these systems, there is a need to undertake the fundamental research of ecological response to different flow regimes upon which management plans can be built.

Indicator protocols: Turbidity or total suspended solids (TSS) + flow

Suspended particulate matter in aquatic environments: turbidity/total suspended solids.

Human induced turbidity can result from a range of land management practices that increase sediment loads within streams. These include clearing of vegetation (particularly of riparian zones), excessive irrigation, and drainage which can lead to river bed and bank erosion, and increased soil erosion associated with rainfall run-off. While some Australian waters have naturally high turbidity, it remains important to monitor for changes in turbidity in these systems.

Indicator protocols: Total phosphorus + flow leaving a sub-catchment or whole catchment

Nutrients in aquatic environments: phosphorus.

Phosphorus is an essential element required by animals and plants and high levels of phosphorus can be an important contributor to eutrophication – especially in freshwater and estuarine systems. Symptoms of eutrophication may include algal blooms and seagrass decline. Phosphorus in aquatic systems is generally partitioned into particulate (organic and sediment-bound) and dissolved fractions. Dissolved phosphorus (measured as FRP) is found in the form of (more)...

Indicator protocols: Total nitrogen + flow leaving a sub-catchment or whole catchment

Nutrients in aquatic environments: nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential element required by animals and plants. However, high levels of nitrogen can also be an important contributor to eutrophication - especially in estuarine and marine waterways. Symptoms of eutrophication may include algal blooms and seagrass decline.

Indicator guidelines: extent and distribution of key habitat types

Estuarine, coastal and marine habitat extent and distribution

This document presents the recommended monitoring guidelines for collecting, collating and reporting information on the extent and distribution of key estuarine, coastal and marine habitat types for national, state/territory and regional application.

Vegetation and Inland Aquatic Ecosystems

Remote Sensing Information Products

The objective of this project was to investigate the use of long term satellite images to develop nationally consistent, interpreted data and information products to support reporting on the Natural Resource Management (NRM) programs National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework - Matters for Target. These include condition and trend products as well as providing baselines and contextual information for regional planning and target setting processes. This project (more)...

Freshwater ecosystems in major droughts: summary of existing research

Some information exists on the impact of drought on flowing waters, but little work has been done on the long-term impacts of drought in standing water, lakes and wetlands.

Rapid Appraisal of Riparian Condition (Version 2)

River and Riparian Land Management Technical Guideline Update No. 4A October 2005

The Rapid Appraisal of Riparian Condition (RARC) assesses the ecological condition of riparian habitats using indicators that reflect functional aspects of th