A paradigm shift for predictions of freshwater harmful cyanobacteria blooms. This project aims to advance model predictions to generate novel insights into the triggers of freshwater harmful cyanobacteria blooms. Current models are poorly adapted for this purpose because they fail to account for antecedent environmental forcing. The project is expected to create new knowledge of cyanobacteria dynamics from simulating the adaptive responses of individual cyanobacteria cells, colonies or filaments ....A paradigm shift for predictions of freshwater harmful cyanobacteria blooms. This project aims to advance model predictions to generate novel insights into the triggers of freshwater harmful cyanobacteria blooms. Current models are poorly adapted for this purpose because they fail to account for antecedent environmental forcing. The project is expected to create new knowledge of cyanobacteria dynamics from simulating the adaptive responses of individual cyanobacteria cells, colonies or filaments to temperature, light and nutrient history. Three field studies will be used to validate a new individual based model. The outcomes of this project will be valuable for managing freshwater ecosystems that are increasingly subject to blooms in a warming climate, and for testing suitable mitigation and control strategies.Read moreRead less
Transformations of catchment nutrients in southeast Queensland. Human activity in catchments throughout southeast Queensland has increased nutrient loads in receiving waters. However, until recently there has been a lack of accurate quantification of these loads, and little understanding of their role in stimulating algal blooms. This proposal will examine the links between catchment nutrient inputs to waterways, their transformations and effects on stimulating algal growth in freshwater systems ....Transformations of catchment nutrients in southeast Queensland. Human activity in catchments throughout southeast Queensland has increased nutrient loads in receiving waters. However, until recently there has been a lack of accurate quantification of these loads, and little understanding of their role in stimulating algal blooms. This proposal will examine the links between catchment nutrient inputs to waterways, their transformations and effects on stimulating algal growth in freshwater systems. The outcomes from this research will be information on how catchment nutrients are affecting water quality, thus providing a vehicle for targeting management strategies designed to reduce nutrient loads.Read moreRead less
Patterns of connectivity and hot-spots of recruitment: a basis for prioritising high value coastal rivers. Provision of water for agricultural, industrial and residential use is becoming increasingly difficult in Australia. By determining the need for important migratory fish species to have access to marine conditions, this project aims to assist managers to identify river systems where changing flow patterns will be particularly detrimental. The project will provide information about the ne ....Patterns of connectivity and hot-spots of recruitment: a basis for prioritising high value coastal rivers. Provision of water for agricultural, industrial and residential use is becoming increasingly difficult in Australia. By determining the need for important migratory fish species to have access to marine conditions, this project aims to assist managers to identify river systems where changing flow patterns will be particularly detrimental. The project will provide information about the need for artificial opening of estuary mouths, fish ladders and other practical means to ensure the continued survival of these species. Read moreRead less
Early warning of cyanobacteria blooms in drinking water reservoirs by means of evolutionary algorithms. Estimated economic cost of cyanobacteria blooms to Australia are at $150 million p.a. Early warning for cyanobacteria blooms will inform water managers to conduct preventive and operational control in reservoirs and water works, and significantly lower risks for public health and costs for monitoring and treatment. Resulting early warning systems will be novel prototypes for cyanobacteria bloo ....Early warning of cyanobacteria blooms in drinking water reservoirs by means of evolutionary algorithms. Estimated economic cost of cyanobacteria blooms to Australia are at $150 million p.a. Early warning for cyanobacteria blooms will inform water managers to conduct preventive and operational control in reservoirs and water works, and significantly lower risks for public health and costs for monitoring and treatment. Resulting early warning systems will be novel prototypes for cyanobacteria blooms in drinking water reservoirs based on forecasting models adaptable to environmental and climate change. Model-based scenario analysis will also assist in informed decisions on effects of drought, injection of recycled water and global warming to cyanobacteria growth.Read moreRead less
Forestry effects on headwater ecosystem health: a multi-catchment experiment. Most catchments in southern Australia have been logged historically. Increasingly, native forest harvesting occurs in regrowth or drier areas. Although foresters have empirical data on ecological effects of harvesting in pristine or wetter catchments, little exists for drier regrowth areas, hampering effective management to minimize impacts on stream ecosystem health. This project will supply ecological data on stre ....Forestry effects on headwater ecosystem health: a multi-catchment experiment. Most catchments in southern Australia have been logged historically. Increasingly, native forest harvesting occurs in regrowth or drier areas. Although foresters have empirical data on ecological effects of harvesting in pristine or wetter catchments, little exists for drier regrowth areas, hampering effective management to minimize impacts on stream ecosystem health. This project will supply ecological data on stream ecosystems to supplement 4 years of hydrological data collected by Forests NSW from 5 experimental catchments. Results will provide a firmer scientific basis for ecologically sustainable harvesting in this forest type, with flow-on benefits to our national economy, biodiversity, and environment.Read moreRead less
Spatial scale of influence of riparian and catchment land use on stream ecosystem health. Human activities at the landscape scale comprise one of the greatest threats to the ecological integrity of river ecosystems. Government and community groups across Australia are making significant efforts in riparian protection and rehabilitation in an attempt to improve the health of degraded waterways but are hampered in their goal to maximise the environmental gains for every dollar or unit effort inve ....Spatial scale of influence of riparian and catchment land use on stream ecosystem health. Human activities at the landscape scale comprise one of the greatest threats to the ecological integrity of river ecosystems. Government and community groups across Australia are making significant efforts in riparian protection and rehabilitation in an attempt to improve the health of degraded waterways but are hampered in their goal to maximise the environmental gains for every dollar or unit effort invested. The proposed research on understanding the spatial scale of influence of land use and the aggregative effects on stream ecosystems will provide a robust framework to assess various options and optimise benefits from management actions. Read moreRead less
Are nutrients the key driver in stimulating toxic algae in subtropical water reservoirs? This project aims to determine the key factors causing blooms of the toxic algae, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, which dominates many freshwater reservoirs throughout Queensland. Little is known of why blooms of this species occur. Without the development of this understanding and research capacity to tackle this issue in Queensland, the severity of the problem is likely to increase, putting ever-greater ....Are nutrients the key driver in stimulating toxic algae in subtropical water reservoirs? This project aims to determine the key factors causing blooms of the toxic algae, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, which dominates many freshwater reservoirs throughout Queensland. Little is known of why blooms of this species occur. Without the development of this understanding and research capacity to tackle this issue in Queensland, the severity of the problem is likely to increase, putting ever-greater pressure on drinking water supplies. The outcomes from this project would therefore be an increased capacity to predict blooms, and identification of management options for reducing the occurrence of blooms to ensure a cost-effective and safe water supply.Read moreRead less
Between a hot place & hypoxia: Quantifying fish-kill risk in inland rivers. Native fish populations in Australian ephemeral rivers are highly valued but are subject to widespread decline. During drought waterholes serve as critical refuges for native fish, however thermal extremes and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) have led to regular fish-kill events. Whilst we know the general conditions that lead to fish-kills, we do not have a clear understanding of why some species are more tolerant than others, ....Between a hot place & hypoxia: Quantifying fish-kill risk in inland rivers. Native fish populations in Australian ephemeral rivers are highly valued but are subject to widespread decline. During drought waterholes serve as critical refuges for native fish, however thermal extremes and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) have led to regular fish-kill events. Whilst we know the general conditions that lead to fish-kills, we do not have a clear understanding of why some species are more tolerant than others, or how we can help decision-makers anticipate fish-kill risks. This project will combine laboratory ecophysiology investigations and novel field monitoring techniques to develop a next-generation fish habitat model for stakeholders to use to assess fish-kill risks and plan for restoration. Read moreRead less
Environmental drivers for production of the toxin, cylindrospermopsin, by the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Water authorities spend significant resources to monitor and control algal blooms. A significant part of this is monitoring freshwater toxic algal blooms that can impact on drinking water and recreational uses. One of the difficulties in monitoring blooms is that the toxin content of individual species can vary considerably. It is unclear whether this is caused by changes ....Environmental drivers for production of the toxin, cylindrospermopsin, by the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Water authorities spend significant resources to monitor and control algal blooms. A significant part of this is monitoring freshwater toxic algal blooms that can impact on drinking water and recreational uses. One of the difficulties in monitoring blooms is that the toxin content of individual species can vary considerably. It is unclear whether this is caused by changes in environmental conditions, i.e. nutrient, light, temperature. This project would provide the link between environmental conditions and toxin production to improve the ability to predict and monitor toxin production.Read moreRead less
Predicting the Impact of Damming on the Endangered Mary River Turtle. Little is known about the effects of inland river alteration on the ecology of freshwater turtles, where river damming results in dramatic changes in river physical, chemical and biological characteristics. In Australia there are 446 large dams, necessary for hydro-electric power, navigation, flood control, irrigation and drinking water. Many of these rivers are inhabited by freshwater turtles, endemic to Australia, and this ....Predicting the Impact of Damming on the Endangered Mary River Turtle. Little is known about the effects of inland river alteration on the ecology of freshwater turtles, where river damming results in dramatic changes in river physical, chemical and biological characteristics. In Australia there are 446 large dams, necessary for hydro-electric power, navigation, flood control, irrigation and drinking water. Many of these rivers are inhabited by freshwater turtles, endemic to Australia, and this project will assess the impact of changes in habitat quality on the endangered Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus). The study comes at a timely opportunity, as proposed river damming will substantially alter the turtles' habitat, and its survival potential remains unknown.Read moreRead less