Detecting ecological impacts of water extraction on river ecosystem structure and function: Validating a novel decision-making protocol. Reliable assessment of ecological responses to flow alteration coupled with management triggers to prevent unacceptable impact is essential in rivers where water extraction occurs. Most regulated rivers lack optimal monitoring programs to provide early indications of over-extraction. We aim to apply a novel framework (Downes et al. 2002) to optimize sampling ....Detecting ecological impacts of water extraction on river ecosystem structure and function: Validating a novel decision-making protocol. Reliable assessment of ecological responses to flow alteration coupled with management triggers to prevent unacceptable impact is essential in rivers where water extraction occurs. Most regulated rivers lack optimal monitoring programs to provide early indications of over-extraction. We aim to apply a novel framework (Downes et al. 2002) to optimize sampling efficiency of structural and functional variables to determine whether extractions from the Nymboida River, NSW, are preventing the system from achieving its desired ?target?. If validated, this innovative framework that specifies effect size, statistical power, and management triggers will be invaluable for common situations where pre-impact data are lacking.Read moreRead less
Mining, irrigation, and groundwater: Towards a reliable protocol for assessing the impacts of extraction on groundwater fauna and ecology. Groundwater fluctuations associated with mining and increased irrigation demands, potentially threaten many of Australia's unique groundwater invertebrates (stygofauna) with extinction. Stygofauna represent a hidden store of biodiversity and are thought to have a critical, but poorly understood, role in enhancing groundwater quality. Environmentally sustainab ....Mining, irrigation, and groundwater: Towards a reliable protocol for assessing the impacts of extraction on groundwater fauna and ecology. Groundwater fluctuations associated with mining and increased irrigation demands, potentially threaten many of Australia's unique groundwater invertebrates (stygofauna) with extinction. Stygofauna represent a hidden store of biodiversity and are thought to have a critical, but poorly understood, role in enhancing groundwater quality. Environmentally sustainable development of groundwater resources is hampered by a dearth of information on the ecological needs of stygofauna and how they respond to human-induced change. Using field and laboratory experiments, we aim to determine how water table fluctuations threaten stygofauna. From our results we will develop sampling and management protocols to monitor and protect stygofauna communities.Read moreRead less
The impact of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in sewage contaminated waters on aquatic biota and identification of the causative compounds. The project's aims are to determine a) the impact of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as contraceptive pills and detergents in sewage effluent on aquatic biota; and b) which EDCs contribute to the impact. This project will provide the first comprehensive assessment of whether EDCs are causing effects in rivers downstream of sewage treatment p ....The impact of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in sewage contaminated waters on aquatic biota and identification of the causative compounds. The project's aims are to determine a) the impact of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as contraceptive pills and detergents in sewage effluent on aquatic biota; and b) which EDCs contribute to the impact. This project will provide the first comprehensive assessment of whether EDCs are causing effects in rivers downstream of sewage treatment plants and will identify the chemicals responsible. New biological tests for detecting endocrine disruption will also be developed for research and commercial use. The findings will assist regulatory bodies and water service providers to develop appropriate legislative, management and technological strategies to minimise EDC impacts on ecosystem health.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
Salty gas: the ecological risk of saline effluents from coal seam gas and other hydrocarbon resources. The objective of this project is to predict the effect of saline water produced from coal and coal seam gas extraction activities on freshwater systems. The findings will assist decisions on whether to permit discharge of such waste water, and if permitted under what conditions (e.g. water quality criteria) so as to prevent environment damage.
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
Optimising seasonal decisions for environmental water use. This project will develop a tool to optimise the use of environmental water, drawing on seasonal forecasts of streamflow and water price, and predicted ecological responses to changing flows. This tool will strengthen the effectiveness of the government organisations responsible for managing Australia's environmental water reserves.
Impact of industrially based endocrine disrupting chemicals on aquatic biota. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a serious threat to aquatic organisms, livestock and humans. EDCs are present in water discharged from sewage treatment plants and in leachate from contaminated land. This project will determine the impact of EDCs from contaminated landfill on aquatic animals. It will also identify the chemicals responsible for biological impact by developing new bio-assays suitable for industr ....Impact of industrially based endocrine disrupting chemicals on aquatic biota. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a serious threat to aquatic organisms, livestock and humans. EDCs are present in water discharged from sewage treatment plants and in leachate from contaminated land. This project will determine the impact of EDCs from contaminated landfill on aquatic animals. It will also identify the chemicals responsible for biological impact by developing new bio-assays suitable for industrial, scientific and regulatory authority applications. This research has wide-ranging relevance and value to Australian State and Federal regulators and industries because of the ubiquity of sewage treatment plants and contaminated leachate from landfills.Read moreRead less
Use of effects-based bioassays to assess the endocrine disruption potential of advanced tertiary treated sewage effluent. Water reuse will become a major option to meet increasing water demand in Australia. However, the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater has been identified as a potential impediment for this practice. This project will use a combination of effects-based biological methods based on different levels of biological organisation, and chemical analysis to ....Use of effects-based bioassays to assess the endocrine disruption potential of advanced tertiary treated sewage effluent. Water reuse will become a major option to meet increasing water demand in Australia. However, the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater has been identified as a potential impediment for this practice. This project will use a combination of effects-based biological methods based on different levels of biological organisation, and chemical analysis to assess the efficacy of an advanced tertiary sewage treatment plant (ATSTP) to remove EDCs. The results will provide insights on 1. effects of mixtures of EDCs; 2. characterisation of risks of reuse of treated effluent; 3. optimisation of effluent treatment technologies to ensure industry competitiveness; and 4. developing sustainable plans to meet future water demand.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