Download 2013 and beyond - Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource

Postgraduate and Honours
research in Albany
2013 and beyond
UWA Centre of Excellence in
Natural Resource Management
Contact
Randall Jasper: 9842 0848; [email protected]
Research projects 2013
Supervisor
Topic
Description
Barbara Cook
Stock watering (troughs/
dams) refuges
Barbara Cook
Riverpools as “islands”
Barbara Cook
Calibrating EPT index for
detecting disturbance
gradients
Barbara Cook
Using Chironomidae
species as biological
indicators of
environmental
degradation in
southwestern Australia
Many waterways and wetlands in the Wheatbelt of
Western Australia have become salinised, mainly as a
consequence of past landclearing. The salinisation of
these systems would have led to major shifts in
aquatic invertebrate community composition, including
the loss of many freshwater species which are unable
to tolerate high salinities. These freshwater troughs
and dams are ‘islands’ of suitable habitat surrounded
by inhospitable environments, and are likely to be the
only refuges remaining for these obligate freshwater
species. This project will investigate the distribution of
aquatic invertebrates in stock watering troughs and
dams in the light of habitat size and degree of
isolation.
Pools in temporally-flowing rivers on the south coast
act as impact refugia for aquatic biota. Fauna in these
pools typically over-summers in these habitats to
reinvade other river reaches when flows recommence.
Consequently pools are the most important habitat in
non-permanent rivers. The spatial distribution of pools
is not well documented and pool characteristics (e.g.
size, water volume, water temperature, dissolved
oxygen) which underpin their values as refugia need to
be determined.
Biomonitoring has become a standard tool for
assessing the ‘health’ of rivers worldwide.
Macroinvertebrates are of particular interest, and the
use of mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera), stoneflies
(Plecoptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera) to create the
‘EPT’ index is well documented. Systematic sampling
of an array of waterways across the South Coast
Region has revealed that these animals are found in
the systems of the South Coast, but often at much
lower numbers than in the rivers of eastern Australia.
The aim of this project is to evaluate the responses of
the EPT index to environmental degradation in order to
assess whether this index can be used as an indicator
of waterway degradation in southwestern Australia.
Biomonitoring has become a standard tool for
assessing the ‘health’ of rivers worldwide.
Macroinvertebrates are of particular interest, and the
use of groups such as mayflies, stoneflies and
caddisflies is well documented. Systematic sampling
of an array of waterways across the South Coast
Region has shown chironomids to be one of the most
abundant macroinvertebrate groups in the region. The
aim of this project is to evaluate the responses of
Chironomidae species to environmental degradation in
order to assess their potential capacity as indicators of
waterway degradation in southwestern Australia.
Supervisor
Topic
Description
Barbara Cook
Sensitivity of
macroinvertebrates to
acidity
Barbara Cook
Distribution of
Gondwanan relicts
endemic to the Stirling
Ranges
Extensive networks of deep drains are being built in
Western Australia to reduce the effects of dryland
salinity on agricultural lands. Most of these drains
discharge into natural river and wetland systems, with
little consideration given to the environmental impacts.
Although invertebrate species richness will continue to
decline, and community composition will be simplified,
as streams become increasingly hypersaline, the most
significant impact from discharge waters from deep
drains is likely to be from the low pH of these waters.
As yet, limited research has been undertaken in
Australia on the sensitivity of invertebrates to pH. In
contrast, recent research has provided data on
‘threshold levels’ for salinity. Knowledge of such
threshold levels can be used to set acceptable targets
for the disposal and potential treatment of highly acidic
waters resulting from deep drainage. This project will
investigate pH tolerances of aquatic biota in order to
identify threshold levels associated with significant
changes in species richness and community
composition in Wheatbelt streams.
In addition to harbouring an amazing diverse flora,
south western Australia is also known for its high level
of faunal endemicity. Of particular interest is the
Gondwanan relictual fauna which is often very
restricted in distribution. Examples include the
phreatoicidean isopod Platypyga subpetrae, and the
crangonyctoidean amphipod Toulrabia willsi, both
restricted to the Stirling Ranges in Western Australia.
Concerned about future threats to these species, the
Department of Environment & Conservation (DEC)
intends to nominate these species for listing as rare
and endangered. This project aims to distinguish
patterns in the distribution of these species, and to
identify the environmental factors that most determine
the distribution patterns of these species, as well as
explore aspects of their population biology and
distribution patterns.
Craig Russell,
Centre for
Ecohydrology,
Albany
Application of liquid lime
with fertilizers to reduce
soil acidity
Application of liquid lime with fertilizers to reduce soil
acidity: reduced application rates; improved production
and efficiency.
Paul Close
Parasites in marine fish
Parasite infestation of fish in marine embayments
Paul Close
Marine fish nurseries
Paul Close
Marine fish assemblages
Paul Close
Importance of upstream
permanent refugia for
recolonisation of
ephemeral wetlands in a
tropical endorheic
system.
Paul Close
The potential use of
Passive Acoustic
Recording as an
innovative approach to
identify Mulloway,
Argyrosomus japonicas in
the Kalgan River
Paul Close
Early life history of night
fish, Bostockia porosa:
recruitment dynamics and
habitat requirements
Paul Close
Advection of larval fish
during aseasonal
breaching of estuarine
sandbars
The role of Albany’s harbours as nursery areas for
marine fish
Comparison of fish assemblages around newly
constructed breakwaters and natural rocky habitats in
marine embayments
This project would consider fish assemblage structure
in permanent riverine pools and the terminal wetlands
in the Parauku Catchment. Paraku is an inter anually
draining catchment in the Tanami desert which is an
important site for local aboriginal communities. The
project would work closely with local Indigenous
ranger groups and involve fieldwork in remote
locations in northern Western Australia. Potential
supervisors Prof. Paul Close and Rebecca Dobbs.
Animal vocalisation has been demonstrated as an
alternative method to track, or located, a variety of
animals including frogs, turtles and also fish. Mulloway
is a soniferous fish species and a recent study
demonstrated successful identification of the species
and potentially individual identity using Passive
Acoustic Recording (PAR) of vocalisation.
The aim of the project is to assess whether individual
fish can be identified based on unique vocalisations.
This project will involve fieldwork to collect PARs of
Mulloway vocalisations from the Kalgan River (Albany)
as well as analysis of these recordings using call
analysis software. Potential supervisors Prof. Paul
Close and Melanie Stock.
Night fish is relatively widespread and common small
bodied freshwater fish species of southwestern
Australia. Only limited information is available on the
biology of this species and knowledge of early life
history stages is particularly scarce. This project will
examine environmental influence on larval survival and
recruitment dynamics.
The south coast of western Australia is dominated by
relatively small estuaries that are isolated from the
ocean for variable periods of time (months to years).
The sandbar of many of these Intermittently open
estuaries is actively managed to control water levels
and prevent flooding of surrounding low lying
agricultural land and associated infrastructure. The
nature of marine connection with the estuary and its
influence on salinity concentrations strongly influences
the structure of fish assemblages. While the
importance of the seasonal timing and duration of
marine connection on recruitment of estuary
dependant marine species is well known, the influence
of these events on early life history stages of estuarine
fish species is less well understood. This project will
investigate whether larval fish are advocated from
estuarine habitats during both natural and artificial
breaching of sandbars in several south coast
estuaries.
Paul Close
Can Passive Acoustic
Recordings be used to
identify critical habitats of
Mulloway, Argyrosomus j
aponicus in the Kalgan
River?
Paul Close
Development of a
decision support tool for
managing the ecological,
social and economic
effects of sand bar
management in
intermittently open-closed
estuaries
Paul Close
Movement dynamics of
freshwater
cobbler, Tandanus
bostocki
The identification of critical habitats of iconic species
like the mulloway is essential for the management of
(their) aquatic habitats. Passive Acoustic Recording of
animal vocalisations is a non-invasive technique that
may be used to accurately locate individual fish.
Mulloway belong to the sciaenid family and are known
to use acoustic communication prior to spawning. The
species, and possibly individuals, have been
successfully identified during reproductive periods in
Mosman Bay, Swan River by recording
of vocalisation.This project will explore the use of PAR
to identify critical habitats of Mulloway in the Kalgan
River (Albany).
Many Intermittently temperate Australian estuaries,
particularly those located on Australia’s south coast,
have intermittent connection with the ocean. Strongly
seasonal river flows, high energy coastlines and small
tidal amplitude result in the establishment of sandbars
across estuary mouths. Many of these sandbars are
actively managed, primarily to maintain suitable water
levels in the estuary and avoid flooding of surrounding
agricultural and urban areas. Management of the
sandbar has important ecological implications and
represents a contentious issue for local communities
through its combined impacts on local social and
economic values. This project would investigate the
application of Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN’s) as
decision support tools for management of the Wilson
Inlet sandbar. The project would rely on substantial
existing data on water quality, fish assemblages, water
levels, seagrass and historical artificial breaching to
construct a quantitative BBN to predict the effects of
sand bar management options on local estuarine
values.
Freshwater cobbler are the largest freshwater fish in
South-western Australia. Evidence suggest that this
species moves within river systems, however the
reasons behind these movements is poorly
understood, as is their spatial extent. This project
will investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of
movement in the Blackwood River (south-western
Australia) using acoustic telemetry techniques. The
project will involve field sampling to collect adult and
juvenile fish for the tracking study, surgical
implantation of acoustic transmitters, and the
deployment/download of acoustic receivers.
Paul Close
Impact of river regulation
on river-floodplain
connectivity and
associated ecological
values in a large tropical
river
Paul Close
The effectiveness of a
fisheries exclusion zone
for management of
Estuary Cobbler,
Cnidoglanis
macrocephalus in Wilson
Inlet, Western Australia
Peter Davies
Island biogeography
(South Coast islands)
Peter Davies
Off-reserve biodiversity
(aquatic/ terrestrial)
Lake Argyle and the Kununurra Diversion Dam have
substantially altered natural river flows in the lower
reaches of the Kimberley’s Ord River and
consequently hydrological connectivity between the
river and Parry’s Lagoons. Connectivity between the
river and floodplain is a critical aspect of the ecology of
tropical river systems. This project would use
hydrological modelling techniques to investigate
dynamics of connectivity before and after river
regulation based on modelled natural flows and
current stream flow data. Based on results of the
modelling, potential ecological impacts of river
regulation will be identified based on known ecology of
key species and communities.
Wilson Inlet is the last remaining commercial fishery
for Estuary Cobbler in WA, since those in the SwanCanning, Peel-Harvey and Leschenault Estuaries have
rapidly declined. A range of fishery management
measures and environmental factors may have
contributed to this ongoing sustainability, including a
Fishery Exclusion Zone (FEZ) implemented to protect
other commercial species. This project will: determine
use of habitats within the FEZ by adult and juvenile life
stages; establish the effectiveness of the FEZ in
contributing to the sustainable management of the
fishery; identify other important habitats for adult and
juvenile stages outside of the FEZ; and determine
environmental influence on habitat use, including
those associated with the FEZ.
The south coast near Albany has many islands,
ranging in size from small islands supporting only
seabirds and small reptiles (Green Island) to large
islands supporting two mammal species (Bald Island).
These islands also range in distance to the mainland.
The project will examine the biodiversity of several of
the south coast islands in relation to island size and
distance from coast and, as such, test current theories
on island biogeography.
National Parks and Nature Reserves in Western
Australia are designed to protect biodiversity and
ecosystems by being comprehensive, adequate and
representative. However, there is considerable
biodiversity outside of this reserve system. This project
will assess freshwater biodiversity in a range of offreserve waterbodies including farm dams and
wetlands in agricultural landscapes. Measurements of
other parameters including water quality, catchment
condition, land use and isolation would be used to
enable predictions about what processes underpins
off-reserve biodiversity. This relationship could be
used to guide future conservation activities and for
ecosystems linkages, where to focus land purchases
etc.
Steve Hopper
Steve Hopper
Steve Hopper
Understanding rarity,
endemism and local
dispersal in Conostylis or
the kangaroo paws
(Anigozanthos:
Haemodoraceae) on
OCBILS (old, climatically
buffered, infertile
landscapes - Hopper
2009 Plant & Soil 322:
49–86)
Biological specialization
and restoration of
herbfields on old,
climatically-buffered,
infertile landscapes of
granite outcrops.
The James Effect tested
in eucalypts on OCBILs
(old, climatically buffered,
infertile landscapes Hopper 2009 Plant & Soil
322: 49–86).
Steve Hopper
Conservation,
ethnobotany and land
management on OCBILs.
Steve Hopper
Accentuated persistence
of old herbaceous
lineages in the Southwest
Australian Floristic
Region.
Steve Hopper
The Semiarid Cradle
hypothesis tested with
Haemodoraceae and
eucalypts.
The occurrence of narrow range endemic rare plants
and animals is a feature of the Southwest Australian
Floristic Region, which has more threatened species
than most places on Earth. This project aims to devise
and implement research that will test hypotheses
explaining this globally significant phenomenon.
Can weed invasion be reversed on granite outcrops
herbfields? What are the biophysical thresholds that
need to be overcome. This project will address such
fundamental questions and conduct experiments that
advance knowledge of how best to care for such
important island-like habitats.
High numbers of localised rare endemics and strongly
differentiated population systems characterise the
Southwest Australian Floristic Region. To counter such
natural fragmentation and inbreeding due to small
population size, ecological, cytogenetic and genetic
mechanisms selecting for the retention of
heterozygosity should feature (the James Effect). This
project will test for evidence of the James Effect in
eucalypts, focussing on the bird-pollinated granite
outcrop endemic Eucalyptus caesia and other species
confined to this habitat.
What are the merits for conservation of understanding
Noongar perspectives on plant life in the Southwest
Australian Floristic Region? This project will promote
cross-cultural awareness and involve working under
the direction of elders and academics. It will involve
devising a tractable hypothesis to test and subsequent
investigations to furnish pertinent evidence.
Molecular phylogenetics demonstrates that there are
several groups of southwest Australian plants that
have evolved in the region over tens of millions of
years, e.g. Dasypogonales, Cephalotaceae,
Emblingiaceae, Eremosynanceae, Ecdeiocoleaceae,
Anarthriaceae, Haemodoraceae subfamily
Conostylidoideae. This project will search for attributes
of such old plant lineages that might explain their
accentuated persistence, and enlighten efforts to
ensure conservation.
Why are there more species of kangaroo paws
(Anigozanthos), Conostylis, Eucalyptus and other plant
genera in semiarid habitats of the Southwest
Australian Floristic Region than in the adjacent forests
of arid zone? This project will involve identifying a
model group to study and devising a project that
enables the testing of the Semiarid Cradle Hypothesis.
Peter
Speldewinde
Evaluating effectiveness
of weed control (feral
animal control)
Peter
Speldewinde
Animal behaviour around
traps
Peter
Speldewinde
Mammal use of StirlingPorongorup wildlife
corridors
Peter
Speldewinde
Trapdoor spiders:
distribution and biology
Peter
Speldewinde
Impacts of restoration of
saline land on insect
diversity
Peter
Speldewinde,
Paul Close
Climate change impact
on native fish
(temperature sensitivity)
Considerable funds have been expended controlling
weeds and/or feral animals. Without appropriate
evaluation it has remained difficult to determine the
success (or otherwise) of these programs.
Cage, Elliot and pit traps are common methods of
trapping mammals world wide, but it is well known that
some species are easier to trap than others. So does
the standard four nights of trapping really tell you what
mammal species are present? This study will use
night vision cameras to survey mammals on the south
coast; the same area will then be resurveyed using
conventional techniques to determine if camera
surveys detect more mammal species than
conventional techniques.
The project could
alternatively examine the behaviour of mammals
approaching traps, using cameras to determine the
ratio of animals captured to the number of animals
approaching the traps.
Wildlife corridors are being used as a means of
species conservation. Currently, a corridor is being
constructed between the Stirling and Porongurup
Ranges; the question is does wildlife actually use the
corridor? This study will use remote cameras and
trapping to monitor fauna movements to determine if
the presence of a wildlife corridor actually facilitates
animal movement between the two ranges.
The endangered Stirling Range Trapdoor Spider,
Moggridgea sp., is restricted to certain areas of the
Stirling Range. This study will determine significant
habitat conditions for predicting the abundance and
distribution of the endangered Stirling Range Trapdoor
Spider: Moggridgea sp., at both the local and regional
scale. Predictions for the future distribution of the
species under different climate change scenarios can
then be made.
One of the aims of restoration is to increase or protect
biodiversity. This study examines the diversity of
insects collected at a number of sites, unrestored,
undergoing restoration and remnant vegetation.
South-western Australia fish assemblages are
characterized by a high level of endemism and are
therefore of significant conservation value. Increases
in water temperature and salinity resulting from climate
change and catchment disturbance represent a
significant risk to these fish assemblages. Many of the
regions endemic fish species have already exhibited
substantial reductions in historical range that have
been attributed to these effects. Management of
climate change effects on the regions aquatic biota is
constrained by limited knowledge on the tolerance of
native freshwater fish to salinity and temperature rises
associated with climate change. This project will
determine salinity related preferences and tolerance
thresholds for water temperature of key freshwater fish
species. The project will involve field collection of
experimental fish and aquaria based experiments to
determine salinity related temperature thresholds.