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Infrastructure modifies movement of seeds drifting in lowland rivers

Version 3 2020-09-01, 23:59
Version 2 2020-05-01, 10:58
Version 1 2019-07-08, 04:07
presentation
posted on 2020-05-01, 10:58 authored by Daryl Nielsen, Rebecca DurantRebecca Durant, Centre for Freshwater EcosystemsCentre for Freshwater Ecosystems

MMCP Collaboration (MMCP) is a project supported by the Joint State Governments and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to generate and adopt freshwater ecological knowledge through collaboration, to maintain research capability and contribute supporting science to underpin the Basin-Wide Watering Strategy


Conference paper presented at the Australian Society for Limnology Conference, University of Technology Sydney, 24-28 September 2017.


The unimpeded movement of seeds and other propagules within riverine networks is believed to be important in maintaining regional diversity. Changes in flow regimes, or hydrological connectivity, are therefore likely to significantly impact the distribution of aquatic and riparian plants. Changed connectivity may occur through the disconnection of components of the landscape caused by changes in flow regime, construction of barriers that physically impede dispersal, and the physical removal of riparian plants. In this study we investigate the influence that the use of infrastructure (pumps/levees) have on the movement of seeds from the Murray River into adjoining wetlands. Results demonstrate that pumping of water into wetlands appears to have filtering effect with less seeds entering the wetland compared to what is present in the main river channel.

History

Collaborating Institutions

La Trobe University; CSIRO

Research Contact

Daryl Nielsen - daryl.nielsen@csiro.au