Comparative phylogeography and patterns of diversification in Amazonian fishes. I anticipate that this project will increase the research profile of Australia in the international scientific community by answering fundamental questions about the origin of biodiversity in the world's most diverse ecosystem, the lowland forests of central Amazonia. This will be achieved by analysing what will be the most comprehensive phylogeographic data set ever generated for Amazonian organisms. The project wil ....Comparative phylogeography and patterns of diversification in Amazonian fishes. I anticipate that this project will increase the research profile of Australia in the international scientific community by answering fundamental questions about the origin of biodiversity in the world's most diverse ecosystem, the lowland forests of central Amazonia. This will be achieved by analysing what will be the most comprehensive phylogeographic data set ever generated for Amazonian organisms. The project will provide information for comparing with patterns seen in the Australian wet tropics and will be inspirational for studies on population diversification of Australian fishes. Read moreRead less
Testing the Flood Pulse Concept for rivers with variable flow regimes. For floodplain rivers the major unifying conceptual model linking hydrology, biogeochemistry and ecology is the Flood Pulse Concept (FPC). The model is based on rivers that have a seasonally predictable and long duration inundation of floodplain habitats. Recent reviews of the FPC indicate that the model needs to be broadened to describe the function of rivers with more variable flow regimes. This project will test some of th ....Testing the Flood Pulse Concept for rivers with variable flow regimes. For floodplain rivers the major unifying conceptual model linking hydrology, biogeochemistry and ecology is the Flood Pulse Concept (FPC). The model is based on rivers that have a seasonally predictable and long duration inundation of floodplain habitats. Recent reviews of the FPC indicate that the model needs to be broadened to describe the function of rivers with more variable flow regimes. This project will test some of the predictions of the FPC for variable dryland rivers by investigating how food webs in the channels of a floodplain reach respond to flows of different magnitude, seasonal timing and duration.Read moreRead less
Complex system dynamics: restoring riparian and riverine ecosystems. Attempts to restore damaged ecosystems reveal inadequacies in theories describing ecosystem structure and function. For rivers, it is unclear whether theories relating to fluvial geomorphology and ecosystem dynamics are adequate to predict system trajectories following restoration. We will use empirical data on a degraded river to develop cross-scale models of system function, and predict ecosystem structure and dynamics follow ....Complex system dynamics: restoring riparian and riverine ecosystems. Attempts to restore damaged ecosystems reveal inadequacies in theories describing ecosystem structure and function. For rivers, it is unclear whether theories relating to fluvial geomorphology and ecosystem dynamics are adequate to predict system trajectories following restoration. We will use empirical data on a degraded river to develop cross-scale models of system function, and predict ecosystem structure and dynamics following restoration. Following revegetation of riparian habitats and replacement of large woody debris in in-stream habitats of the river, we will test theoretical predictions about changes to physical processes, biotic community assemblage rules and food webs to develop improved ecosystem-based restoration guidelines.Read moreRead less
Toad vs Toad: Innovative approaches to understand and control an invasive species. Understanding the ecology of an invasive pest species can be a powerful tool for developing control methods. Cane toads pose a major threat to Australian native species, and are spreading increasingly rapidly through the Australian tropics. Unfortunately, we still know very little about the biology of invasion-front populations of toads. This project will provide that understanding, and will explore new ideas a ....Toad vs Toad: Innovative approaches to understand and control an invasive species. Understanding the ecology of an invasive pest species can be a powerful tool for developing control methods. Cane toads pose a major threat to Australian native species, and are spreading increasingly rapidly through the Australian tropics. Unfortunately, we still know very little about the biology of invasion-front populations of toads. This project will provide that understanding, and will explore new ideas about ways to control toad populations. For example, if we can reduce the survival of feral animals by increasing the intensity of competition within their own popualtions rather than relying on effects of other species, we may be able to use the toads to control their own populations.Read moreRead less
Predicting the ecological impact of cane toads on native fauna of northwestern Australia. At current rates of spread, cane toads will invade the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia within a few years. We urgently need to be able to predict which native species will be at risk from toads, and which will be relatively unaffected either because they are not killed by toads, or because they can rapidly learn, or evolve, in ways that reduce this impact and thus allow population recovery. We ....Predicting the ecological impact of cane toads on native fauna of northwestern Australia. At current rates of spread, cane toads will invade the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia within a few years. We urgently need to be able to predict which native species will be at risk from toads, and which will be relatively unaffected either because they are not killed by toads, or because they can rapidly learn, or evolve, in ways that reduce this impact and thus allow population recovery. We will obtain these data by exposing native animals to toads and recording the results; and thus, can identify the most important priorities for conservation efforts.Read moreRead less
Establishing an ecological basis for stocking density of Australian bass in freshwaters: Experimental field tests of a general numerical model. Large numbers of the Australian public go fishing, particularly in rivers and impoundments. Angling in these waterways provides a strong source of income for rural and regional communities. The stocking of native fish to support inland angling also sustains much of the aquaculture industry in western NSW and Queensland. This study will develop an optimal ....Establishing an ecological basis for stocking density of Australian bass in freshwaters: Experimental field tests of a general numerical model. Large numbers of the Australian public go fishing, particularly in rivers and impoundments. Angling in these waterways provides a strong source of income for rural and regional communities. The stocking of native fish to support inland angling also sustains much of the aquaculture industry in western NSW and Queensland. This study will develop an optimal approach to stocking Australian bass which is relevant for other stocked freshwater species, and will allow stocking to be undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner. This will both enhance the outcome of investment of public funds in stocking, and enhance the recreational fishing experience that is so important to rural regional communities.Read moreRead less
Setting rehabilitation targets for regulated floodplain wetlands: linking system structure and function. Limited understanding of ecosystem processes in floodplain wetlands impedes adaptive management strategies for combating the decline in aquatic productivity and biodiversity. This project addresses three knowledge gaps critical for effective floodplain wetland management: 1) hierarchical spatial and temporal patterns of structural diversity; 2) correspondence between patterns of structural d ....Setting rehabilitation targets for regulated floodplain wetlands: linking system structure and function. Limited understanding of ecosystem processes in floodplain wetlands impedes adaptive management strategies for combating the decline in aquatic productivity and biodiversity. This project addresses three knowledge gaps critical for effective floodplain wetland management: 1) hierarchical spatial and temporal patterns of structural diversity; 2) correspondence between patterns of structural diversity, rates of system production, and food web structure, and 3) conceptual models of relationships between hydrologic regime and wetland structure and function. The project will improve understanding of the impacts of regulation on floodplain wetlands, contribute to adaptive management, and set rehabilitation targets for delivery of environmental flows for ecosystem sustainability.Read moreRead less
How does flow regulation affect food web linkages between juvenile and larval fish and aquatic invertebrates in a coastal river? River regulation to supply water for human demands has altered flow regimes in many Australian rivers. These changes in flow impact on native invertebrate and fish community composition. Environmental flow allocations seek to alleviate these impacts but managers are hampered by lack of data on the effects of flow on food web linkages, particularly for juvenile and lar ....How does flow regulation affect food web linkages between juvenile and larval fish and aquatic invertebrates in a coastal river? River regulation to supply water for human demands has altered flow regimes in many Australian rivers. These changes in flow impact on native invertebrate and fish community composition. Environmental flow allocations seek to alleviate these impacts but managers are hampered by lack of data on the effects of flow on food web linkages, particularly for juvenile and larval fish (JLF). We aim to compare food webs of invertebrates and JLF in six tributaries of the Hunter River, three of which are regulated, to determine how flow regulation changes trophic linkages. A flow release in one tributary will let us test the hypothesis that river regulation restricts food availability to JLF, reducing their viability, growth rates, and abundance.Read moreRead less
How effective are environmental flows? Novel approaches for monitoring and assessing ecological responses to large-scale flow alteration. Australia has begun a multi-billion dollar program to return water to stressed rivers as environmental flows. However, during times of unprecedented water scarcity, such an investment in the environment can be controversial because the ecological benefits of released water are mostly poorly understood. This project will demonstrate the effectiveness of environ ....How effective are environmental flows? Novel approaches for monitoring and assessing ecological responses to large-scale flow alteration. Australia has begun a multi-billion dollar program to return water to stressed rivers as environmental flows. However, during times of unprecedented water scarcity, such an investment in the environment can be controversial because the ecological benefits of released water are mostly poorly understood. This project will demonstrate the effectiveness of environmental flows, and promote greater understanding of the links between flow patterns and river health. The project will build upon existing knowledge to create a sound framework for planning, monitoring, and evaluation of environmental watering decisions across regional Australia, greatly improving our ability to sustainably manage rivers into the future.Read moreRead less
Developing strategies for rehabilitating floodgated coastal wetlands: linking wetland hydrology, vegetation dynamics and waterbird communities. Along the Australian eastern seaboard, historical installation of floodgates on coastal wetlands has altered the hydrology and biogeochemistry of these systems with subsequent deterioration in their ecological integrity. This project will investigate structural and functional links between hydrology, vegetation and threatened waterbirds in wetlands of t ....Developing strategies for rehabilitating floodgated coastal wetlands: linking wetland hydrology, vegetation dynamics and waterbird communities. Along the Australian eastern seaboard, historical installation of floodgates on coastal wetlands has altered the hydrology and biogeochemistry of these systems with subsequent deterioration in their ecological integrity. This project will investigate structural and functional links between hydrology, vegetation and threatened waterbirds in wetlands of the New South Wales north coast. We will develop GIS-based ecological models to identify how these links are spatially and temporally altered by floodgate manipulation. Our overarching aim is to develop scientifically-validated protocols for floodgate manipulations that will aid managers in conserving the ecological integrity of coastal floodplain wetlands.Read moreRead less