Murray-Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Food Webs Theme Research Report
Paul McInerney
Nick Bond
R. Keller Kopf
Rebecca Lester
Darren Ryder
Ross Thompson
Darren S. Baldwin
Kate Brandis
Gavin Butler
Romain Drouart
Lindsey Frost
Ben Gawne
Ivor Growns
Galen Holt
Wayne Koster
Ralph Mac Nally
Ashley Macqueen
Rob Rolls
Jason Thiem
Heather McGinness
Rochelle Petrie
Barbara Robson
Nikki Thurgate
Garth Watson
Brenton Zampatti
10.26181/5d2ebbb7afa48
https://opal.latrobe.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Murray-Darling_Basin_Environmental_Water_Knowledge_and_Research_Project_Food_Webs_Theme_Research_Report/8942120
The EWKR food web theme identified that the relationship between flow variability and the provision of resources for consumers at critical life stages was a key knowledge gap in the management of environmental flows. The first phase of the EWKR food web theme (the conceptualisation phase) reviewed existing conceptual models and empirical research to assess our current knowledge status and the knowledge gaps surrounding the influence of flow on lowland river food webs. This work generated three scientific manuscripts that identified a framework for monitoring the effects of hydrological regimes on food webs, evaluated a range of analytical methods suitable for their assessment and highlighted that consideration of food web-hydrology interactions will improve environmental flow planning.<br>Empirical research carried out within the EWKR food web theme set out to address knowledge gaps identified within the conceptualisation phase. This work was undertaken at three scales: 1) mesocosm (an outdoor experimental system that examines the natural environment under controlled conditions) 2) river and 3) basin. Mesocosm experiments showed that green algae are a key basal resource for consumers, providing a high-quality food source. Essential fatty acids were traced from green algae through Food Webs from invertebrates to fish. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) based Food Webs by contrast, provided the lowest invertebrate density, richness and lowest fish growth and survival.
2019-07-19 05:28:58
EWKR
environmental water assessment
environmental water delivery s
flooding events
habitat complexity
fatty acids
food webs, freshwater
environmental flows
hydrology
mesocosms
basal resource
Freshwater Ecology
Ecology
Ecosystem Function
Environmental Management
Environmental Science