Contents

Vision, mission, objectives ...... 2 Foreword by Dr John Langford, Board Chairman ...... 3 Chief Executive’s overview ...... 4 1. Structure and management ...... 8 Transitional arrangements...... 9 2. Research ...... 11 A: Flow related ecosystem processes...... 11 B: Restoration ecology ...... 13 C: Conservation ecology ...... 14 D: Water quality and ecological assessment ...... 16 Core and associated projects, 2003–2004 ...... 17 Research outcomes, A–D ...... 17, 18–24 3. Education and training ...... 25 Postgraduate students ...... 25 Water industry professionals ...... 27 Undergraduate education ...... 28 Community, Schools ...... 28 Listing of postgraduate students ...... 28, 29–31 4. Collaboration and Knowledge exchange ...... 32 Collaborative linkages between CRCFE partners ...... 32 External collaborative linkages ...... 32 International linkages ...... 32 Knowledge exchange ...... 33 Scientific and public communication ...... 33 Highlights of the knowledge exchange program ...... 34 Table of knowledge exchange with end-users 2004–2005 ...... 36, 37–40 5. Operations and Staff matters ...... 41 Cooperative Research Centre for Awards ...... 41 Freshwater Ecology 6. Performance indicators ...... 43 Established and supported under 7. Publications and presentations ...... 50 the Australian Government’s Books, chapters in books ...... 50 Cooperative Research Centres Programme Refereed journal articles ...... 51 Non-refereed publications ...... 54 Annual Report Consultancy and technical reports ...... 55 Software ...... 56 Papers in conference proceedings ...... 57 2004–2005 Presentations, public and conference ...... 58

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 1 Cooperative Research Centre The Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology for Freshwater Ecology is a collaborative venture between: ACTEW Corporation CSIRO Land and Water Vision management decisions and actions and address key management issues Department of Infrastructure, Planning The Cooperative Research Centre for facing Australia’s water industry.· and Natural Resources, NSW Freshwater Ecology exists to improve the Department of Natural Resources 8 condition of Australia’s inland waters. To increase the capacity of Australia’s and Mines, Queensland water industry to predict the ecological consequences of management Department of Sustainability Mission actions. and Environment, Victoria

The Cooperative Research Centre for 8 To produce methods and tools for Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Freshwater Ecology provides ecological assessing ecological conditions, to Conservation, South Australia understanding to improve and protect assist water managers to measure the Environment ACT Australia’s inland waters by collaborative effects of their actions. research, education, resource manage- Environment Protection Authority, NSW ment, policy advice and community 8 To contribute an ecological perspective Environmental Protection Authority, Victoria liaison. to policy debates within the water industry.· Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Authority Griffith University Objectives 8 To maintain international linkages so our work is known internationally and 8 To deliver high quality scientific La Trobe University to ensure our science is at the best research that contributes to the Lower Murray Urban & Rural Water Authority possible standard. understanding of the ecology of Melbourne Water aquatic ecosystems. With in-depth 8 To provide ongoing professional understanding, it is possible to predict education to build up a capacity within Monash University how aquatic ecosystems react to the water industry to understand Murray-Darling Basin Commission different scenarios. ecological issues. Sydney Catchment Authority 8 To develop and test ecological theory, 8 To provide high quality postgraduate The University of Adelaide through our research program. education and experiences that equip graduates with skills and knowledge University of Canberra 8 To provide knowledge of the principles appropriate to industry needs. of ecology, so they can underpin

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 2 been the most effective forums I have innovation that Peter Cullen personally organisation, with a new team taking it into Foreword seen for interstate collaboration on drove, and it has been expanded in recent the future, and a new Chairman — Don water. They achieved a consensus years by Gary Jones. There is little point Blackmore. It is exciting to be writing the last among professionals across river in doing good science and leaving it My thanks go to Gary Jones and Peter Foreword for an annual report for the management bodies of the states and unpublished, or in publishing it only in Cullen, the senior management team, my CRC for Freshwater Ecology (CRCFE). the Murray-Darling Basin Commission in scientific journals that few managers read. fellow members of the Board, our industry The excitement comes from knowing support of good science being done well. The knowledge brokers have been very personnel, and all the staff who have been that the work of the CRCFE is not over, important in establishing dynamic two-way The CRCFE has been able to connect a part of the CRC for Freshwater Ecology even though the CRC ceased operations communication between river managers range of science-streams to build a since it began in July 1993, for these as at 30 June. Instead, the ecological and researchers, to get the science to the picture of the ecology and ecological productive and memorable years. know-how that has been accumulated is managers and provide input to planning of condition of river systems — the river, now part of the strong foundation from research portfolios. floodplains and wetlands. We have learnt I wish the new CRC and its teams the which the eWater CRC is emerging. an enormous amount about the The CRC for Freshwater Ecology has been highest success. Water is a Z to A issue: if there is plenty behaviour of river systems and the remarkably successful in stimulating of water about nobody worries about it. factors that potentially make them collaborative research in ecology and Professor John Langford AM When there’s no water about, or it is healthy or unhealthy. That is a really making good use of it. The collaborative Chairman of the Board flooding through houses, or it does not good platform for the eWater CRC as it culture has extended right from the Board CRC for Freshwater Ecology appear when the tap is turned on, water moves into predictive work. members to the teams on the floodplains does not just go up the alphabet of and in the labs, and a major result has There have also been almost 100 PhD issues incrementally, it shoots from Z to A been that the whole collective research graduates coming out of the two periods because people realise how fundamental effort has been greater than the sum of the of the CRCFE. Those bright individuals it is to their lives. If you are thinking parts by quite a degree. have received an education, done some ahead when water is a non-issue (‘Z’), research on a river system and been The vision for the CRCFE was to really you can be ready to act and take the connected with industry or river make a difference to the condition of rivers. opportunities that arise when water managers. They have been working on There’s now a far greater awareness of the issues become ‘A’. So, the CRCFE, problems that are really going to make a environmental consequences of human being in the right place at the right time, difference to the water industry. Coming activities in rivers, and the potential and ably led first by Professor Peter from a multi-university and a harmful effects and the potential solutions, Cullen and latterly by Professor Gary multidisciplinary environment of river than there ever was before. If the CRC for Jones, has been able to capture interest managers and academics, these PhD Freshwater Ecology had not existed I think and attract funding to support its vision graduates are a cohort for the future and there’d be a very different water debate of improving the condition of Australia’s I see them as a very, very important going on. inland waters. output of this CRC. Having chaired the Boards of both the Having Victoria, New South Wales, Putting knowledge brokers — people CRCs for Freshwater Ecology and Queensland and the ACT as early who understood research — into the Catchment Hydrology from start to finish, I partners in the CRCFE allowed it to operating agencies so you could get figure, like many politicians and cricketers, present a wide view, augmented in later practical two-way communication that it is better to get out while you are still years when South Australia joined as between CRC scientists and the people hitting the ball in the middle of the bat. The well. The CRCFE and the CRC for in the water management agencies, was eWater CRC, though derived from both Catchment Hydrology have together very effective. This was a very strong those CRCs, is a very different-looking

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 3 the ‘natural’ river it was before European applied biological assessment methods Chief Executive’s settlement. based on fish, algae, macroinvertebrates overview and rates of key ecological processes. Of Environmental flows are now a central these, macroinvertebrate methods have facet of the management of healthy been the most widely applied so far, via The CRC for Freshwater Ecology (CRCFE) working rivers, and we can trace CRCFE the ‘AUSRIVAS’ method for river set out in 1993, under the leadership of its ‘footsteps’ through a progression of assessment, which the CRCFE helped Chairman John Langford and my environmental flow initiatives over the last develop as part of the National River Health predecessor Professor Peter Cullen, to decade. Working with and through our Program. help improve the health of Australia’s state government partners, we have inland rivers and wetlands. As we close defined the ways in which river The CRCFE’s work in Australia mirrored a the doors of CRCFE and open those of the ecosystems respond to altered flow world-wide trend throughout the 1990s new eWater CRC, I am confident in saying regimes. Consequently, we now have clear moving from a reliance on chemical that in its 12-year history the CRCFE has evidence that flow is a key driver of measurements to define river condition, to helped make a real difference to the ecological condition and water quality in a broader approach that includes the effective management of the Australian rivers and floodplain wetlands. Mind you, health and condition of plants and animals water environment. there is still much to learn, as it was not that live in rivers and wetlands, and direct possible, even in 12 years, to study in measurements of important ecosystem The CRCFE’s research activities in four detail the responses to flow of more than a processes such as photosynthesis and states and the ACT have produced robust comparatively small group of fish, plants respiration. scientific knowledge and advice to help and invertebrates as well as key water pave the road towards numerous and quality parameters. CRCFE staff have also been integral to the widespread policy developments and writing of the revised national water quality changed attitudes in river management. In Freshwater ecology must become a truly and water-quality monitoring guidelines. particular, we have helped to elucidate and ‘predictive’ science if it is to continue to And the Murray-Darling Basin communicate the fundamental importance provide useful information for waterway Commission’s Sustainable Rivers Audit is of ecological health in ensuring the long- managers and for the community in the based on conceptual frameworks the term sustainable use of Australian rivers. new century. One of the central objectives CRCFE helped develop. of the new eWater CRC is to ensure that We have identified measures and the individual ecological relationships Throughout its life, the CRCFE has studied indicators of river ‘health’, developed quantified by CRCFE scientists are the ecology of all kinds of rivers and monitoring and assessment programs, and integrated into user-friendly, whole-of-river- waterbodies across a wide range of explored the factors causing a loss of system predictive models. We have much geographic and climatic zones — from the ‘health’ in rivers, as well as ways of to learn from our CRC for Catchment cool, temperate rivers of southern Victoria rehabilitating them. We have deepened the Hydrology colleagues in this respect, and I to the tropical and arid zone rivers of general understanding of freshwater am very optimistic that we will achieve this Queensland and the Northern Territory. ecosystems and their functional end, working together in the eWater CRC Especially in the highly flow-variable rivers components, as well as contributing to the over the next seven years. of the arid zone we now know that it is concept of the ‘healthy working river’ — a very important to protect not only habitats river that is providing adequately for both Biological methods for measuring water that organisms use under normal economic and ecological needs even quality have become a practical tool for conditions, but also refuge habitats — though it is not in the same condition as scientists and managers alike during the such as billabongs, waterholes and river- life of CRCFE. We have developed and bed pools — that can outlast long dry

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 4 periods. Without these refuge habitats, migrations (or not), predator–prey ‘basket cases’ by many, ecologists freshwater biodiversity is less likely to be relationships in fish refuges, and the included! maintained throughout climatic extremes, factors such as salinity and cold water especially during prolonged drought. pollution affecting the recruitment process This pioneering work by staff of both the in native fish species. CRCFE and the CRC for Catchment Our scientists have also shown that in Hydrology at Monash University, follows helping to rehabilitate degraded rivers, it is CRCFE Mk I (1993–1998) had a major the strong leadership already given in not enough just to restore habitats and research program on the ecology and urban water rehabilitation by the CRCFE in refuges. Organisms will not necessarily control of toxic algal (cyanobacterial) ACT; for example, guidelines for integrated reoccupy their former habitats if factors blooms. The Chaffey Dam study led by land and water management, and undermining ecological condition, from CSIRO and MDFRC was one of the first stormwater pollution control via wetlands upstream or elsewhere in the catchment very detailed studies of the efficacy of and ponds. (such as poor flow regime or water quality) artificial mixing to control algal blooms in are still active. Australia. Similar work on the We have been fortunate to have a number Murrumbidgee River found that flow could of high-profile freshwater ecologists leading Measuring biodiversity has been just as potentially be manipulated to minimise teams within the CRCFE, and they have important for us as protecting it. Via the temperature stratification in weir pools also played important roles on influential Murray-Darling Freshwater Research and, hence, reduce the frequency and advisory committees and expert panels Centre (MDFRC), the CRCFE has severity of blooms. across the water industry. Their influence developed around 50 taxonomic on the industry has been supported by the identification (ID) guides to numerous Understanding of the ecology and path- CRC structure, through which our invertebrates and larval fish. At the same ways to restoration in urban waterways scientists have been able to exchange time, researchers at Griffith University have has been greatly advanced during the life information directly with partner agencies adopted molecular genetic approaches in of CRCFE. Rigorous studies in and authorities who are the day-to-day their taxonomic studies and already that Melbourne’s streams have clarified the managers and controllers of inland research is providing valuable advice for factors that lead to ecological decline of waterways across eastern Australia. the management of waterways and in urban streams, showing that it is run-off particular for projects where inter-basin from impermeable surfaces that are We have also at all times encouraged our water transfers or re-colonisation by rare directly connected to the streams by researchers to communicate our science and endangered species are being drainage pipes or channels that causes and learnings to members of the public contemplated. the ecological damage, largely via the and to regional communities potentially frequent inputs of stormwater, coming even affected by changes to river operations and Fish researchers in the CRCFE have from small rain events. A quantitative management. The CRCFE’s Knowledge demonstrated the valuable outcomes relationship has been developed between Exchange program has boosted the obtained from the construction of proper this ‘effective imperviousness’ of the urban effectiveness of that interaction even fishways in rivers of the Murray-Darling catchment and the waterway ecological further. Since Peter Cullen initiated the Basin and along the east coast, monitored health. This is proving to be a powerful tool program, knowledge brokers have been and reported on threatened fish species, for urban planners and managers. It stationed in Albury-Wodonga, Mildura, and developed habitat rehabilitation provides clear direction on the way urban Goondiwindi, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne strategies for those and other fish species. sub-divisions and drainage networks can and Canberra, where they have been on- Also there is now far better understanding be designed to meet their intended task the-spot contacts, collecting information of carp control, factors affecting the (flood control) while improving the health of from their local scientists as an input to numbers of fish in a river and their urban streams, previously considered management solutions being developed

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 5 locally and elsewhere. Knowledge brokers of them are now in water management management. As well as undertaking Special ‘Life-time’ Achievement Awards are scientists with a penchant for agencies around the country and project planning, the second half of 2005 were also presented to Peter Cullen, Barry communications and for seeing the overseas. We have augmented traditional — officially the first six months of eWater Hart, Ben Gawne and John Langford, in adoption of scientific knowledge by the academic training, provided to students by CRC — has provided our staff with time to recognition of their outstanding water industry and the public. In taking on our university partners, with short courses publish results from their CRCFE research contributions to the CRCFE. the role, they leave the day to day life of a in project management, public speaking, projects, and also for them to work with scientific researcher behind, but can bring and media communications. We have also our industry partners on the application of As always, our staff and associates have those skills and experiences to a broader encouraged students to work in multi- their CRCFE findings in real-world received a number of external awards and communications and outreach job. disciplinary, cross-agency research teams management situations. honours this year. Our congratulations go Importantly we have ensured they learn so they are exposed to the practical to John Langford who was made a and acquire the skills needed to have the realities of river and waterway 2005 has also been a time to celebrate the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in right conversation with both industry management from early in their careers. contributions of key members of staff to the Queen’s Birthday Honours, ‘for service practitioners and scientific researchers, Consequently, our students have remained the success of the CRC. At the final to water resource management, brokering productive interaction between in high demand by water industry Annual Meeting of the CRC for Freshwater particularly through organisations that people in previously separate fields of employers throughout the life of the CRC Ecology in June 2005, I was pleased to regulate and research water supply, quality work. Without doubt, significant and many are now working with water present special CRC awards to: and usage’. We also proudly congratulate management outcomes have followed, and resources management agencies across · David Crook, Alistar Robertson and Peter Cullen on being awarded the other organisations in Australia have taken Australia. I can say that this is a big and Alison King (also a student) for Best prestigious ‘Einar Naumann–August up the knowledge broker concept initiated important change from my days as a Published Paper with a CRCFE Thienemann’ Medal by the Societas by the CRCFE. young postgraduate where the thought of Postgraduate Student as Lead Author; Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL), for exemplary scientific leadership and taking up a job in a government · Paul Humphries, Alison King and John Additionally, we have, in recent years, extraordinary efforts to communicate management authority was the last thing Koehn for Best Published Paper with a adopted a policy of ‘advice not advocacy’ complex limnological and water resources on my mind! CRCFE Scientist as Lead Author; in matters relating to the input of science issues to colleagues and decision-makers. to public debates on water resources Since news of the success of the eWater · Chris Walsh and colleagues for Best management. It is my strong view that, as CRC bid in Christmas 2004, the CRCFE Multidisciplinary Team Research In December, Professor Sam Lake a taxpayer-funded organisation, we must has focused solidly on completing its Project; (Monash University) was awarded one of fairly undertake and represent science in project responsibilities within six years · Rhonda Sinclair for Best Support three inaugural Senior Research the interests of the entire Australian rather than seven (it is the nature of CRC Person; and Fellowships by Land and Water Australia. The award allows Sam to concentrate on a community, not just sub-sections of it. transitions that year-7 funding of the old · Richard Norris and Ian Prosser for review of ways in which drought affects CRC gets rolled into year-1 of the new). Best Knowledge Exchange Activity or The CRCFE’s education, training and freshwater ecosystems. I thank him for all 2004 has therefore been a transitional year Project community-based activities have for our staff, firstly being required to finish his wise words to us as a leading All these awards covered achievements contributed to increasing awareness of the CRCFE projects by June 2005. I am very researcher and then as Chief Ecologist of over the 12-year life of the CRC and all the trade-offs required for healthy working pleased to say that all project teams took CRCFE since 1993. Professor Richard awardees should be very proud of the work rivers. Freshwater schools, training to this task without complaint and have Norris (University of Canberra) and his for which they have been recognised. courses — both face-to-face and online — completed the required work on time. Most research team were awarded one of two (Indeed, over its life the CRCFE’s staff and workshops for management personnel of CRCFE’s researchers are by now part of Vice-Chancellor’s Distinction Awards for have published approximately 610 refereed have helped to spread the messages new multi-disciplinary teams and well into Creativity and Innovation in Research and journal papers, 180 books and book arising from our research. We have also the planning of new projects that fit into Enterprise, at the University of Canberra. chapters, and 420 technical and helped to train almost 100 post-graduate the eWater CRC vision for integrated water Their innovative studies on the Cotter River, students in freshwater ecology, and many consultancy reports.) ACT, before and since the 2003 bushfires,

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 6 have supported active adaptive manage- Professor Stuart Bunn was invited to join leaders, our knowledge brokers, our vital ment by Canberra’s water managers, to the inaugural Scientific Steering support staff, and the members of the the benefit of the environment and the Committee of the Global Water Systems Board for all their contributions over not Canberra community. Craig Boys Project (a joint project of DIVERSITAS, the just the last 12 months but also the last (University of Canberra) has won the John International Geosphere-Biosphere 12 years. And special thanks to the Holliday Student Conservation Award, Program, the International Human University of Canberra for its financial and presented annually by NSW Fisheries, Dimensions Program and the World practical support for the CRC headquarters part of the NSW Department of Primary Climate Research Program under the and office of the Chief Executive Industries. We have just heard that Mark auspices of the Earth System Science throughout the CRC’s life. Kennard and Angela Arthington have, with Partnership), and Dr Will Osborne Brad Pusey, all of Griffith University, won (University of Canberra) has been Finally, in closing this last Chief the much-sought-after Whitley Award for appointed as Chair of the ACT Flora and Executive’s report, I would like to zoological publishing, from the Royal Fauna Committee. personally thank two people who have not Zoological Society of NSW, for their only been central to the success of the recently published book Freshwater Fishes Congratulations to you all for your CRCFE but have supported me in of North-eastern Australia. outstanding achievements! We are becoming Chief Executive and functioning fortunate that nearly all of you are now part in that role: former Chief Executive, Peter Also, Mark Carey (MDFRC summer of the eWater CRC. Cullen, for his leadership, mentoring and scholarship student) was awarded the friendship; and John Langford, the North-east CMA Prize at the Annual We were sorry, early in 2005, to see the CRCFE’s one and only Chairman, for his Presentation of Awards and Prizes departure of Associate Professor Gerry wise and patient leadership and counsel. Ceremony at La Trobe University in July Quinn, who had been with CRCFE since 2004. Tim Page (Griffith University) won 1993. However, we all congratulated him Forward — to the eWater CRC! Best Student paper at the Australian on being appointed the Professor of Marine Society for Limnology’s 43rd Annual Science at Deakin University. And, after almost 10 years with the MDFRC (Albury) Congress, Adelaide, in November– Professor Gary Jones December 2004. Ben Smith (University of and the CRCFE, one of our key Adelaide) was awarded the Australian researchers, Paul Humphries, left at the Chief Executive Society for Fish Biology’s 2004 end of 2004 to move to Charles Sturt CRC for Freshwater Ecology International Travel Scholarship (worth University. He has spent the first part of $5000), on the basis of his technical 2005 using a Harold White Fellowship at publications. the National Library of Australia, collating historical accounts of fish distributions in It has also been a year of significant rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin. Thank appointments for several staff. Dr Sabine you both for your very significant inputs to Schreiber (Arthur Rylah Institute, Victoria) the success of the CRCFE over the years. and Professor Stuart Bunn (Griffith University) have been elected President A cooperative research centre could not be and Vice-President respectively of the a success without the expertise, Australian Society for Limnology. knowledge, cooperative spirit and drive that Professor Richard Norris became Chair of are found in all its staff. I would like to the Executive Committee of the North thank all our current researchers, our American Benthological Society, in May. valued industry personnel, our team

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 7 1. Structure and 8 Department of Sustainability and Prof. Nancy Millis (Independent) Environment, Victoria (DSE) Prof. Robert Norris (Monash University) management 8 Department of Water, Land and Prof. Roger Braddock (Griffith University). Biodiversity Conservation, South Australia (DWLBC) The Board has met four times per year, The Cooperative Research Centre for 8 Environmental Protection Authority, as a rule. Freshwater Ecology (CRCFE) was formally Victoria (EPAV) established on 1 July 1993 as part of the The Finance Committee and the Research 8 Commonwealth Government’s CRC Goulburn-Murray Rural Committee continued to operate during Programme. Water Authority 2004–2005. The Finance Committee’s role 8 Griffith University is to oversee the CRCFE’s finances and In 1998, the CRC successfully applied for 8 La Trobe University make recommendations to the Board. It a further seven years of funding. CRCFE II met once per quarter. The Research 8 Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water came into being on 1 July 1999. Committee has overseen the research Authority undertaken and provided input into CRCFE has just been involved in another 8 Melbourne Water research program development. successful rebid, this time to become part 8 Monash University of a larger new CRC (eWater CRC). Hence Finance Committee 8 Murray-Darling Basin Commission CRCFE has ceased operations as at Chair: Prof. John Langford 30 June 2005, the end of the sixth year of (MDBC) its second term. 8 Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) Mr Grant Wilson 8 The University of Adelaide Dr Ruth Foxwell In January 2004 a new partner, the 8 University of Canberra. Mr Charles Robinson (CRCFE Chief Department of Water, Land and Administrative Officer) Biodiversity Conservation, South Australia, Prof. Gary Jones (Chief Executive) joined the CRCFE, taking its number of CRCFE Board and committees partners to 20. Then on 1 July 2004 two Research Committee partners (Lower Murray Water and The CRCFE has been governed by a Board Sunraysia Rural Water Authority) merged comprising the following members at Chair: Prof. Nancy Millis to form Lower Murray Urban and Rural 30 June 2005: Mr Tom Vanderbyl (QNRM) Water Authority. Therefore, at its close the Chair: Prof. John Langford (University of Dr Jane Doolan Centre was an unincorporated joint venture Melbourne) Mr Bruce Cooper between 19 partners: Dr Jane Doolan (DSE, VIC) Prof. Sam Lake (CRCFE Chief Ecologist) 8 ACT Government (Environment ACT) Dr Colin Chartres (CSIRO Land & Water) Prof. Gary Jones (Chief Executive) 8 ACTEW Corporation Dr Maxine Cooper (Environment ACT) 8 CSIRO Land and Water Dr Ruth Foxwell (University of Canberra) Organisational structure 8 Department of Environment and Mr Brian Spies (SCA) Conservation, NSW (DEC) The Chief Executive, Professor Gary Jones Mr Bruce Cooper (DIPNR, NSW) (University of Canberra), has carried 8 Department of Infrastructure, Planning executive responsibility for managing the and Natural Resources, NSW (DIPNR) Mr Scott Keyworth (MDBC) CRCFE within the policy framework 8 Mr Grant Wilson (Melbourne Water) Department of Natural Resources and established by the Board. He has been Mines, Queensland (QNRM) Mr Lamond Graham (DNRM, QLD)

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 8 supported by the Senior Management CRCFE structure CRCFE Board Team, consisting of ten people: Chairman: 8 Chief Ecologist, Professor Sam Lake Prof. John Langford (Monash University) Chief Executive, 8 Director of Research, Professor Stuart Prof. Gary Jones Bunn (Griffith University) Chief Ecologist, Director of Director of Director of Leaders of Chief Administra- 8 Director of Murray-Darling Freshwater Prof. Sam Lake MDFRC, Research, Knowledge Programs A–E, tive Officer, Charles Research Centre, Dr Ben Gawne Dr Ben Gawne Prof. Stuart Bunn exchange, A/Prof. Quinn/Thoms, Robinson (MDFRC, CSIRO Land & Water) Ralph Ogden Bond, Brock, 8 Leaders of the four research programs Norris, Hughes IT team Regional Knowledge and the education program laboratories: brokers and Research teams Accounting and 8 Albury, Mildura Director of Knowledge Exchange, community and Education administration Associate Professor Ralph Ogden Goondiwindi scientists team (University of Canberra) 8 Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Charles Communications Robinson. team

The research staff of the CRCFE have been almost all provided by the five Research Program B — Ecology of river The Program Advisory Committees Transitional arrangements for close university partners (Adelaide, Canberra, (and wetland) restoration — led by Dr Nick (PACs), through which representatives of of CRCFE and start of eWater CRC Griffith, La Trobe, Monash) at labs in Bond (Monash University) during 2004– public industry partners oversaw the Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, Albury and 2005. planning of new research programs in All CRCFE research projects were formally Melbourne. Other researchers have been CRCFE in the last few years, did not meet concluded on 30 June 2005. From 1 July, staff of CSIRO Land & Water through the Research Program C — Conservation in 2004–2005 because the research transitioning staff have been involved in Murray-Darling Freshwater Research ecology and aquatic biodiversity — led by projects were coming to an end. planning for the new eWater CRC research Centre laboratories at Albury and Mildura, Dr Margaret Brock (DIPNR, Armidale). and product projects. The second half of and state water agencies at Armidale and 2005 has also provided staff with time to Research Program D — Assessment of Goondiwindi. Staff and students at these publish results from their CRCFE research water quality and river condition — led by laboratories have worked within any or projects, and for them to work with our Professor Richard Norris (University of several of the four research programs, transitioning industry partners on the Canberra). according to expertise. See Chapter 2 for application of their CRCFE findings in real- details of the research programs. Program E — Education and training — world management situations through a series of interim adoption projects. Research Program A — Ecological led by Professor Jane Hughes (Griffith University). processes that are influenced by river All scholarship funds for remaining flows — led by Assoc. Professor Gerry Knowledge Exchange, led by its Director, postgraduate students have been paid out Quinn (Monash University, Melbourne). Assoc. Professor Ralph Ogden, has to the CRC’s University partners. When Assoc. Professor Quinn moved to involved researchers as well as a team of Arrangements have been made with Deakin University early in 2005, Assoc. knowledge brokers and community universities regarding mutual obligations Professor Martin Thoms became program scientists. for completion of the postgraduate student leader, taking the program through until the end of June 2005. Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 9 training program. All final completion reporting will be to the eWater CRC.

Transitional funding has been provided for a small number of CRCFE post-doctoral fellows to allow them to participate in eWater planning, and to ensure they are not forced to find new jobs in the 6 month period before eWater projects commence on January 1, 2006.

Termination of the CRCFE will occur in January 2006 following completion of residual administrative activities, and completion of the final financial audit and its authorisation by the CRCFE Board.

All CRCFE outputs are being made available at an ‘archive’ web site (http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au), to be maintained and linked to the eWater CRC web site for the foreseeable future.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 10 are listed at the end of this chapter. Theme A2 — Flow manipulation in regu- 2. Research Student research projects are listed in lated lowland rivers Chapter 3. Projects within Theme A2 have studied the Research in the CRCFE’s portfolio has long-term effects of manipulating flow, both addressed five of the national ecological Program A — Flow-related in winter-rainfall rivers in south-eastern issues facing Australia’s river and catch- ecosystem processes Australia and in summer-rainfall rivers in ment managers: northern NSW and southern Queensland. 4 over-regulation of river systems, and Leaders: Assoc. Prof. Gerry Quinn (to early The team has measured the effects of the pressure for development of 2005) and Assoc. Prof. Martin Thoms different water-release regimes on various unregulated water resources This program has investigated how flow species, communities and processes, chosen to represent ecologically important 4 ecological degradation of many urban affects ecological processes in rivers and ‘response’ groups. Fish, invertebrates, and rural aquatic systems and the lack their floodplains. It has examined riparian- and floodplain-vegetation have of knowledge about how to rehabilitate fundamental ecological issues and been studied, as well as ecological them management needs. processes such as fluxes of carbon and 4 loss of biodiversity and ecosystem PROGRAM OBJECTIVES nutrients, nutrient spiralling and food-web function dynamics. 4 the need for detailed information about 4 Determine the sensitivity of aquatic the condition (or health) of Australia’s ecosystems to flow regulation and PROGRAM SUMMARY aquatic ecosystems water abstraction. Program A has significantly improved our 4 the need to understand Australian 4 Determine how options for flow understanding of the way biota and inland aquatic systems — their management will affect Australian ecological processes in rivers, floodplains biological communities, ecosystem aquatic ecosystems. and wetlands respond to changes and processes and ecological function, and 4 Develop tools for assessing the success variability in flow. how human actions affect them. of environmental flow allocations. Largely resulting from the CRC’s research Ten new core projects began in July 2003, Theme A1 — Role of flow in determining activities, significant variation in fish taking over from the nine projects that had natural ecological processes in rivers and species richness, assemblage structure, been the focus of core research during streams and to some extent, fish abundance, can 2000–2003. Each core project integrated be explained by interactions between flow Projects in Theme A1 have examined expertise from several of the CRCFE’s and other drivers (especially habitat selected ecological processes in river research and management partners in structure, itself a function of flow channels and their floodplains and wetlands, several states. They tackled problems at a interacting with geology, geomorphology, and the transfer of materials between range of geographic and time scales, and channel and floodplain morphology, woody these parts of the landscape. The aim has combined field, laboratory and ‘desk-top’ material and aquatic vegetation). These been to understand how key components research and development. Also, the interactions are demonstrably important at of flow (including flood and drought) Narran project, equivalent to a core project spatial scales ranging from small patches interact with representative biota and in size and integration of expertise, plus (e.g. logs and root masses, undercut ecological processes in rivers and their around 20 other ('associated') research banks, scour holes) to individual hydraulic floodplains. Ultimately, the aim has been projects, examined immediate management units (e.g. riffles, pools, backwaters), to to predict what will happen to the ecology problems and related scientific knowledge- river reaches, and at whole of catchment of rivers when flow regimes change. gaps. All core and ‘associated’ projects scale. We have shown that flow–habitat

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 11 relationships are best viewed as operating The results of this study suggest that Benthic processes and structure vary Research: in nested hierarchies of landscape rates of respiration and, to a lesser extent, widely between different flow types, and 1. Are there any quantitative relationships patches, and that connectivity among productivity are highest in those patches the links between them need to be between instantaneous and antecedent patches (e.g. floodplains and river associated with lower flow velocities and understood further to help us predict the flow conditions, and ecological responses channels; waterholes and pools in turbulence. The effect of high flow events ecological consequences of flow of fish and invertebrates, in eastern intermittent streams) is vital for streams on metabolism appears to be affected by management practices. Australian rivers? and rivers to be able to recover from antecedent conditions at a range of 2. Can most of the variation in ecological drought or dry spells. Flows ranging from scales. At the scale of individual events, A250: Development of flow–ecological- responses of fish and/or invertebrates to nearbed-flow to very large floods all play a the length of the period of steady low flow response models flow be related to a few hydrological part in maintaining habitat structure, prior to the event (the inter-pulse period) is In project A250, in collaboration with CRC characteristics, or are many facets of the heterogeneity and connectivity in the likely to dictate the magnitude of the for Catchment Hydrology, we examined flow regime important? riverine landscape, and, hence, the response in metabolism, as is the existing datasets to develop predictive integrity of fish assemblages in rivers with magnitude of the event itself. At longer relationships between flow change and the 3. At what spatial scale (e.g. hydraulic highly variable flow regimes. The findings timescales, the sequences of flow events responses of particular biota, especially habitat unit, reach, basin, or bioregion) and of CRCFE research in minimally disturbed appear to be linked to the river’s existing fish and macroinvertebrates. temporal scale (e.g. daily to decadal) do streams (SE Queensland) and floodplain responses to any major catchment these relationships become evident? rivers (Cooper Creek) are consistent with disturbances. Some data are showing that We addressed the five management and 4. Can stronger relationships be the principle that flow is a major flow releases shift the system towards five research questions below, particularly established in rivers with relatively determinant of physical habitat in streams, autotrophy (i.e. producing energy from for fish in Queensland rivers. predictable flow regimes (e.g. wet tropics) which in turn is a major determinant of carbon via photosynthesis); however, this Management: compared to rivers with more variable flow biotic composition. is counter to predictions based on regimes (e.g. south-east Queensland)? 1. How important is the natural flow regime overseas studies which suggest high flow 5. How are production and decomposition as a major ‘driver’ of ecological structure PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS events should lead to shifts to in lowland rivers influenced by flow and processes in eastern Australian heterotrophy (obtaining energy by conditions? A240: Quantifying flow–habitat–biota rivers? relationships in riverine ecosystems consuming carbon). 2. Which are the most and least important From this project we have greater insight We hypothesised that rivers have particular If flow releases are to be used to improve elements of the patterns of flows and into the role of flow variability as a main zones that play important roles in the ecosystem health, our limited data floods in driving river ecology? factor driving ecological processes in movement of carbon and organic matter suggest that both the character of the flow 3. How are freshwater biota and ecological streams and rivers. The project has tested through river food-webs and, therefore, overall event itself and the flow history during the processes affected by water resource various types of hydro-ecological ecological condition. Examples of such months prior to release, in particular the development (i.e. flow regulation) and river modelling, assessing flow in comparison zones, which we term Functional Patches, duration of the inter-pulse period, need to flow restoration? to other potential driving factors. Numerous have been identified in three river settings: be considered. Given the limited amounts publications have resulted from the project. 4. In theory, given particular flow– 4 surface flow type, in the Cotter (a high- of water available for environmental ecological response models (e.g. for fish), energy, upland river); releases, our results suggest that flows are likely to have more effect if fewer, how is an environmental flow allocation 4 slackwaters (manipulated with higher magnitude flow releases are made (e.g. a contingency volume stored in a sandbags) in the Broken (a medium- instead of more closely spaced, lower dam) best used to achieve ecological energy tributary of River Murray); magnitude releases. In addition, some flow outcomes for fish? 4 littoral zones in the Murray weir pools events appear to produce a greater 5. What biological responses should be (a low-energy, highly regulated lowland environmental diversity of patches than measured when we attempt to assess the river system), compared to free-flowing others and this may lead to enhancing ecological benefits of environmental flows? river bends. biodiversity at the reach scale. Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 12 Program B — Restoration ecology will return and ecological condition will PROGRAM SUMMARY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS improve. This implies that recovery of Experimental projects in Program B have B240: Ecological responses and adaptive Leader: Dr Nick Bond degraded streams and rivers is largely shown that restoring ‘residential’ habitat is stream rehabilitation: Application to constrained by the availability of suitable Many of Australia’s streams, rivers and not enough to ensure the long-term degraded rural streams wetlands are in a degraded state and habitat. persistence of populations. Refuge After installing large woody structures in millions of dollars are being spent on Theme B2 — Mechanisms of habitats are also needed, for use in sand-slugged stream reaches of the restoration. To return value for money and recolonisation and recruitment ‘extreme’ events. For example, Granite Creeks (Victoria), the team be successful in the long term, restoration populations of biota such as fish need Successful stream and river restoration will assessed the degree of ecological work needs a strong scientific base, and deep permanent pools to survive in during not only depend on the availability of rehabilitation that resulted. Fish, some measurement of the environmental drought. Further, simply returning a range suitable habitat for aquatic organisms to macroinvertebrates and stream benefits resulting from the restoration. of physical habitats to a stream does not survive, but also on the ability of organ- metabolism (food webs and benthic Research by the CRC for Freshwater guarantee improved ecological conditions isms to reach the new habitat via primary production) were studied for Ecology, particularly Program B, has in that stream. It is evident that catchment dispersal. Physical restoration of stream several years. Overall the restoration helped provide the ecological knowledge factors leading to the poor ecological habitats will be pointless if ecological project was successful. The structures that is essential to support and guide conditions also have to be managed before recovery is constrained by the ability of survived floods and drought, resulting in practical restoration measures. rehabilitation can be successful, in urban aquatic plants and animals to recolonise organic matter being retained and stored in and rural areas. Recent studies have PROGRAM OBJECTIVES disturbed sites. To be able to predict how the stream reaches. Fish and micro- begun to examine the effects of retrofitting quickly disturbed systems will recover, we organisms responded positively to the 4 Understand the processes that will elements of water-sensitive urban design need to know how aquatic organisms restoration, but macroinvertebrate species make ecological recovery possible in in urban catchments. And an extensive disperse (i.e. what mechanisms they use) richness and total abundance did not. disturbed river systems; determine the survey of completed river-restoration and how far they can move. resilience of restored systems to projects in the USA and Victoria has B250: Managing fragmentation and subsequent disturbances. Theme B3 — Indicators of success of generated a list of factors that need to be connectivity in river systems attended to before a rehabilitation project 4 Develop innovative approaches for restoration strategies This project team first assessed the can be confirmed as a success or not, waterway restoration, integrating Much of the work aimed at developing and distribution of species and populations of generating return to its investors. across conventional disciplines to testing new methods for ecological fish and macroinvertebrates among river maximise environmental outcomes. assessment of the success of restoration reaches, tributaries and streams, under is being undertaken in Program D. natural conditions. Then they used genetic 4 Establish case studies with relevant However, an important question being analysis and analysis of ear-bones in fish management groups as adaptive addressed in the Restoration Ecology (otoliths) to identify the species most stream rehabilitation experiments. Program is whether it is possible to likely to be disadvantaged when 4 Facilitate the integration of river restore key ecosystem processes (such waterbodies become separated from each restoration practice into total catch- as primary production, and nutrient other by human activities. The team ment management. cycling) without completely restoring all sampled the Sydney catchment area, the elements of the biological communities. upper Darling, Warrego and Cooper rivers, Theme B1 — Physical habitat restoration and the Goulburn, Ovens and Campaspe A key assumption of most river and rivers. High concordance has been found riparian restoration activities is that if you between the otolith and genetic data, rebuild or recreate habitat then organisms making for a very strong analysis of fragmentation between fish populations at a range of time-scales.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 13 B260: Rivers in landscapes: linking river that reduce runoff from roads; and swale Program C — Conservation ecology (a) working towards the establishment of a ecosystems to catchment land-use drains and bioretention systems along national heritage system of rivers, Leader: Dr Margaret Brock Project B260 aimed to link stressors and roads. The traditional option is piped or (b) increasing and coordinating inventory Deputy Leader: Professor Jane Hughes ecological responses across a range of channelled drainage direct to streams. effort and taxonomic work (including ecologically relevant spatial scales with a Modelling showed that it is technically Degradation of habitat is considered to be genetic) to support this, achievable to reduce drainage connection particular focus on catchment-scale the major cause of biodiversity loss, in (c) protection and rehabilitation of nation- in an existing urban area, to a level effects. Most other studies that have freshwaters and estuaries as well as ally significant sites such as Ramsar predicted to improve the condition of the examined stressor-response relationships terrestrial ecosystems. This program has sites, and have worked at smaller scales. area’s creek. Pre-retrofit monitoring data researched threats to biodiversity as a (d) the need for national action on invasive shows that the main ecological indicators step towards conserving freshwater biota species. We first distinguished between (a) driving in the creek are stable relative to those in and ecosystems. The research aimed to factors, typically large-scale processes control and reference creeks, suggesting guide decisions for restoring habitats and We now know more about threats to emanating from human actions, (b) that changes post-retrofit will be abating threats in a range of freshwater biodiversity and the mechanisms by which stressors, which are consequences of detectable with confidence. ecosystems. they act (second objective at left), and driving factors, and (c) ecological responses to human pressures (third responses, which result from the effects of PROGRAM OBJECTIVES objective), particularly where such the stressors. We classified landscapes in pressures include alteration of ecological the entire Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) into 4 Assess biodiversity and its distribution flows and habitat. sets of similar types based on structural in freshwater ecosystems; gain insights into processes that regulate and climatic variables and land-use Specific work in the Conservation Ecology levels of biodiversity at various scales in variables. Classifications, which were done program has addressed the major threats space and time. at stream orders 2 to 6, were scale- of invasive species and salinity. These dependent, with the MDB “looking” very 4 Identify threats to biodiversity, were identified in 2003 as being of high different depending upon the catchment measure their impacts on biodiversity, priority for partners. level used. At many scales, there were and research the mechanisms by significant mismatches between the which they act. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS classifications based on land-use, with 4 similar land-uses regularly spanning Develop responses to these human- C240: The effects of increasing salinity on physiographically distinct landscapes. induced pressures, and monitor the ecosystem function, resilience and Such interactions may help explain why effectiveness and outcomes of those diversity apparently similar land-uses often lead to responses. This project examined the relationships very different levels of stream degradation. between biological diversity and ecosys- PROGRAM SUMMARY tem process in freshwaters over a range of B270: Stream restoration through retrofit The Conservation Ecology program has salinities. What are the effects of of catchment urban land use addressed conservation concerns related increasing salinity on aspects of primary The project examined options to reduce to all inland aquatic ecosystems, with and secondary production, nutrient the area of impervious surfaces directly particular relevance to issues in the rivers dynamics, food web structure, and connected to waterways. These options and wetlands of eastern Australia. The biodiversity, for microbes, algae, macro- included: rainwater tanks where the agendas identified as highest priority for invertebrates and freshwater plants? captured water is used to replace a portion national-scale action were: Sediments from sites in the Macquarie of the mains supply; permeable pavements Marshes, NSW, were tested in mesocosm tanks.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 14 The overall microbial community in the C250: Role of refugia in maintaining stochasticity were built into the key life the first major flooding event for the Narran sediments was relatively resilient to salt biodiversity in dryland rivers history parameters. The paucity of relevant Lakes in four years. Sampling trips during additions — that is, an acute salt addition The flood early in 2004 enabled the team species data led to the construction of a January–July focused on water chemistry, would take several months to have a major to sample for water chemistry and hypothetical species characterized as a benthic productivity, zooplankton, phyto- effect on the overall community. Where invertebrates and elements of the food web one-stage, asexual, perennial organism for plankton, macroinvertebrates, fish, and there is a prevalence of sulfate-reducing during a wet phase in the Cooper Creek. which the model outcomes were mapping the pattern of inundation across bacteria, there are implications for the way The team also estimated the diversity and compared. Outputs from the model are the floodplain. Major surveys of vegetation nutrients, particularly iron and phosphorus, abundance of fish, and the presence and statistical summaries of population size have described the vegetation patterns are moved through the system, and for the identities of larval fish. and location and a series of annual maps (including lignum and trees) and ground- potential for acid to be produced if the of the size, distribution and probability of cover on the floodplain near each of the The very large amount of data collected sediments undergo a cycle of wetting and occupancy in particular river sections. The lakes. From soil samples, the seedbank has been entered into databases, and drying. Phytoplankton biomass was larger latter can be animated. and egg banks in various habitats have publications are being prepared. The at the higher salinities. There was also a been examined via watering trials in databases include: geographic change in phytoplankton community The effects of the founder population size mesocosms. Hydrologic data, remote distributions of turtles, macroinvertebrates, composition at the higher salinities but and flood frequency were seen in the time sensing images and topographic data fish and algae, and their changes through whether this was driven by the salinity taken to spread downriver and this was (including via LiDAR) have been collected time; food webs, water chemistry, primary differences or by resource availability or related to the final population sizes. As and used in the hydrological model for the productivity; size structure and recruitment grazing pressure requires further analyses. floods were set to increase the Narran Lakes ecosystem. The project has patterns for a number of taxa. Publications Following an initial period of re-adjustment, reproductive rate, they had a major effect been reviewed by an International analyse effects of carp on primary all treatments ended up with quite similar on population growth and hence number of Scientific Review Panel. production; the role of groundwater in dryland respiration rates and primary-production individuals dispersing. The size of the rivers; biodiversity patterns for fish, turtles (GPP) rates, except at 15,000 mg/L at founder population was varied by two and macroinvertebrates; life history and which the GPP rate was substantially orders of magnitude and this directly recruitment in mussels, fish and turtles; and higher, driven largely by phytoplankton. translated to larger populations and faster possible impacts of water resource develop- The mesocosms went through an initial spread, with a reduced effect as the ment on biodiversity in dryland rivers. period of high respiration rates requiring a carrying capacity of a river section was approached. In order to model most source of organic carbon that may have C260: Predicting the spread of invasive aquatic and riparian invasive species, the come from the sediments or been aquatic biota generated through photosynthesis. The model needs to be further developed to This study developed a modelling capacity for this organic carbon to be used include a branched river system with the approach which has the ability to depended on salinity, with far lower species having the capacity to disperse incorporate the relative effects of the timing respiration rates observed in the high upstream and over long distances. Habitat and frequency of floods and the size of salinity treatments. As salinity increases suitability also needs to be better founder populations — factors that may be there is a corresponding decrease in the modelled because of its known effects on of concern to managers. A range of plant numbers and richness of wetland plants species establishment and survival. or animal species can be modelled with and zooplankton, as the team has found the approach. C300: The Narran Lakes ecosystem previously. The biotic community project (continuing to 2006) associated with the salinity of 15,000 mg/L The model allowed a set proportion of the The Narran Lakes project was initiated in was depauperate in numbers and species population to disperse passively 2003 and postdoctoral staff commenced when compared with the less saline downstream to the next river section each work at the start of 2004, coinciding with treatments. year. Environmental and demographic

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 15 Program D — Water quality and when measuring ecological damage or PROGRAM SUMMARY Monitoring and Assessment Framework change. (see report on CRCFE website). A full- ecological assessment The program has advanced knowledge on scale trial involving the Queensland Dept of 4 Determine the effectiveness of various several separate fronts. Rapid biological Leader: Professor Richard Norris Natural Resources & Mines at Goondiwindi, bioassessment approaches in assessment methods have been compared Deputy Leader: Dr Chris Walsh the Victorian Environmental Protection providing information on the condition and papers describing the outcomes are Authority and University of Canberra has Biological assessment methods measure of aquatic communities and being published in a special issue of also been completed. The reference the effectiveness of management pro- ecosystem processes. Hydrobiologia. In urban areas, effective condition component has used General cesses in rivers. 4 Determine the relationships between imperviousness (EI: the proportion of a Additive Models, with collaboration from ecological features and processes and catchment covered by impermeable Ideal methods should provide rapid Lester Yuan of the USEPA, who visited outputs from bioassessment methods. surfaces that are directly connected to a collection and analysis of data for Australia as part of the project early in stream) is now recognised as a strong management use, on a regional basis and 2005. Local versus regional species Theme D1 — Ecological response to predictor for the ecological condition of in a timely manner. The methods should richness (using the 26 catchments in damaging agents urban streams (to a threshold of maximum assess the degree of impact and present Victoria as regions) has been analysed Rivers and related wetlands generally degradation above 5–10% EI). Most this in an easily interpretable form, using using multiple regression, and strong demonstrate an ecological response to recently, trials of retrofitting urban standardised methods of measurement conclusions can now be drawn about damaging agents, both physical and catchments to minimise EI have begun. An and data presentation. Models underlying regional and local biodiversity. chemical. Experiments have studied the assessment should respond in known innovative framework has been developed responses to nutrient cycles, particularly ways to natural variability and be for assessing multiple lines and levels of D250 Predicting ecological condition of of nitrogen and phosphorus, and to pesti- implemented with designs that meet evidence feeding into research or streams in response to stormwater cides and herbicides, land-use, habitat statistical assumptions such as the need management projects. Also, Ecological management degradation and flow regulation, in winter- Risk Assessment (ERA) has been for independence of treatments being Macroinvertebrate data and classifications and summer-rainfall river systems. expanded as a technique and begun to be compared. Furthermore, for research of imperviouness were collated for an accepted tool for waterway managers to choose the most effective Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. They Theme D2 — Innovative bioassessment management. restoration and conservation strategies, methods are information assets for partner agencies ecological assessment should also assess in these cities, quite apart from their value The effectiveness and relative costs of PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS degrading processes and determine causal to this project. Macroinvertebrate various bioasssessment methods have links between the damaging agents and D240: Assessment methods: assemblages in Brisbane and Melbourne been compared, for robustness to observed ecological condition. Projects environmental flows and biological diversity respond to stormwater impacts in geographic changes in environmental within Program D’s three themes have remarkably similar ways. This suggests variables, and for particular situations. The pilot study assessing MLLE (Multiple addressed these needs. Lines and Levels of Evidence) was Theme D3 — Ecological risk assessment completed successfully, and presented at, PROGRAM OBJECTIVES Ecological risk assessment procedures and published in the proceedings of, the 4 Determine how the ecology of rivers have been augmented and tested in Australian Stream Management and related wetlands responds to situations where several human-induced Conference in Launceston in October stress factors. disturbances are operating in combination, 2004. A presentation was also invited for a 4 Develop and test ecological risk focusing on defining damaging agents in special session of the North American assessment (ERA) procedures for the Australian context and combining them Benthological Society conference in New application to freshwater systems. in ERA models. Orleans in May 2005. The MLLE approach 4 Develop ecologically sound reference was adopted as part of the CRCFE Flows conditions for use as benchmarks Monitoring Forum study design, and is included in the Environmental Flow

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 16 that similar remedial actions may be RESEARCH PROJECTS active or being Project Project Name applicable, despite the cities’ different written-up during 2004–2005 Non-core projects climates. Predictive models using these A708 The effect of water regime on wetland ecology Core and associated research projects data have been completed. The patterns A716 Fish habitat protection in the Darling and Paroo Rivers that were active or being written-up during and thresholds shown by models for B704 River rehabilitation through re-snagging the financial year are listed below. Canberra and Brisbane were similar to B708 National Riparian Lands Program (II): In-stream ecological issues those observed in east Melbourne. The Project Project Name B709 A synthetic analysis of the scientific basis of ecological restoration of stream project was enhanced by parallel work Core ecosystems being conducted by the stormwater unit of A240 Quantifying flow–habitat–biota B710 Effectiveness of riparian zone restoration in the streams of the Murray-Darling Basin the NSW Department of Environment and relationships in riverine C702 Systematics of the Australian mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of the families Baetidae Conservation, which developed three ecosystems and Caenidae models for different areas of the Sydney A250 Development of flow– C710 Long-term monitoring of the littoral fauna of Lake Pedder ecological-response models region. This allowed a comparison of urban C711 Sustainable management of on-farm biodiversity in the rice growing industry: B200 Restoration ecology in vertebrate wildlife resources impacts in all major cities of S-E Australia. degraded rural streams C712 The ecology, distribution and abundance of green and golden bell frogs on the Five journal papers are in preparation from B240 Ecological responses and Molonglo River floodplain adaptive stream rehabilitation: C713 Predicting ecological consequences of increasing salinity on wetland sustainability this project. application to degraded rural streams C714 An ecological approach to restablishing trout cod in the Murrumbidgee River B250 Managing fragmentation and C715 Biodiversity of riverine landscapes: the role of patches and connectivity connectivity in river systems D724 Tooma River study B260 Rivers in landscapes: linking river D725 Robust procedures for measuring metal speciation and bioavailability ecosystems to catchment land use D726 Ecological risk assessment of irrigation schemes B270 Stream restoration through retrofit D727 Development of ecosystem guidelines for sedimentation and suspended particulate of catchment urban land use matter for rivers and streams C220 Conservation ecology and D728 Delivering sustainability through risk management systematics of the mountain D730 Development of risk-based approaches for managing contaminants in catchments galaxias C240 The effects of increasing salinity on ecosystem function, resilience and diversity C250 Role of refugia in maintaining biodiversity in dryland rivers C260 Predicting the spread of invasive aquatic biota TABLE OF RESEARCH OUTCOMES D200 Assessment and delivery of methods for determining river health Major outcomes from the four research D220 Development of a catchment- based ecological risk assessment programs during July 1999–June 2005 are framework for aquatic systems shown in the table on the next pages. The D240 Assessment methods: environmental first column shows the outcomes flows and biological diversity projected in the Centre’s Commonwealth D250 Predicting ecological condition of Agreement. The second column shows the streams in response to urban milestones agreed in the Commonwealth stormwater management Agreement. The third column shows the C300 Narran Lakes integrated research project situation at the end of year 6. Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 17 Outcomes (from Schedule) Milestones (from Schedule) Situation at end of CRCFE PROGRAM A PROGRAM A PROGRAM A • Low flows in rivers (with the correct timing, variability, frequency, etc.) are critical features that should be protected. Better understanding of the 3-year • Summer low flows are particularly important for native fish recruitment (low flow recruitment hypothesis; Humphries et al. links between flows, Improved conceptual and 1999). ecological processes and empirical understanding of the role • Slackwater areas in lowland rivers (such as backwaters and macrophyte beds) are important as hot spots for biodiversity in a range of river of flow (floods and droughts) as a productivity, macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance, and fish recruitment. types disturbance affecting ecological processes in rivers and streams. • Australian river function differs from that predicted by existing conceptual models developed overseas, such as the Flood Pulse Concept and the River Continuum Concept. 5–7 year • Biota of floodplain wetlands are strongly affected by wetting and drying cycles (comparing permanent versus temporary wetlands) and there is strong evidence that these differences are driven by nutrient dynamics in wetland sediments Improved understanding of the responding to inundation after a dry phase. links and exchange of biotic and abiotic materials, including organic • The connection between floodplain wetlands (billabongs) and the river channel serves two purposes — recharging of matter and nutrients, between billabongs, and the transfer of beneficial material from the wetlands to the main river channel (A702). river channels and their • The CRCFE held a very successful international symposium on the ecological effects of drought (Albury, Feb 2001). floodplains. Proceedings of this conference have been published in Freshwater Biology (Humphries & Baldwin 2003), and a synopsis is published on the CRCFE web site (http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au > publications > technical reports > 2003). • The Narran Lakes Ecosystem Project (C300) continues to examine the responses of a large terminal wetland complex to flow variability in the Narran River. • The Dryland River Refugia Project (C200) has also examined the role of connectivity between the river channel and floodplain waterholes in the Cooper Creek and the Warrego River in arid Australia (see Program C). New tools that will lead to 3-year • FLOWS method now applied to stream flow management plans in Victoria. improved recommendations Ecological characterisation of flow • Sustainable Diversion Limits process used to protect ungauged streams in Victoria from over-extraction. for, and evaluations of, regimes in rivers in Eastern environmental water Australia including both winter and • Numerous scientific panel studies of the water requirements for regulated rivers, such as those supporting allocations. summer rainfall systems. environmental flow provisions in bulk water entitlements in Victoria. • Murray Flow Assessment Tool developed with CSIRO, for determining flow requirements for key sites along River Murray. • Implemented and refined Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) designs for monitoring environmental water allocations to rivers (the Campaspe) and floodplain wetlands (Barmah-Millewa forest on the Murray). • Robust and effective indicators of ecological response to environmental flows identified. • Generic decision framework for monitoring environmental flows being devised, including using multiple lines and levels of evidence from project D240. • Sensible characterisation of flow regimes depends on our ability to identify ecologically meaningful flow variables and relate these to changes in biota and ecological processes. The core CRCFE project A250, working with hydrologists from CRCCH, has analysed existing ecological and flow datasets to develop predictive models of ecological response to flow change. User-friendly software for calculating a range of flow parameters from flow gauge data has been developed as a joint project between CRCCH and CRCFE and is now available. Outcomes (from Schedule) Milestones (from Schedule) Situation at end of CRCFE

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 18 Program A continued 3-year • Review of refereed and grey literature, focusing on Australian studies, shows unequivocal evidence for ecological Assessment and development of responses to altered flow regimes in 87% of ‘flow–ecology’ studies reviewed. Strengths of responses and nature of Ability to predict the sensitivity designs for: relationships were variable (Lloyd et al. 2003). of aquatic ecosystems to • monitoring the effects of • International workshop held in conjunction with Ninth International Symposium on Regulated Streams in 2003 and varying levels of flow environmental water allocations collaboration is now on-going with Prof. LeRoy Poff from Colorado State. regulation (or water (environmental flows) to rivers, • Project A250 is using existing detailed datasets and robust statistical techniques to develop predictive models relating abstraction) from models floodplains and wetlands, and flow change to both fish and macroinvertebrate diversity and composition. relating biotic patterns and • ecological processes with experimentally testing, at • 'Measuring the Effectiveness of Environmental Water Allocations' (A703) showed that a BACI design could detect flow attributes. realistic spatial and temporal responses of wetland plants to targeted environmental flows in Barmah-Millewa forest. scales, the causal links between attributes of flow regimes and • A240 (Quantifying Flow–Habitat–Biota Relationships In Riverine Ecosystems) has experimentally tested the hypotheses specific ecological processes. about ecological responses to flow change developed in projects A100, A200 and A210. • A718 determined that BACI designs are not always appropriate for assessing environmental flows and recommended 5–7 year tracking trends through time as flows are gradually implemented. Implementation and analysis of • CRCFE hosted the Ninth International Symposium on Regulated Streams in 2003. Over 250 delegates from 18 different countries attend the meeting, which was held in Albury, NSW. (i) monitoring designs for assessing the effects of • Two special issues of River Research and Applications were published and Martin Thoms was guest editor of these. environmental water allocations to Manuscripts in the first special issue were essentially those presented at the Ninth International Symposium on rivers, floodplains and wetlands, Regulated Streams. These covered an array of topics dealing with the impact and management of regulated rivers. The and second special issue contained manuscripts that dealt with variability in riverine environments. (ii) multi-scale experiments testing the causal links between attributes of flow regimes and specific ecological processes. Develop and promote the 3-year • Program A research on ecological responses to flow change, both natural flow variability and flow modification due to adoption of flow restoration Development of interim flow regulation of various forms, has resulted in adoption of numerous developments by our partner agencies. Four key recommendations that could restoration guidelines for lowland examples: lead to measurable ecological rivers that will lead to measurable − benefits in degraded rivers. a new decision support system, the Murray Flow Assessment Tool, developed with CSIRO to evaluate different ecological benefits in the main environmental flow scenarios for the River Murray. channel, the floodplain and associated wetlands. − being part of project teams to develop (i) the FLOWS method for setting environmental flows in rivers and streams in Victoria, and (ii) the Sustainable Diversion Limits method for determining sustainable extraction limits for

unregulated streams. 5–7 year − advising Environment ACT and ACTEW on, first, setting environmental flows in the Cotter River (ACT), and then Quantifying the benefits of managing those environmental flows under extreme drought conditions and after severe bushfires that resulted in environmental flows on key biota large amounts of sediment entering storages. and ecological processes in winter- and summer-rainfall − Setting of environmental flow rules in the Barwon-Darling River. regulated rivers.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 19

Outcomes (from Schedule) Milestones (from Schedule) Situation at end of CRCFE PROGRAM B PROGRAM B PROGRAM B • Sampling techniques for monitoring recovery of wood habitat restoration projects have been developed and tested in An improved understanding of 3-year several projects on degraded lowland streams (e.g. B200, B706, B240, A100). the constraints to recovery of Development and validation of • Ecosystem health indicators have been identified for streams in south-eastern Queensland as part of the Regional disturbed aquatic ecosystems innovative and practical monitoring Water Quality Management Strategy (D721). and the processes that can tools so that the success of • Availability of suitable in-stream and riparian habitat is a major constraint to recovery of disturbed streams. Habitat facilitate rehabilitation. rehabilitation of streams and rivers rehabilitation can be successful; e.g. can be quantified in ecological − terms. provision of wood habitat in streams and rivers affected by sand slugs or de-snagging can be successful in restoring fish populations, such as trout cod (B704) and other smaller species (e.g. B706)

− however, provision of residential habitat alone is not sufficient for recovery if there are no refugia for extreme events 5–7 year such as drought (B706, B240) Identify important factors that − constrain ecological recovery of fish can be patchily distributed through meanders in large rivers and this information can be used to determine degraded aquatic ecosystems and where to put wood for re-snagging (B704) guide rehabilitation strategies to − in the case of urban streams, simple re-instatement of physical habitat such as riffles will not work if other overcome such constraints. catchment scale parameters such as water quality constrain recovery (B705) − manipulation of effective imperviousness in rural/urban catchments may lead to improved stream ecosystem health (D210) − riparian rehabilitation of small streams can mitigate extreme temperature regimes (B708) and lead to the recovery of important ecosystem processes such as benthic metabolism (B708, D721). • Recovery of populations of some species, however, may be constrained by their ability to disperse: e.g. − some fully aquatic taxa (including some species of fish) show highly fragmented populations and limited dispersal capability (B250) − reach-scale habitat restoration may be important in preventing populations of such taxa from local extinction and loss of genetic diversity − translocation of individuals from other subcatchments to enhance recovery of disturbed populations may lead to undesirable outcomes. • Population studies, such as these, should be undertaken before major investments are made in habitat restoration. • Preliminary work suggests that there may be some redundancy in the relationship between community composition and important ecosystem processes: rates of denitrification did not change in response to drought even though the species responsible did change (B220, B240).

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 20

Outcomes (from Schedule) Milestones (from Schedule) Situation at end of CRCFE Program B continued 3-year • The experimental work on wood habitat restoration in the Granite Creeks region (B200, B240, B706) was developed in Initiate demonstration sites aimed collaboration with the Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water, and the Granite Creeks and Nagambie and Molka-Miepoll Landcare Groups. Research on the effectiveness of riparian restoration in SE To ensure that public funds at showcasing practical, cost- Queensland (B708, D721 and CRCCH 6.4) was undertaken as part of the Echidna Creek riparian re-vegetation project invested in restoration of effective and ecologically sound in collaboration with the Maroochy Shire Council and local landcare groups. A large-scale demonstration project has degraded ecosystems result methods for the rehabilitation of examined the effectiveness of riparian rehabilitation on the River Murray, in an adaptive management experiment in the maximum rivers and wetlands. (B710), funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. In addition to providing opportunities for quantification of the environmental benefit Contribute to the development of effectiveness of restoration activities, these demonstration sites have provided an important knowledge exchange possible. This will be best management practice for the opportunity for the CRC. achieved by: cost-effective and ecologically • A practical and cost-effective monitoring program for assessing ecosystem health in streams and rivers in southeast • Developing guidelines for sound rehabilitation of rivers and Queensland has been developed as part of Program D (D721; Smith and Storey, 2001) and subsequently implemented rehabilitation of streams, wetlands. by the Moreton Bay and Catchments Healthy Waterways Partnership. The project team conducted specific training rivers and floodplain 5–7 year sessions for community groups and government staff and additional field training. Much of this regional monitoring has wetlands in both rural Promote and assist with now been handed over to the Queensland Dept of Natural Resources & Mines. Further development of ecosystem and urban settings, health tools to measure the success of restoration efforts has occurred within Program D (e.g. D200, SRA Pilot Study). based on sound (i) adoption of monitoring tools and ecological principles. protocols into restoration • The development of specific technical guidelines, and associated presentations at workshops, conferences and programs undertaken by seminars, were all aimed at promoting the adoption of best practice methods for rehabilitation. Large rehabilitation trials • Establishing stakeholders. (e.g. riparian vegetation in the Murray, B710; urban stream restoration in the Yarra) have had an experimental, adaptive demonstration sites to context, supported by CRCFE research. Local and state authorities have adopted recommended methods for monitoring showcase ecologically- (ii) adoption of best practice stream ecosystem health. sensitive rehabilitation methods for rehabilitation of rivers methods. and wetlands by stakeholders. • Technical guidelines have been prepared for riparian rehabilitation and the management of wood (logs) in streams. • Technical advice on priorities for riparian management has been adopted into regional management strategies (e.g. SEQ Regional Water Quality Management plan). • Plain-English summaries of research outcomes in natural resources management publications and brochures (see list of publications). • Riparian rehabilitation projects have been undertaken with stakeholders as adaptive management experiments; for example, Echidna Creek riparian restoration project (with CRCCH and the Healthy Waterways partnership) and a large- scale project at several sites in the Murray-Darling Basin (B710). • In addition to physical habitat restoration projects, flow manipulation experiments have been undertaken in Program A.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 21

Outcomes (from Schedule) Milestones (from Schedule) Situation at end of CRCFE PROGRAM C PROGRAM C PROGRAM C • Fenner Conference on the Environment 2001, ‘Biodiversity Conservation in Freshwaters’ (see Georges & Cottingham New knowledge on the 3-year 2002), focused on the nature of decision making for Australian freshwater biodiversity, and recognised the need for an adaptive approach, where intervention and research, including monitoring and evaluation, are used to improve distribution, life history and Organisation of a national forum conservation outcomes and improve knowledge. conservation ecology of on conservation of biodiversity in threatened freshwater biota freshwater ecosystems, bringing • A special issue of Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, called Freshwater Biodiversity in Australia (Volume 6(1) together the range of perspectives 2003), Arthur Georges, Angela Arthington and Pierre Horwitz as guest editors, published eight papers from the Fenner from science and management Conference. They cover a broad cross-section of perspectives on freshwater biodiversity in Australian freshwaters, from single species approaches to taxonomic groups to special habitats and ecosystems, wetland restoration, river

degradation, modifications to hydrology and protective measures for rivers. 5–7 year • The endangered species survival decision tool ESSENTIAL (C709) is available by web delivery. Significant contribution to • understanding of biodiversity, its The Biodiversity Knowledge Project and the Biodiversity Forum agreed to develop a framework for assessing regulation in natural and disturbed biodiversity in consultation with managers. systems, its measurement and its • Report: ‘Assessing and monitoring aquatic biodiversity: What have we learnt?’ at CRCFE website (O’Connor and distribution within the Australian Kotlash 2005) reports accumulated knowledge from CRCFE researchers as developed through the CRCFE Biodiversity freshwater landscape. Forum.

Decision-making tools for biodiversity conservation, provided in a form that can be readily used by managers.

Principles and 3-year • The Biodiversity Knowledge Project and the Biodiversity Forum have facilitated the generalisation of principles and recommendations for Design of experimental protocols recommendations in a form that is of real use to managers. assessing the biodiversity for testing hypotheses on the • Biodiversity values have emerged from the studies of dryland river waterholes (C200/250). Experimental protocols have values of freshwater systems processes that regulate been developed within the dryland refugium project (C250) and the project on sustainable management of on-farm biodiversity in natural and modified biodiversity in the rice growing areas (C711). freshwater ecosystems • Principles for assessing biodiversity were developed for the Sydney Catchment Authority long-term monitoring program and published in a major report to the SCA (F663). 5–7 year Principles and recommendations for assessing the biodiversity

values of freshwater systems and recommendations for management options.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 22

Outcomes (from Schedule) Milestones (from Schedule) Situation at end of CRCFE Program C continued 3-year • Advice on salinity, invasives and threatened species is now available, including via a series of fact sheets. Development of principles for the • Genetic techniques, being applied to study the distributions of taxonomic groups, are finding cryptic species (which differ Advice on the likely impacts assessment of biodiversity in genetically but not in morphology) with high genetic diversity. freshwater ecosystems of various human-induced • Scientists from CRCFE continue to be members of state Threatened Species Scientific Committees (Prof Jane Hughes disturbances on biodiversity (QLD), Dr Margaret Brock (NSW), Dr Will Osborne (ACT)) and have had input to the design and revision of the in freshwater ecosystems and 5–7 year legislation for Commonwealth and state Acts. Professor Angela Arthington participates in an international program of the spatial scales over which biodiversity science, DIVERSTAS. Increased awareness for the need for freshwater biodiversity conservation and a they are likely to have effect Direct involvement in policy and decision-making through heritage river system have been derived from the Fenner Conference and from other CRCFE publications such as established government Conserving Natural Rivers: A Guide for Catchment Managers (Cullen 2002) and Biodiversity in Inland Waters — processes for implementing policy Priorities for its Protection and Management (Georges and Cottingham 2002). Our research on adaptive management in on biodiversity and threatened restoration ecology (C210) and in fish recovery (C220, C715) has also fed into policy implementation. species conservation Advice on the possible 3-year • Our ability to influence the management of aquatic invasive species has increased as our understanding of the process ecological effects of invasive Identification of primary of invasion has increased. Much of the relevant knowledge has been developed through student projects. species on native flora and threatening processes for aquatic • fauna. Project C260, ‘Predicting the spread of invasive aquatic biota’, has developed a model which can incorporate the effects biodiversity. of timing and frequency of floods on founder populations. This model needs further development for a range of aquatic and riparian invasive species in branched river systems and for different short-term and long-term dispersal patterns.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 23

Outcomes (from Schedule) Milestones (from Schedule) Situation at end of CRCFE PROGRAM D PROGRAM D PROGRAM D • Increased knowledge about how catchment impermeability affects the health of urban streams. Improved scientific knowledge 3-year • Investigation of the impacts on Tooma River from leachate from a waste rock dump showed changes in stream on the ecological effects of Development of priority areas for chemistry but not biota. damaging agents (including research in ecological response to • Further understanding of sediment dynamics during storm events and base flow: nutrients and pesticides) in agents that damage freshwater Australian freshwater ecosystems (1) from the relationship between storm hydrograph, sediment concentration and particle size in transportation; systems. (2) from the relationship between sedimentation and aquatic diatom, algae and macroinvertebrate communities;

(3) from levels at which sedimentation induces mortality of Australian native fish eggs. 5–7 year • Nitrogen found to be the primary limiting nutrient in SE Queensland streams. Nitrate and organic carbon are important Understanding of cause and effect for controlling denitrification, and rates are insufficient to deal with current loads. Shading from the riparian zone links between ecological features important for controlling steam productivity (D722). and processes and methods of assessment Improved and robust 3-year • D200: DIAR2 index and new macrophyte index developed. AUSRIVAS more robust as a result of outcomes from sub- bioassessment methods that Integration of AUSRIVAS with sampling comparison and replication trials. D722: some nutrient processes shown to have potential as ecological provide information on other techniques for assessment indicators. ecosystem health and assist of river condition. • in identifying the degrading D727: Aquatic diatoms, algae and macroinvertebrates used to develop ecosystem guidelines for sediments. processes (including habitat • Biological assessment has become an important component of the Victorian State Environmental Protection Policies, modification). 5–7 year Index of Stream Condition, Queensland Water Allocation Management Plans, NLWRA, the NSW Blueprints for • Understanding of the effects catchment targets and catchment management plans. of natural variability on • Workshops held on design for comparison of methods, habitat assessment and information needs of partners for bioassessment methods integration of biological methods into monitoring programs (D200). • Evaluation of bioassessment • Eight different biological approaches (three macroinvertebrate methods, one macrophyte method, two diatom methods techniques in an experimental and two benthic metabolism methods) were assessed using an explicit framework also developed in the study. This process gave information on both the usefulness of the framework and on the RBA methods. • Integration of bioassessment methods into agency assessment programs New ecological risk Bring in expertise in ecological risk • Development of Bayesian approaches in risk assessment. assessment procedures and assessment (biota and processes • associated tools for use by with inputs to ecological risk STREAMS DSS refined for Melbourne Water; algal models for Lake Yarrunga developed for SCA. water industries. assessment over a range of • Models for impact of sediment on biota. scales up to catchment level).

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 24 water management, and that gradu- up scholarships have been offered 3. Education and ates are aware of opportunities and through the CRCFE, except in 2004– training are employable within the water 2005. The scholarships encouraged industry; students to take up PhD projects that are 8 assisting community groups to relevant to the water industry. The most Leader: Professor Jane Hughes understand water-related issues, and recent recipients of top-up scholarships help equip them to take an active role also have had a mentor from the water The overarching focus of the Education in land and water management; industry, with whom they have met Program has been to broaden the regularly. CRCFE’s students’ education and training 8 building community awareness of experience, particularly in graduate water ecology and related environ- At 1 June 2005, the CRCFE had five programs. This has been achieved mental issues through a program of postgraduate students on full through initiatives such as the active public and school-based education. scholarships (4 full-time, 1 part-time); 16 involvement of researchers from outside These four areas have been handled on top-up scholarships; 7 working on the higher education system, and by largely by researchers and knowledge associated (non-scholarship) projects enhancing the employment prospects of exchange staff. (including 1 on a collaborative write-up students through involvement in our user- scholarship); 7 privately supported oriented research program. In meeting these five objectives, CRCFE (funding had finished); plus 1 PhD and 1 has aimed to provide the water industry MSc suspended: 37 in total (see table on Our first objective has been the training of with: pages 27–29). postgraduates to produce ecologists and (a) well-trained graduates who have keen aquatic scientists with high-level research academic, communication and A scheme of collaborative write-up skills who are sought after to work in the technological expertise, as well as scholarships was offered to all students water industry. The objective has been during 2004–2005 for students who had (b) opportunities for professional devel- achieved through the activities of the recently submitted their PhDs. One opment among freshwater managers, CRCFE’s staff at its partner universities, student, Patricia Bowen, applied and was collaborating with personnel from our (c) support for ecologically-aware man- eligible for a scholarship. Patricia industry partners and the Education agement, among members of the therefore has worked half time for Program team. community, and industry partner the Murray Wetlands (d) a continuing supply of new recruits to Working Group, and has spent the rest of The CRCFE’s Commonwealth Agreement freshwater science. the time completing her PhD thesis. had four other education & training objectives: Training workshops and professional Summary of progress 8 contribution to the continuing develop- development courses have been offered to CRCFE postgraduate students during ment of professionals working in the POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS water industry through continuing 2004–2005. Basic GIS courses were education programs that update their The CRCFE has attracted postgraduate offerred to students in their capital cities knowledge and skill-bases; students through a combination of applied who had not previously been exposed to GIS training; also, a course on advanced 8 contribution to undergraduate educa- research opportunities, scholarships and statistics. A mid-year workshop in July tion programs to ensure graduates operating funds, and value-adding 2004 on two themes — Writing have sound ecological knowledge and professional training. successful grant applications, and an appreciation of its application to APA Industry Level scholarships and top Effective conference presentations —

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 25 was enthusiastically received by the Creightons Creek, Victoria’ (Monash ‘Inland river floodplains: the role of candidature, with the proviso that they students. The workshops were University) sediment and nutrient exchanges’. present their work as a paper or poster interactive, giving students opportunities 8 Claudette Keller, ‘Factors regulating at the conference and produce a short to demonstrate their skills in these areas. faunal assemblages in freshwater Conference/workshop attendance article suitable for publication in the They were so successful that students temporary ponds‘ (Monash University) and travel news section of Watershed or CRCFE asked for a student forum where they News (the internal emailed newsletter) 8 Claire McKenny, ‘The relationship During 2004–2005 CRCFE has supported could share PhD experiences and further upon return. between ecosystem processes and postgraduate students to travel to and enhance their presentation skills. A present papers and posters at the community structure in south east In addition, all students have been funded student forum was therefore held in following national and international Queensland rivers’ (Griffith to attend the CRCFE Annual General conjunction with the Annual General conferences and workshops: University) Meeting, the associated workshops and Meeting in late June 2005. 8 8 Carol Conway, ‘Reactivity of organic 43rd Annual ASL Congress (four the student forum. This has encouraged students) Postgraduate student statistics carbon under anaerobic conditions interaction between students from the and its role in sediment nutrient 8 Fifth International Symposium on different university campuses, as well as During 2004–2005, the CRCFE has had a dynamics’ (University of Canberra) Ecohydraulics, Madrid, Spain (one introducing them to other researchers and total of 41 full-time and part-time PhD student) managers in the water industry. students, including those who have 8 Mark Kennard, ‘A quantitative basis 8 submitted and taken time off. The for the use of fish as indicators of 29th Conference of the International Destination surveys following students have submitted PhD river condition’ (Griffith University). Association of Limnology, Finland theses or had them accepted between (one student) Graduates from the CRCFE PhD program The following students graduated at July 2004 and June 2005: 8 North American Benthological Society have been surveyed to follow the ceremonies during 2004–2005: progress of past students. The purpose of 8 Giovanella Carini, ‘The role of Annual Meeting, New Orleans (one 8 Kelly Vanderkruk the survey was to provide feedback to the flooding in the maintenance of genetic student) 8 CRCFE from former graduates, with a diversity in four floodplain inverte- Benjamin Smith 8 Evolution 2005 Society for the Study focus on mentoring and general brates’ (Griffith University) 8 Jason Nicol of Evolution, Fairbanks, USA (one experiences, and suggestions for student) 8 Dale McNeil, ‘Fish, zooplankton and 8 Giovanella Carini changes. Of 31 past students (theses algae dynamics in Murray River 8 Julia Howitt 8 2004 Royal Australian Chemical completed 1997–2004) who could be billabongs’ (La Trobe University) Institute Conference, Gold Coast (one 8 Amy George contacted, 25 completed the survey. They 8 Amy George, ‘Population dynamics student) recorded these strengths of the CRCFE 8 Dale McNeil and recruitment of eucalypts on the 8 Ecological Society of Australia postgraduate program: Lower Murray Floodplain‘ (University Two new associated projects began in conference (one student) 8 the opportunities given for networking of Adelaide) 2004–2005. Anne Jensen began work on 8 American Society for Limnology and with scientists and other students 8 Jason Nicol, ‘The ecology and ‘The lower Murray floodplain seedbank: Oceanography summer meeting, during their candidature management of arid deflation basin status and response to flooding’, working Spain (one student) 8 the industry contact and the chance to lakes‘ (University of Adelaide) at the University of Adelaide with 8 36th International Binghamton have professional mentoring and work 8 Benjamin Smith, ‘Carp spawning Associate Professor Keith Walker and Geomorphology Symposium, experience in industry Associate Professor David Paton. And in dynamics and early growth in the ‘Geomorphology and Ecosystems’, 8 the professional development offered July 2004, Mark Southwell began his River Murray, South Australia‘ Buffalo, New York State (one student). as workshops and courses, (University of Adelaide) studies with Associate Professor Martin Thoms (University of Canberra) and Dr Students have been able to attend up to 8 the financial support (scholarships, 8 Kelly Vanderkruk, ‘Biogeochemistry of Jon Olley at CSIRO Land & Water, on two national conferences and one operating funds, travel allowances). nutrients in a sand slug stream, international conference during their

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 26 Young Water Scientist of the Year approach, (ii) the personal role the Awards to postgraduate students optional four-day face-to-face practical The CRCFE has managed the 2004 and student has played in developing the topic workshop module. The modules teach Tim Page (Griffith University) won Best the 2005 CRC Water Forum Young Water and overcoming difficulties along the way, participants about assessing river health Student paper at the Australian Society Scientist of the Year Award program. In and (iii) the student’s skill and initiative using the methods and predictive models for Limnology’s 43rd Annual Congress, both years, the awards have been hosted shown in communicating their subject of AUSRIVAS (Australian River Adelaide, in November–December 2004. by the Riverfestival Riversymposium in matter. An underlying criterion is also the Assessment System). Brisbane in early September. The relevance of the work to industry, but this Ben Smith (University of Adelaide) was The success of online and blended face- candidates presented their talks during year that was given lower priority than in awarded the Australian Society for Fish to-face delivery has led to a new set of the conference sessions most related to previous years. The award is intended to Biology’s 2004 International Travel courses, ‘Watercourses Online’, being their subject matter, rather than in a showcase students working on water- Scholarship (worth $5000), on the basis offered from 2004–2005, via the same separate session as in previous years. focused research. of his technical publications. CRCFE University of Canberra team. They have since commented on the Amy George (from the University of Watercourses Online is a growing set of welcome interest shown by the Craig Boys (University of Canberra) has Adelaide; now working with Dept of online training courses designed primarily audiences, and on the good exposure to just won the John Holliday Student Water, Land and Biodiversity to support personnel in water the industry and other scientists in their Conservation Award, presented annually Conservation in Adelaide, SA, and a management, natural resources particular fields by NSW Fisheries, part of NSW Dept of knowledge broker with CRCFE until June Primary Industries, for his PhD studies on management, environmental education The CRC Water Forum’s high profile 2005) has been our candidate for the fish habitats in the Barwon-Darling River, and ecological consulting. The courses Young Water Scientist of each year is 2005 Young Water Scientist of the Year; NSW. available now are: selected by a panel of eminent judges at Dale McNeil (from La Trobe University; ¤ Ecology and river function working at DIPNR at Forbes, NSW) was a major water conference, from finalist Mark Kennard (Griffith University), with ¤ Waterway assessment postgraduates selected from water- our finalist for 2004. Winner for 2005 co-authors Brad Pusey and Angela ¤ Catchments: their character, waters & focused CRCs. Until 2005, only the Water was Cara Beal (CRC for Coastal Zone, Arthington, also of Griffith University, has chemical composition. Forum CRCs had been involved, but in Estuary and Waterway Management), just been awarded the Whitley Award for 2005 the contest was widened to include and for 2004 it was Sara Lloyd (CRC for zoological publishing, from the Zoological Details are available from water-focused PhD candidates from any Catchment Hydrology). Society of NSW, for their book http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au/ CRC. Selection criteria, which are applied Freshwater Fishes of North-eastern WatercoursesOnline.nsf. Judges for 2005 were: to both a written and a spoken paper from Australia. 8 John Hawking has again run ‘Train the each candidate, in 2005 were: (i) the Professor Ian Rae, professorial fellow trainer’ sessions for Waterwatch staff in quality of the scientific research in the history and philosophy of TRAINING FOR WATER INDUSTRY Victoria, South Australia and ACT. The science at the University of PROFESSIONALS Melbourne; sessions teach sampling methods (hands-on in local rivers) for 8 Dr Barbara Baginska, Senior CRCFE researchers and knowledge macroinvertebrates, the ecology of Environmental Scientist, Waters and exchange staff ran and/or supported stream macroinvertebrates, and the Catchment Science Section, NSW several courses for water industry profes- identification of aquatic freshwater Department of Environment and sionals during 2004–2005. invertebrates in the laboratory, using an Conservation; The AUSRIVAS Online training course Internet-based guide to the identification 8 Mr Harley West, Secretary of the was delivered each semester during and ecology of aquatic freshwater inverte- Granite Borders Landcare Committee, 2004–2005, particularly to water industry brates. John developed the web guide at and a founding member of the personnel. The course consists of four the request of the Australian Government Stanthorpe Water Assessment and modules that are self-paced and Dept of Environment and Heritage. Monitoring Project, south-east Qld. accessed via the Internet, and also an

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 27 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION COMMUNITY EDUCATION SCHOOL-BASED EDUCATION & Students experience both work in the ASSISTANCE TO THE GENERAL MDFRC laboratories and field-work at Undergraduate teaching takes place at Community and school-based education Monash University, University of PUBLIC Wonga Wetlands, and always give activities have been managed and excellent presentations at the end of the Canberra, La Trobe University, Griffith performed mainly by knowledge brokers In April 2005 again, students from years 9 University, the University of Adelaide, and week to a group of scientists and and scientific staff. to 11 attended the two very popular Rotarians. at other CRC sites, or at the request of annual freshwater schools run by the other institutions. We worked with Waterwatch and Murray-Darling Freshwater Research During 2004–2005, CRCFE staff Greening Australia, in particular, and Centre, and Rotary. (particularly knowledge brokers and The following undergraduate freshwater interacted with the broader community via ecology and water-science-related units are scientists based at the regional presentations, forums, field events and The annual ‘Health of the River System’ laboratories) visited schools and colleges offered at university partners as part of an working groups. youth forum, run from Mildura each April, associated degree. These often encourage (pre-primary to tertiary), led excursions of 8 A member of CRCFE staff has been attracts students in years 9–10 from students to further their studies by MSc or school-students, worked with students in working with Waterwatch Victoria to south-west NSW, South Australia and PhD in the water field within the CRCFE. preparation for MyRiver sessions, and develop quality assurance methods Victoria. Each year, students investigate Students are exposed to CRCFE produced plays (primary school) on for use by community members of the biology of fish, water bugs and plants research and researchers as much as ecological themes. Presentations have Waterwatch; and CRCFE staff helped at Lake Cullulleraine, as well as some of possible, especially during their final year. been tailored to the particular groups but set up the ACT Waterwatch Campfire the social and economic aspects of water often focused on river health issues, management. They also work with Summer scholarships and program for post-fire freshwater salinity, aquatic food webs, aquatic plants, monitoring. catchment managers and scientists. ecological sampling, work of the regional work experience Student presentations at the end of the 8 Specialist groups have held labs, stormwater education, flow forum are always excellent, and Summer scholarships were undertaken discussions with CRCFE staff about alteration, flooding, native fish and demonstrate good understanding of for a period of 8 weeks from November training that can be set up to train introduced fish. issues in river ecology. 2004 through to February 2005, with a them in particular areas (e.g. CMAs). For the general public, CRCFE staff also stipend of $4000 each. Short projects 8 Occasionally, targeted fact sheets Also in April, the Rotary Murray-Darling were completed under the supervision of have answered questions, identified biota, have been produced in response to School of Freshwater Research supplied general CRCFE written material, CRCFE staff at the various institutions. requests for information from introduces year 11 students to freshwater The scholarships were provided to: including brochures, reports, newsletters community members and local state ecology. They work in teams with leading (e.g. Watershed, The Narran News) and Monash University (2), agency staff; e.g. on anabranch scientists from La Trobe University, the run stands at displays and field days (e.g. Monash Water Studies Centre (1), channels of the Macintyre River, and MDFRC and Charles Sturt University. World Wetlands Day; Water Week). University of Canberra (3), on connectivity and its role in Griffith University (3), promoting biodiversity. MDFRC Mildura Lab (2, each sponsored 8 Presentations and interaction have half by CRCFE and half by the local been invited by a wide range of community), community groups, including art MDFRC Albury Lab (1). CRCFE postgraduate students project teams, wetland groups, the active at June 2005 Mark Carey (one of the MDFRC summer wetlands education network, bird scholarship students in 2003–2004) was observers, field naturalists, Rotary The CRCFE’s postgraduate students are awarded the North-east CMA Prize at the and Lions Clubs, eco-tourism groups, listed on the next three pages, by name Annual Presentation of Awards and Prizes wetland community groups, Landcare. and expected degree, project title, Ceremony at La Trobe University in July supervisors/ mentors and institutions, and 2004. source(s) of funds. Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 28 CRCFE postgraduate students active at June 2005

Name and expected Project title Supervisor and institution Source(s) of funds degree Aldridge, Kane Structure and function of Mediterranean creeks George Ganf, Justin Brookes, University of Adelaide; APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD along a rural-urban gradient: influence on Michael Burch, SA Water (industry) scholarship phosphorus dynamics Atkinson, Bonnie Ecosystem function responses to stream Barry Hart, Mike Grace, Monash University; Wayne APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD rehabilitation in the Granite creeks Tennant, Goulburn Broken CMA (industry) scholarship Barrett, Melissa Distributions and implications of C3, C4, CAM/SAM Keith Walker, George Ganf, the University of APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD species in the Murray-Darling Basin as a response to Adelaide scholarship resources/stress limitations of water, nutrients and salinity Bowen, Trish Flow effects on cycling of carbon from lowland river David Williams, University of Canberra Land and Water Australia PhD macrophytes Associated Project, Collaborative write-up scholarship Boys, Craig Habitat used by riverine fish communities in semi- Martin Thoms, University of Canberra CRCFE full scholarship PhD arid regions during low flow Bryce, Cassandra The ecology and systematics of the Australian Phil Suter, La Trobe University; John Hawking, CRCFE top-up Associated PhD Eustjemiidae (Insecta: Phlecoptera) and the MDFRC Project implications of climate change on their conservation status Cook, Ben Recovery and recruitment of aquatic fauna to Jane Hughes, Stuart Bunn, Griffith University APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD rehabilitated streams in south-eastern Australia scholarship Cooper, Karen How are aquatic ecosystems affected by different Gerry Quinn and Ralph MacNally, Monash Associated Project + Land & PhD configurations of landscape-scale drivers? University; Leon Metzeling, EPAV (industry) Water Australia scholarship, UC top-up Curmi, Tim Determining the health of the Lachlan River Phil Suter, La Trobe University; Associated Project MSc (deferred) Richard Norris, University of Canberra Davis, Nicole Fate and environmental effects of ammonia Bill Maher, University of Canberra Associated Project PhD Francis, Cathy The effects of flow regulation on carbon and nutrient Martin Thoms, University of Canberra; Ben Gawne, APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD cycles in temporary wetlands of the Murray River MDFRC scholarship Gehrig, Susan The ecology of riparian willows on the River Murray Keith Walker, University of Adelaide APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD scholarship Hammer, Michael Setting a framework for conservation: molecular Keith Walker, University of Adelaide APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD systematics and conservation biology of small fishes scholarship of the Murray-Darling Basin

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 29

Name and expected Project title Supervisor and institution Source(s) of funds degree Harbott, Ernestine Use of enzyme activity for characterising organic Barry Hart, Mike Grace, Monash University APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD carbon in Australian freshwater streams scholarship Hughes, Victor Hydraulic habitat of inland rivers: the role of large Martin Thoms, University of Canberra CRCFE Top-up Scholarship PhD woody debris expired, now self-funded Hunter, David Life history of declining and non declining frogs in the Will Osborne, University of Canberra Now self-funded PhD Southern Highlands of NSW Jensen, Anne The Lower Murray Floodplain seedbank: status and Keith Walker and David Paton, the University Associated project, Land & PhD response to flooding of Adelaide Water Australia scholarship Kelly, Nadine Quantifying flow–habitat–biota relationships in Keith Walker + Trevor Daniell and Martin Lambert, Associated project + PhD riverine ecosystems (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering), the CRCFE top up scholarship University of Adelaide; Shaun Meredith, MDFRC Linke, Simon New approaches in biodiversity assessment for Richard Norris, University of Canberra; Leon CRCFE top up scholarship PhD conservation purposes Metzeling, EPAV (industry) Loo, Sarina Intercontinental analysis and modelling of invasive Ralph MacNally, Sam Lake, Dennis O’Dowd, CRCFE top up scholarship PhD species Monash University; Sabine Schreiber, DSE (industry) MacKay, Stephen Flow requirements of aquatic macrophytes in south- Angela Arthington, Thorsten Mosisch, Griffith CRCFE full scholarship PhD east Queensland streams University McGinness, Heather Connectivity and fragmentation of floodplain-river Martin Thoms, University of Canberra APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD exchanges in a semi-arid, anabranching floodplain scholarship river system Medeiros, Elvio Variation on diet composition of fish in dryland Angela Arthington, Griffith University International Scholarship and PhD refugia Associated Project Oswald Louisa Development of in-situ protocols for the assessment Richard Norris and Bill Maher, University of CRCFE Top-up (expired), now PhD of water quality using macroinvertebrates Canberra self-funded Page, Timothy The role of vicariance and dispersal in the evolution Jane Hughes, Stuart Bunn, Griffith University APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD of atyid shrimps in Australasia scholarship Perryman, Shane Nitrogen cycling and bacterial bio-diversity in urban Barry Hart, Mike Grace, Monash University CRCFE full scholarship PhD Australian streams (extension) Price, Amina Influence of hydrology on the recruitment of native Martin Thoms, University of Canberra CRCFE full scholarship PhD fishes to the Narran Lakes, north-western NSW Reid, David Effects of riparian zone degradation and restoration Gerry Quinn, Sam Lake, Monash University; Wayne CRCFE top-up scholarship PhD on ecological processes in freshwater streams Tennant, Goulburn-Broken CMA (industry)

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 30

Name and expected Project title Supervisor and institution Source(s) of funds degree Sellens, Claire Defining the reference condition: implications for Richard Norris, University of Canberra CRCFE full scholarship, part- PhD biological assessment time student, now self-funded Sharma, Suman Genetic structure of aquatic fauna in coastal streams Jane Hughes, Griffith University CRCFE full scholarship PhD in SE Queensland: evidence for past drainage (expired), now self-funded changes Southwell, Mark Inland river floodplains: the role of sediment and Martin Thoms, University of Canberra; Associated project, Land and PhD nutrient exchanges Jon Olley, CSIRO Land and Water Water Australia, UC top-up scholarship Stojkovic-Tadic, Interactions between nutrient status and UVB in John Beardall, Monash University Monash Graduate Scholarship + Slobodanka microalgae CRCFE Top-up scholarship, now PhD self-funded Thomas, Colette Ecological risk assessment of land derived Barry Hart, Mike Grace, Monash University Associated Project PhD contaminants to coastal ecosystems Troy, Aaron Quantification of ecological benefits associated with Phil Suter, Terry Hillman, La Trobe University; APA + CRCFE Top-up PhD wetland rehabilitation along the Murray River Keith Ward, DSE and NECMA (industry) scholarship Floodplain Watkins, Susan Effects of flooding and drying cycles on ecological Gerry Quinn, Monash University; CRCFE top-up scholarship PhD processes in river-flood plain systems Ben Gawne, MDFRC; Deb Nias, NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group (industry)

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 31 CRCFE’s research teams worked newsletter/magazine. 4. Collaboration across disciplines and organisations. 8 The Annual General Meeting, a busy Program and project meetings, field- and Knowledge two–three day meeting, brings work and joint supervision of PhD together staff and students from all students all offered opportunities for exchange sites and programs. The 2005 AGM face-to-face interaction among team was held in Sydney. Postgraduate members from different institutions and students from all sites also have met To ensure that CRCFE research and states, reinforcing email and phone at least once per year, usually during services meet the short- and long-term contact. knowledge needs of the CRC’s partners, the AGM. 8 and that new knowledge is applied by our The cross-institutional collaboration has partner management agencies and by been led by the senior management External collaborative linkages policy-makers and researchers all over team structure, which brought together the world and others, we use representatives from five of the Beyond the CRCFE partners, collabora- collaborative linkages within and beyond research sites, eight times per year. tive links have been established with: the CRCFE, and particularly a process we 8 Important collaborative linkages have 8 policy-makers, natural resource call ‘knowledge exchange’. been maintained at Board level, with managers, government officials from four meetings per year plus non-partner organisations 8 Collaborative linkages between committee and other interactions community groups; parliamentarians CRCFE partners between meetings. The Board 8 non-partner members of the water consists of senior representatives of industry, including small-to-medium- The CRCFE is a cooperative assemblage the core participants (both industry size enterprises of 19 research and management institu- partners and research providers) that 8 the four other water-related CRCs in tions, as listed in Chapter 1. In this make the largest financial contribu- the Water Forum: viz. the CRC for cooperative working environment, it is tions to the CRCFE. Catchment Hydrology; the CRC for easy to forget that research in freshwater 8 The CRCFE’s knowledge exchange Water Quality and Treatment; the ecology, and communication between (KE) team has also aimed to help Environmental Biotechnology CRC; water professionals, was different before maintain trust between groups. In part and the CRC for Coastal Zone, the CRCFE was set up first in 1993. It is of their work, the KE team members Estuary and Waterway Management; very important that the good cooperative have assembled forums and steering this collaboration operated at a linkages between the CRCFE’s core committees consisting of industry and project level, and in giving policy participants are maintained, and research staff, and they have also advice, and in running the CRCs’ developed further where possible. been an important contact point for Young Water Scientist of the Year Several mechanisms have operated to the CRCFE’s other stakeholders. Award build mutual trust between the groups, 8 All CRCFE staff have been invited to 8 non-partner research institutions and across sites and disciplines. contribute news items to the fort- water agencies overseas. 8 One strong mechanism has been nightly internal e-newsletter. Staff International linkages the cross-institutional collaboration have also been emailed Research that has existed among our research- Highlights, which notes progress in CRCFE’s researchers (staff and students) provider partners and between them current research projects, and have established international linkages and our water-industry partners. The Watershed, the CRCFE’s public and reputations partly by:

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 32 8 working with relevant research groups 8 North American Benthological Society running workshops, exchanging During 2004–2005, the knowledge overseas and attending international Awards of Excellence Committee students, and publishing jointly exchange team has been led by its conferences, (S. Bunn, Griffith U.) (Norris, U Canberra) director, Associate Professor Ralph 8 running international conferences 8 North American Benthological Society 8 CRCFE staff are invited overseas to Ogden. He has been supported by a chief here, International Planning Committee give presentations, and attend over- knowledge broker in Melbourne (Peter Cottingham, based at Melbourne Water), 8 accepting invitations to join (S. Bunn, Griffith U.) seas conferences (see Chapter 7). knowledge brokers in Sydney (Amanda international scientific steering 8 Hydrobiologia Editorial Board Kotlash, based at Sydney Catchment committees and editorial boards, (R. Norris, U. Canberra) Authority), Mildura (Michelle Bald & Sylvia 8 8 Knowledge exchange: ensuring that publishing work that is relevant to River Research and Applications Zukowski), Goondiwindi (Janey Adams) water management issues Editorial Board, based in the United CRCFE research outputs are used and applied and Albury-Wodonga (John Hawking), at everywhere. Kingdom (K. Walker, U. Adelaide; those MDFRC labs, and in Canberra M. Thoms, U. Canberra) In CRCFE, knowledge exchange is (Ruth O’Connor and Bronwyn Rennie) Also, in 2004–2005, staff of the CRCFE 8 Freshwater Biology Editorial Board, defined as two-way interaction between backed were again invited to join, or elected based in UK (Sam Lake, Monash U.) end-users and CRCFE staff — usually up by the communications group (Ann members of, committees, working groups scientists, but also our particular team of Milligan and Bronwyn Rennie), all three and editorial boards overseas; including: 8 Geomorphology Editorial Board (M. ‘knowledge brokers’ and ‘community based at University of Canberra. In 8 Thoms, U. Canberra) Australian–Japanese ‘Predictions in scientists’. Members of the KE team have October 2004, Amy George began work 8 Environmental Biology of Fishes Ungauged Basins’ Working Group (D. all been science graduates with with the CRCFE partners in Adelaide, SA, Editorial Board (A. Arthington, Baldwin, CSIRO) communication skills and postgraduate funded by and based at the SA Dept of Advisory Editor). 8 Steering Committee for the 2nd degrees or experience — at levels Water, Land and Biodiversity International Symposium on Riverine Staff and students have visited, worked reflected in the two job titles. Conservation. Amy had just completed Landscapes, Sweden 2004 (S. Bunn, overseas or worked collaboratively with her PhD with the CRCFE. Griffith U.) overseas research groups; e.g.: Our aim has been to provide our end- users with available ecological 8 Scientific Committee of DIVERSITAS 8 Gary Jones was part of a delegation Scientific and public communication information, based on CRCFE research, crosscutting network on freshwater that visited Korea to establish working CRCFE research staff disseminate and supply it in a most useful form. Our biodiversity (A. Arthington, Griffith U.) relations with Korean water authorities scientific information via seminars, knowledge-exchange staff interacted with 8 Gary Jones was invited to give one of conferences, journal papers, technical 8 Ramsar Convention’s Scientific and partner agencies and water managers a series of presentations at the MDBC reports. Technical Review Panel (A. and the community to determine their to the visiting Director and staff of the Arthington, Griffith U) needs and learn how best to deliver Yellow River Conservancy Commission, CRCFE research is also publicised by 8 Global Water Systems Project, knowledge to them. Scientists and from China newsletters, fact sheets, brochures, web Scientific Steering Committee (a joint members of the KE team have sites and media articles. CRCFE publica- 8 Simon Linke (PhD student, U. project of Diversitas, the IGBP, the synthesised tacit and explicit knowledge tions have been handed out to visitors to Canberra) worked for three months IHDP and the WCRP) (S. Bunn and from the CRCFE research providers. the laboratories, and at public events and with Professor Bob Bailey in northern A. Arthington, Griffith U.) They have made knowledge products agricultural shows, particularly near the Canada, from April 2005, as part of 8 North American Benthological Society available in the form of decision tools, regional laboratories. The communica- his PhD fieldwork) Executive Committee (S. Bunn, guidelines, summary booklets, web tions group also receives numerous Griffith U., R. Norris, U. Canberra). 8 leading researchers in river health pages, and so on. requests for copies of publications. Norris became Chair in May 2005. assessment in N. America and Canberra have ongoing collaboration,

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 33 This year, there have been three bumper presentations or conference environmental flows monitoring factors has been developed from a size issues (one of 16 pages and two of presentations, 31 published or accepted program for the Thomson-Macalister model in use in epidemiological 24 pages) of our newsletter Watershed conference papers, and 40 non-refereed Rivers on the CRCFE environmental- studies. It complements other (normally 12 pages per issue), which publications. flows monitoring framework. approaches for water quality maintains a circulation of around 2500 monitoring. The ‘Multiple Lines and Refereed journal papers (97) and *The Dept of Water, Land and copies per issue. Also, three issues of the Levels of Evidence’ schema consists chapters in books, or whole books (26), Biodiversity Conservation, SA, is Narran Lakes newsletter have been sent of software and a manual, and is at are also listed in Chapter 7. applying the basis of the framework to to 200 stakeholders and landholders in streams in the Mt Lofty ranges. present being rigorously tested. the Narran Lakes area. Presentations and a paper have been Knowledge exchange interactions with the *Cottingham P., Stewardson M. and community, general public and schools, and produced for the Australian Stream All new publications are made available Webb A. (2005), Victorian training courses for water industry Management Conference and for a on the CRCFE web site. The two Environmental Flows Monitoring and personnel, run by CRCFE research and special session of the Conference of interactive web sites — for the Narran Assessment Program — Stage 1: knowledge exchange staff, are outlined in the North American Benthological Lakes project (http:// Statewide Framework, is a joint CRC Chapter 3. Society. mooki.canberra.edu.au/narran), and for for Freshwater Ecology and CRC for Catchment Hydrology report to the c CRCFE was contracted to undertake the CRCs’ Water Forum (http:// Summarised below are significant out- Victorian Department of Sustainability review of the ACT’s Environmental- mooki.canberra.edu.au/waterforum) have comes of knowledge exchange activities and Environment. It applies the Flow Guidelines, for the ACT continued to operate. Both are available and ongoing interations between the KE Environmental Flows Monitoring and Government. A report, ‘Review of the via http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au. staff and industry end-users and policy- Assessment Framework to Victoria. 1999 ACT Environmental Flow makers at all levels of government, during Guidelines’ by Ralph Ogden, Peter Media representatives contact the c ‘Recent lessons on river rehabilitation 2004–2005. Davies, Bronwyn Rennie, James CRCFE for comment from Professor in eastern Australia’ is a management Mugodo and Peter Cottingham, was Gary Jones and other senior staff. At least guide (in press) that captures recent submitted by the CRCFE to 24 staff have been interviewed or Highlights of the knowledge lessons that have emerged from Environment ACT in November 2004. mentioned in the media this year. Our exchange program CRCFE’s rehabilitation research and media releases generally focus on events c The CRCFE’s framework for from practitioners’ on-ground c CRCFE scientists continued to work and outcomes, rather than resarch monitoring and assessing the experience. The guide should be regularly with ACTEW, the ACT water findings. ecological effects of environmental useful to river managers for the managers, to devise the best active flows has been published as a report planning, implementation and adaptive management for environ- In press, TV and radio, CRCFE staff and mental flows during the drought and CRCFE work have been mentioned or (Environmental Flows Monitoring and evaluation of the success of Assessment Framework, see http:// rehabilitation projects. the after-effects of bushfire in featured in over 50 media items during Canberra’s main water supply freshwater.canberra.edu.au > c Assessing and monitoring aquatic 2004–2005 (38 press, 2 TV, 5 radio, 8 catchments. This work has won a publications > technical reports). The biodiversity: what have we learnt?, by online), and eWater CRC has been University of Canberra Vice- framework was developed by a panel Ruth O’Connor and Amanda Kotlash, foreshadowed, in connection with Gary Chancellor’s Distinction Award for representing 14 water agencies is a compilation of knowledge gained, Jones in 12 items (7 press, 1 TV, 1 radio Innovation and Creativity in Research across eastern Australia (including largely by the CRCFE, in the and 3 online). and Enterprise (2005), and has been Tasmania), many of which were measurement of aquatic biodiversity. presented at the 8th International Technical and consultancy publications, CRCFE partner institutions. A web It is available on the CRCFE web site Riversymposium in September 2005. public presentations and non-refereed tool to assist users has been at http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au. (communication) publications are listed in prepared and is being reviewed. c Williams, D. and Roberts, J. (2005), c A framework or schema for Chapter 7. There have been 26 technical Riparian vegetation diversity in the *The Dept of Sustainability and organising and examining evidence reports (printed and or on-web), 32 Sydney Catchment Authority’s area of Environment, Victoria, has based an for causality between environmental consultancy reports, 75 public notable operations, describes the vegetation Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 34 biodiversity work that was part of a the use of community-collected data consistent with activities proposed by and Paul Reich also attended and larger biodiversity study. It is in natural resources management. the MDBC Native Fish Strategy. The presented posters on their research. published on the CRCFE web site, at c The CRCFE team that works on the workshop objectives were established The Third Symposium is planned to http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au. Narran project contributed an article following discussions between the be held in Australia in 2007. c A joint CRCFE–CRCCH industry to the Jan/Feb ’05 Western Division Murray-Darling Basin Commission, c Gary Jones has coordinated and led report, Urban stormwater and the Newsletter (a DIPNR production) on the Arthur-Rylah Institute, the the development of the Inland Waters ecology of streams, by Chris Walsh, the Narran project. Readers University of Adelaide and the Theme for the 2006 Australian State Alex Leonard, Anthony Ladson and (landholders and NRM managers) CRCFE. of the Environment report. A Tim Fletcher, has been published on commented very favourably. c CRCFE staff (Lintermans, O’Connor, workshop was organised in July 2004 the CRCFE website (link from front c Three newsletters were sent out Cottingham) have edited the to provide input on the appropriate page) and in print. Derivative about the Narran Project (nos. 6, 7, 8) proceedings of a workshop they indicators and conceptual model. publications are planned. Other KE during the year and received facilitated on ‘Fish Habitat Rehabilita- c CRCFE was contracted to conduct an outputs underway or planned are: favourably, according to comments tion and Management in the Murray- ecological risk assessment of ACT’s incorporation of the design guidelines during a successful field day with Darling Basin’ for MDBC in February water source options for ACTEW as a into MUSIC (urban stormwater stakeholders at the Nature Reserve in 2004. Papers from the workshop are result of earlier activities. A report software), industry workshops, and May. to serve as a benchmark. ‘Ecological Risk Assessment of ACT possibly the development of c The Narran Lakes oral history project c Graham, R. and Harris, J. (2005) Water Source Options: Workshop educational on-line modules. continues to collect valuable Floodplain inundation and fish Report for ACTEW Corporation’ by c Wetlands knowledge relevant to the information from the Narran River dynamics in the Murray-Darling Basin: Ruth O’Connor was submitted by the Lower Murray swamps has been community. The collection is expected Current concepts and future research: CRCFE to ACTEW in October 2004. compiled and provided to the to be completed later in 2005. a scoping study, has been published c CRCFE facilitated (Ogden), and DWLBC, to help identify natural on the CRCFE website at http:// eWater CRC will continue to deliver contributed to (Brock, Nielsen, wetlands that have ecological freshwater.canberra.edu.au. the Narran Lakes project, which is Schreiber), a session at LIMPACS conservation value, and that are already informing government and c A technical report, ‘Reestablishment (Human Impacts on Lake amenable to ecological rehabilitation, community decision-makers about the of Macquarie Perch in Queanbeyan Ecosystems) workshop ‘Salinity, as a guide for assigning priority to ecology of the Narran Lakes river NSW’, by Mark Lintermans, will Climate and Salinisation working restoration works. ecosystem and communicating new soon be available at http://freshwater. group — setting research priorities c A wetland management “checklist” knowledge of the ecological canberra.edu.au. 2005–2010’ in October 2004 at has been developed for managers to functioning of the ecosystem to the c Explorers’ diary accounts of fish in Mildura, Victoria. The objective of the use in collecting and applying the national and international scientific rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin session was to review the latest information that they need to consider community. show abundance and distribution of science related to salinity impacts on when monitoring and managing aquatic systems, and determine if c The CRCFE facilitated a workshop on fish species in the early 1800s. A new wetlands. there is enough new science to the importance of floodplain-wetland report (in press) summarising the improve on existing aquatic c A Waterwatch training workshop was habitat for native fish at the Australian accounts is a useful resource for management guidelines. Daryl held by the CRCFE in the ACT, and Society for Fish Biology annual researchers and local communities. Nielsen attended and presented specialist theory and training sessions conference (20–21 September 2004). c The CRCFE was well represented at results from core project C240 in the were delivered by three CRCFE staff The workshop explored what is the Second International Symposium workshop, and also the CRCFE at the Waterwatch conference in known of flow–wetland–native fish on Riverine Landscapes in Sweden, session. The CRCFE was also Adelaide. interactions for the Living Murray with invited papers from Jane represented by Sabine Schrieber of c Working with CRCFE, Waterwatch significant ecological asset sites, Hughes, Sam Lake and Stuart Bunn. Arthur Rylah Institute (DSE). Victoria has produced a report guiding Ben Cook (PhD student), Nick Bond

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 35 c Rob Vertessy and Gary Jones led an c Rapid biological assessment: a c The report from core project A100, of the Year Award at Riversymposium official Australian delegation of project begun in CRCFE and being ‘Ecological functioning of the Murray (on behalf of the CRC Water Forum), business people (from the water completed in eWater CRC is collating River’, by Ben Gawne et al., is in and Gary Jones chaired a lively consulting industry) and scientists information on techniques for rapid press. The project extensively debate on the costs and benefits of from CSIRO and the CRC for biological assessment, for a decision investigated the productivity of the building dams. The 8th International Catchment Hydrology to the Republic framework useful to managers. River Murray, at Albury, Barmah and Riversymposium has also hosted the of Korea in October 2004. The aim of Scientific papers discussing the Hattah. Young Water Scientist of the Year the visit was to develop a joint R&D methods are in press with the c Six representatives of CRCFE (Jones, Award 2005 for CRCFE. program with the Korean Sustainable international journal Hydrobiologia. Ogden, Norris, Meredith, Rayburg and CRCFE maintained cooperative Water Resources Research Centre, c Watercourses Online (see Education, Kelly) had productive interaction with interaction with the Cotton RDC, Cotton and with the national water p.25) is a growing set of online 11 parliamentarians at the Science Australia, the Rice Growers Association, management authority, KOWACO. training courses designed primarily to Meets Parliament meeting in February and several community-based manage- This has been flagged as a key support personnel in water 2005 in Canberra. ment groups, particularly the Mallee CMA, international relationship for the management, natural resources c The CRCFE (via the MDFRC) North-East CMA, Border Rivers CMA and eWater CRC. CRCCH has an MOU management, environmental continued to contribute to the SA Goulburn-Broken CMA, as well as other with SWRRC, signed in August 2003. education and ecological consulting. Wetlands Baseline Monitoring project, catchment management groups, and the c Targets and indicators for healthy Three courses have been on offer in run with the River Murray Catchment community reference panel for the Narran working rivers — a project begun in 2004–2005. Water Management Board and Lakes area of the Lower Balonne Flood- CRCFE and being developed in c ‘The Tooma River Project: inter- DLWBC, via demonstrations and by plain, on the Queensland–NSW border. eWater CRC — is a framework disciplinary probes into ill-defined and running community training days. The These groups all operate at the interface designed for stakeholder groups capricious pollution’, by Harris, J., project was completed in October between fresh-water ecology and involved in river management. It Bowling, L., Keller, R., Kress, J., Lake, 2004. floodplain land-use. It is important to the provides a process for groups to S., McPhail, B. and Simpson, J. is in c The 7th International Riversymposium CRCFE that we cooperate together to ensure targets are (i) informed by the press as a CRCFE technical report. It was held in Brisbane on 1–3 achieve common goals. best available scientific information so describes a study of water quality in September 2004, with nearly 500 ecological trade-offs are explicit; and the Tooma River, NSW, associated delegates from 38 countries. The (ii) directly linked to management with a spoil dump and occasional fish CRCFE ran the Young Water Scientist actions. kills.

Table of knowledge exchange with end-users during 2004–2005 The table that follows summarises exchanges and outcomes such as: End-users for the CRCFE’s research findings and catchment management groups, and of knowledge and information between (ii) end-users having more have been our partners (all of whom are ‘core among natural resource management CRCFE staff and end-users in 2004–2005. comprehensive knowledge, participants’) in particular, but we also have committees, education groups and the Knowledge exchange activities usually result key end-users among other public water community. (iii) decisions, in outputs in the form of: industry organisations and government (iv) action (or policy for action), Conference presentations, also a form of (i) guidelines, handbooks or manuals, bodies, and among small–medium-size knowledge exchange, are listed with software including decision support tools, and, ultimately, enterprises in the private water industry, publications at the end of the annual report. collaborative research partnerships, (v) solutions to the underlying issues. including consultants, irrigation businesses consultancies, reports or literature reviews,

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 36

Topics information has Activities involved and outputs Locations and/or species End-users (immediate): core participants (P) and others. CRCFE staff involved (from KE been exchanged about involved C = consultancy team and research providers) algal management: Input to planning committee; Lake Hume; Lower Basin Lab Catchment management/producer body; EPA Victoria (P), Mallee Ogden; Bald blue-green algae invited briefing (Mildura) area of operations CMA biodiversity: threatened Input to advisory committees; Various; corroboree frog; DIPNR (P); DSE (P); Griffith University (P); University of Canberra Brock, Hughes, Crook, Koehn, species listing, recovery articles in Watershed turtles; trout cod (P); Environment ACT (P), state and federal government Lintermans, Osborne; Georges plans, survey of aquatic responsible committees; Watershed readers and team; Milligan species biodiversity: assessment of compilation of research findings; eastern Australia DIPNR (P), EPAV (P), QNRM (P), SCA (P), Environment ACT (P), O’Connor, Kotlash discussions; publication; DSE (P), UC (P), Monash U (P), Griffith U (P); Watershed readers Watershed articles biodiversity: management of, Input to meeting; Biodiversity Sites in connectivity and Griffith University (P); DIPNR (P); SCA (P); QNRM (P), Environment Kotlash, Hughes; Mildura lab; factors in Forum briefings; consultancy dispersal research projects; ACT (P); Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Authority (P C); Jones; Hawking; Milligan report; Watershed articles general biodiversity; mussels University of Canberra (P); Watershed readers in Cattanach Canal; Murray cod catchment assessment: Advice on priority-setting; input to Queensland; Australia; Qld EPA; Aquatic researchers and managers; CRC for Catchment Adams, Wilson; O’Connor; Hydrology; Coastal Zone CRC; Land & Water Australia; CSIRO Ogden, Norris ASL congress sessions (Chair, judge); workshop for NLWRA2 Water for a Healthy Country catchment management Input to responsible groups advice; Toowoomba; Goulburn River; Qld Murray-Darling Committee; Melbourne University; Adams; Cottingham; Rennie; provision of publications; review of Victoria; Nepal; water Melbourne Water (P); Goulburn Murray Water (P); DSE (P); Ogden; Jones; Kotlash research programs; input to catchments for Sydney; Nepalese local government; SCA (P); Border Rivers assessment panel for funding; Border Rivers; ACT water CMA/Landcare; ACT Government (P); Queensland Murray-Darling Chairing management committtee; supply catchments; Committee; Border Rivers CMA media hit Queensland Murray-Darling Basin; Border Rivers collaborative partnerships: Inputs to planning groups and Mildura; northern Murray- Murray-Darling Association; QNRM (P), DIPNR (P), Griffith Bald; all Northern Basin Lab development of; success of advisory committees; 2-day forum Darling Basin; Moree; River University (P), CSIRO L&W (P), CSIRO Entomology; University of staff; O’Connor; Adams, Wilson; of managers and researchers; Murray near Mildura; Canberra (P); catchment and regional managers, community Zukowski; Keating; Jones; workshop facilitation; discussions; wetlands along lower Murray; stakeholders; MDBC (P) Community Advisory Committee; Baldwin; Nielsen, Rees; Gawne, media hits; newsletter articles Wodonga; Albury area; cotton Riverwatch committee (P via DIPNR); Queensland EPA; Mallee Sinclair; Williams; McNeil; (Watershed); publication drafting area, Narrabri; River CMA; La Trobe University (P), MDFRC; Condamine Alliance; Brennan, Milligan; Cottingham, (brochure); presentations; briefings Recovery program, MDFRC eWater CRC partners, Border Rivers CMA/Landcare; Queensland Rooney; Kotlash; Meredith; research; north-eastern Murray-Darling Committee; Cotton CRC, NSW Agriculture; Hawking Victoria; Border Rivers Greening Australia; Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; industry NECMA; Albury Water; NE Water; Border Rivers Food and Fibre; Queensland Government; Dept of Environment and Heritage; SCA (P); Melbourne Water (P), Goulburn-Murray Water (P); EPA Victoria (P); Waterwatch

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 37

Topics of exchange Activities and outputs Locations, species End-users CRCFE staff involved ecological education and Publications (including conference Mildura; Albury; NECMA Catalyst Interactive, catchment managers; stream managers; Rennie, Ogden, Nichols, Barlow, training poster); online courses; input to prize; CMA training needs; Mildura Youth Centre; North-East CMA; DIPNR; DWLBC; Norris; Zukowski; Gigney; planning meetings with marketing wetland training module; ACT Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, Torrens CWMB, Adams, Wilson; Hawking, collaborators; presentations Condamine Catchment NRM Corp Ltd; Waterwatch; school O’Connor; Keating (conferences, schools); training communities from south-west NSW, north-west Victoria and SA camps (2); work experience training; media hits; discussions; scoping; review of training; workshops ecological risk assessment: Input to ASL congress session on Australia; Lower Loddon Aquatic researchers and managers; DSE (P); ACTEW (P); Adams; O’Connor, Norris, risk management for "Linking environmental baselines catchment; ACT; Granite Belt Queensland EPA Lintermans, Barlow sustainability with policy" (Chair); Media hit; (Qld) advice, discussions; review of assessment; environmental flows: Development of framework for CRCFE monitoring and DSE (P); DIPNR (P), Metropolitan Water Directorate; SCA (P); Cottingham; Quinn; King; Norris; monitoring of effects monitoring and assessment; assessment framework; Environment ACT (P); DPIWE; MDBC (P); Goulburn-Murray Water Chessman; Marshall; Webb; presentations; adoption by Thomson-Macalister rivers; (P); QNRM (P); Melbourne Water (P); Monash University; Scott; Milligan management authority; review of Victoria; Mt Lofty Ranges; Thomson-Macalister stakeholders; DWLBC (P); Glenelg-Hopkins monitoring plans; construction of Wimmera-Glenelg Rivers CMA; Wimmera CMA; Watershed readers monitoring plans; Watershed articles; compillation, report on flow-ecology relationships environmental flows: setting review of guidelines; media hits; River Murray; Cotter River; River stakeholders; MDFRC; University of Canberra (P); online Ogden, Rennie, Cottingham, and management presentations; input to committee Sydney area readers; Environment ACT (P); ACTEW (P); SCA (P) Mugodo, Sellens, Liston; Gawne; Norris; Lintermans; fish management; habitats TV news report (ABC), newsletter Murrumbidgee River NSW Environment ACT (P), MDBC (P); NSW Fisheries; Charles Sturt Ebner, Lintermans, Thiem; management articles (Watershed); sponsorship, (trout cod); carp, golden University; fish researchers and managers, Australian Society for Crook, Humphries; Milligan; facilitation/running of workshops perch, Broken River; Fish Biology; MDBC (P); La Trobe University; South Mildura Rotary McNeil; Cottingham, Koehn, (various); media hits; literature billabong species; Cooper Club; Lions Club Mildura; Lower Murray CMA; QNRM (P); southern Ogden, O’Connor; Zukowski, reviews; production of Creek; Warrego R; River Queensland community; Watershed readers Matveev; Harris; Scott; Meredith; publications; presentations Murray; Murray-Darling Sheldon, Georges, Arthington, Basin; Native Fish Strategy; Balcombe, Bunn Murray cod; flooded floodplains; diaries in 1800s; Lindsay Island floodplains Input to planning workshop, policy River Murray (SA) DWLBC (P), RMCWMB, SARDI, EPA of SA, DEH of SA George management/research group habitats in streams/rivers Media hits Frogs; turtles; Snowy Mts; University of Canberra (P) Hunter; Osborne; Rennie, rice-growing area Milligan identification of biota Online ID guide; photo Macroinvertebrates; dragonfly Dept of Environment and Heritage; Melbourne Living Museum Hawking; Gawne; Rennie invasive species Input to management group; Carp; invasive spp.; weeds CRC for Pest Animals; Expert Consultation Panel hosted by Global O’Connor; Koehn; Arthington; media hit; briefing; advice; Invasive Species Programme (at Smithsonian, USA); SCA (P); DSE Kotlash; Schreiber, Williams Watershed article (P); Watershed readers

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 38

Topics of exchange Activities and outputs Locations, species End-users CRCFE staff involved knowledge exchange within Seminar; discussions on research Bureau of Resource Sciences, Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Ogden; George; Cottingham; other organisations (not and information needs; advice, Forestry; DWLBC (P); Weeds CRC; Centre for Research in Kotlash; O’Connor CRCFE) briefing; input to planning Women’s Health; SCA (P); Greening Australia Narran Lakes freshwater Discussions; input to responsible Lower Balonne floodplain; MDBC (P), DIPNR (P), QNRM (P), Narran Lakes Community Ogden, Adams, Quinn, Murray, ecology groups; newsletters (3); magazine Walgett, Goodooga, Reference Panel, Queensland Murray-Darling Committee; Thoms, Rayburg, Brandis, article; workshop; field day; Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge; landholders and managers in Western Division NSW; NSW NPWS Capon, Milligan, Mesley, conference presentations; oral Narran Lakes area (part of DEC (P)); University of Canberra (P); Griffith University (P), Cossart, James, White; history interviews Oct 04-Jun 05; MDFRC (P) O’Connor invited article in Western Division Newsletter; establishment of ‘joint discovery’ KE process National Water Initiative Coordination of R&D linkages National Water Commission NWC, researchers Jones Rewetting sediments: effects Consultancy Thegoa Lagoon NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group (C) Nicol of grazing on ecology river condition / ecological Advice, workshops on methods Melbourne; Lower Basin Lab; Melbourne Water (P); Aquatic researchers and managers; DIPNR Cottingham; Adams; Bald; Norris, function: assessment and approaches; media hit; article Australia; Hawkesbury- (P), QNRM (P), EPAV (P), MDBC (P); Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA; Milligan; Mugodo, O’Connor, in Watershed; discussions; report Nepean R; River Murray Watershed readers Sellens; Kotlash; Gawne, Baldwin, Rees, Williams, Oliver and MDFRC team river condition / ecological Theory and practical training Macroinvertebrates, ACT; ACT and Sydney Waterwatch coordinators, SCA (P); Environment Hawking, O’Connor, Linke; function: development and sessions (2) on identification & macroinvertebrates Australia ACT (P); University of Canberra (P) Nichols, Barlow, Norris delivery of training in sampling; AUSRIVAS training (2); media hit river management via flows Presentations; input to committee; Campaspe R; Mulcra Island; Goulburn-Broken CMA; NE CMA; Mallee CMA; Melbourne Water, Humphries; Cook; Zukowski; media hit; report Yarra R; River Murray Monash University; MDBC (P); Murray-Darling Basin Community Walsh; Cottingham; Gawne; Advisory Committee; DIPNR (P), Riverwatch Keating river management for multiple Advice: reference condition, Urban streams in Melbourne; Melbourne Water (P); Goulburn-Broken CMA; river stakeholders; Cottingham; Tennant; Gawne; uses benchmarking, monitoring terms of Broken River, River Murray; general public; ABC; DIPNR (P); Monash U (P); DSE (P); State Baldwin; Mitchell; Oliver; reference; media hits (including Macquarie R; Yarra R., MFAT Water (NSW); MDBC (P); Barmah-Millewa Forest Forum; partner Hawking; Humphries; O’Connor, live interview); framework for software, BLACKWATER agencies (P); Nichols, Norris; Rennie; working towards Healthy Working software; MLLE software O’Connor; White; Baldwin, Rivers; running Yarra Forum; Howitt, Rees; Mugodo, Norris, developing decision support tools project team; river rehabilitation Compilation, report, Watershed Granite Creeks; eastern DSE (P); Melbourne Water (P); Monash U (P), Watershed readers Lake, Bond; Cottingham; Koehn; articles; advice Australia; wood for Brooks resnagging; Victorian CMA projects; USA projects salinity effects on ecology assessment and reporting, Albury; Australia; Border DIPNR (P); Ecological Society of Australia; QNRM (P); DSE (P); Brock, Nielsen; Kotlash; Rees; (wetlands) discussions with managers; media Rivers region, major eastern various management bodies Schreiber, Ogden hit; workshop, factsheets Australian wetlands, zooplankton, wetland vegetation

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 39

Topics of exchange Activities and outputs Locations, species End-users CRCFE staff involved urban waters: management Publications; newsletter articles; Yarra River, Melbourne urban Monash University (P); Melbourne Water (P); NSW Stormwater Walsh (and team), Cottingham, and rehabilitation, rural–urban media and online hits (several), streams; Sydney urban Trust (P C); the University of Melbourne; Canberra Urban Parks and Kotlash, Milligan; O’Connor; gradient workshop planning; advice; streams; international urban Places; SCA (P), University of Canberra (P) Lintermans organisation of 2-day workshop waters; Canberra; ACT suburban wetland; Vegetation: riparian, input to monitoring planning Eastern Australia; South DWLBC (P); Greening Australia; SCA (P); Dept of Environment and Williams; George; Ogden; Bunn; macrophytes; invasive spp workshop, steering committee for Australia; Sydney Heritage; Watershed readers Gawne River Recovery, and criteria for red catchments; red gums and gum rescue; report of large blackbox; azolla, Broken vegetation survey; media hits; Creek; review of management priorities for riparian zone; advice; Watershed articles water quality: management, review of report; review of Tallowa Dam; ACT; Tooma SCA (P); South Coast CMA; ACT Waterwatch ‘campfire’ program; Nichols, Norris, Barlow; Kotlash; assessment, policy monitoring program; input to task R; Cotter R; Victoria; eastern Waterwatch Victoria; DSE (P); DIPNR (P); ACTEW (P); O’Connor; Harris; Johnson; force; compilations of methods and Australia; cotton areas of Environment ACT (P); Cotton CRC; U New England; Border Rivers Thoms; Lutton; Hyne knowledge; report; review of northern Murray-Darling community; RIRDC, rice-growers knowledge gaps; Basin; rice-growing area, pesticides water resources Articles (inluding Watershed); input Lake Burley Griffin; Victoria; University of Canberra (P), Melbourne Water (P), Goulburn Murray Jones; Kotlash, Norris; management, policy to research forum; media hits Molonglo River, ACT; water Water (P); DSE (P); General public; SCA (P); ACTEW (P C); MDBC O’Connor; Bunn; Gawne; (ABC TV, radio; capital city press, catchments south of Sydney; (P); Korean water authorities/agencies; federal parliamentarians; Lawrence; Rayburg, Kelly, eco-press, Korean cable TV); ACT water source options; QNRM (P), Moreton Bay Waterways and catchments partnership; Meredith, Ogden; Sellens; discussions; publications drafting; River Murray; National Water Dept of Environment and Heritage; Watershed readers Mugodo assessment and reporting of Initiative; Korean water ecological risk; planning; chairing resources; SE Queensland; discussions; reports; coordination Australia; eastern Australia; of State of Environment theme; MLLE development of assessment framework and software waterbody management, Consultancy; input to advisory Lake Mulwala; Lake Eyre Goulburn-Murray Water (P); Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum Baldwin, Howitt, Hawking; Bunn, policy: lakes, storages, committee report Basin Cullen waterholes, weir pools wetlands: monitoring, media hits; public field days (2); Goondiwindi, Border Rivers, Border Rivers CMA/Landcare; Brenda Park RMCWMB; DWLBC Adams, Wright; Bald; George, management, salinity issues; input to planning groups; Narran wetlands; Kings (P); Murrumbidgee Wetlands Working Group, DIPNR (P), Wetlands Nicol, Smith; Baldwin; Zukowski; rehabilitation; community presentations to catchment Billabong (Mildura); Lower Care; SKM; River Murray CWMB; community, Mallee CMA Ogden; Butcher; Keating education managers; input to assessment Murray wetlands; methods; compilations of Murrumbidgee wetlands; knowledge, report, checklist; input Australia; Living Murray to prioritisation; brochure drafting wetlands

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 40 Specified personnel at 30 June 2005 Dr Sabine Schreiber (Arthur Rylah 5. Operations and Institute, Victoria) was elected the Staff matters Prof. Gary Jones CEO 100% President of the Australian Society of U. Canberra Limnology in early 2005, and Professor Prof. Stuart Bunn Director (research) 85% Stuart Bunn was elected Vice President. Griffith U. Buildings In May 2005, Professor Richard Norris Dr Ben Gawne Director (regional labs) 100% became Chair of the Executive The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research MDFRC Centre at Albury-Wodonga moved Committee of the North American Prof. Sam Lake Chief Ecologist 75% premises in February 2005. The labs are Benthological Society. Professor Stuart Monash U. now on the La Trobe University campus in Bunn (Griffith University) is also a Wodonga, having been on the Charles Prof. Richard Norris Program leader 75% member of the Executive Committee. U. Canberra Sturt University’s Thurgoona campus in Professor Stuart Bunn has been invited to Albury for several years. A/Prof. Martin Thoms Program leader 75% join the inaugural Scientific Steering U. Canberra Committee of the Global Water Systems Equipment purchases Dr Margaret Brock Program leader 30% Project (a joint project of DIVERSITAS, the DIPNR International Geosphere-Biosphere No major equipment was purchased during Dr Nick Bond Program leader 60% Program, the International Human this final year of CRCFE operations. Monash U. Dimensions Program and the World Climate Research Program, under the Specified personnel auspices of the Earth System Science Partnership. Early in 2005, Associate Professor Gerry Awards and honours to staff and Professor Sam Lake (Monash University) Professor Angela Arthington (Griffith Quinn left Monash University and the was awarded one of three inaugural CRCFE to take up a Chair at Deakin associates during since June 2004 University) remains an invited member of L&WA Senior Research Fellowships the Scientific Committee of the University. He was replaced by Associate Professor John Langford (Board ($100,000 in total), which he will use to Professor Martin Thoms (University of DIVERSITAS Freshwater Cross-cutting Chairman) was made a Member of the review drought effects on freshwater network. Canberra) for the last few months of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s ecosystems. CRCFE. Specified personnel at the end of Birthday Honours, ‘for service to water Professor Angela Arthington has been June 2005 are shown in the table at right. resource management, particularly Professor Richard Norris (University of appointed an Advisory Editor to the through organisations that regulate and Canberra) and his research team were international journal ‘Environmental Staff movements: comings research water supply, quality and usage’. awarded one of two Vice-Chancellor’s Biology of Fishes’. Distinction Awards for Creativity and Amy George, Knowledge Broker, Professor Peter Cullen was awarded the Innovation in Research and Enterprise, at Associate Professor Martin Thoms Adelaide. ‘Einar Naumann–August Thienemann’ the University of Canberra. Their (University of Canberra) has been Medal by the Societas Internationalis appointed to the Editorial Board of the and goings innovative studies on the Cotter River, Limnologiae, ‘for exemplary scientific ACT, before and since the 2003 international journal ‘Geomorphology’. Michelle Bald, Sylvia Zukowski (MDFRC, leadership and extraordinary efforts to bushfires, have supported active adaptive Mildura), communicate complex limnological and management by Canberra’s water Dr Will Osborne (University of Canberra) Gerry Quinn (Monash University), water resources issues to colleagues and managers, benefiting the environment has been appointed as Chair of the ACT Debbie Heck (Griffith University), decision-makers’. and the Canberra community. Flora and Fauna Committee. Paul Humphries (MDFRC, Albury).

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 41 Mark Carey (MDFRC summer Best published paper with a scholarship student) was awarded the postgraduate student as lead North-east CMA Prize at the Annual author: David Crook, Alistar Presentation of Awards and Prizes Robertson, Alison King and Paul Ceremony at La Trobe University in July Humphries, for ‘The influence of 2004. spatial scale and habitat arrangement on diel patterns of habitat use by two Tim Page (Griffith University) won Best lowland river fishes’ (Oecologia 129, Student paper at the Australian Society for 525–533). Limnology’s 43rd Annual Congress, Best published paper with a Adelaide, in November–December 2004. CRCFE scientist as lead author: Ben Smith (University of Adelaide) was Paul Humphries, Alison King and awarded the Australian Society for Fish John Koehn, for ‘Fish, flows and Biology’s 2004 International Travel floodplains: links between freshwater Scholarship (worth $5000), on the basis fishes and their environment in the of his technical publications. Murray-Darling River sytem, Australia’ (Environmental Biology of Fishes 56, Craig Boys (University of Canberra) has 129–151). just won the John Holliday Student Best multidisciplinary team Conservation Award, presented annually research project: ‘D210, by NSW Fisheries, part of NSW Dept of Urbanization and the ecological Primary Industries, for his PhD studies on function of streams’, led by Chris fish habitats in the Barwon-Darling River, Walsh (Monash University). NSW. Best knowledge exchange activity Mark Kennard (Griffith University), with or project: ‘The Assessment of River co-authors Brad Pusey and Angela Condition: an audit of the ecological Arthington, also of Griffith University, has condition of Australian rivers’, led by just been awarded the Whitley Award for Richard Norris (University of zoological publishing, from the Zoological Canberra) and Ian Prosser (CSIRO). Society of NSW, for their book Freshwater Fishes of North-eastern Special Achievement Awards were Australia. made to John Langford (our Board Chairman), Barry Hart (Monash At the final Annual General Meeting of the University), Ben Gawne (MDFRC, Albury- CRC for Freshwater Ecology, the Wodonga) and Peter Cullen, in following special awards were presented. recognition of their outstanding Best Support Person: Rhonda contributions to the CRCFE. Sinclair (MDFRC).

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 42 CRCFE’s rehabilitation research and Cottingham, was submitted to 6. Performance from practitioners’ on-ground Environment ACT in November 2004. indicators experience. The guide should be c CRCFE scientists continued to work useful to river managers for the regularly with ACTEW, the ACT water planning, implementation and managers, to devise the best active evaluation of the success of adaptive management for environ- Cooperative arrangements rehabilitation projects. In the same mental flows during the drought and area, a database and assessment of Activities of the centre seen by stake- the after-effects of bushfire in on-ground rehabilitation works across holders as making a difference to Canberra’s main water supply Victoria and USA is being prepared in water management, July 1999 – June catchments. This work has won a an international project that CRCFE is 2005 University of Canberra Vice- part of (via Brooks and Lake). The Chancellor’s Distinction Award for During 2004–2005: team has recently published a list of Innovation and Creativity in Research characteristics that signify successful c the CRCFE’s framework for and Enterprise (2005), and has been ecological restoration. monitoring and assessing the presented at the 8th International ecological effects of environmental c Assessing and monitoring aquatic Riversymposium in September 2005. flows has been published as a report biodiversity: what have we learnt? by c Williams, D. and Roberts, J. (2005), (Environmental Flows Monitoring and Ruth O’Connor and Amanda Kotlash, Riparian vegetation diversity in the Assessment Framework, see http:// is a compilation of knowledge gained, Sydney Catchment Authority’s area of freshwater. largely by the CRCFE, in the operations describes the vegetation canberra.edu.au > publications > measurement of aquatic biodiversity. biodiversity work that was part of a technical reports). The framework It is available on the CRCFE web site larger biodiversity study. It is was developed by a panel at http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au. published on the CRCFE web site, at representing c A framework or schema for http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au. 14 water agencies across eastern organising and examining evidence c A joint CRCFE–CRCCH industry Australia (including Tasmania), many for causality between environmental report, Urban stormwater and the of which were CRCFE partner factors has been developed from a ecology of streams by Chris Walsh, institutions. A web tool to assist users model in use in epidemiological Alex Leonard, Anthony Ladson and has been prepared and is being studies. It complements other Tim Fletcher, has been published on reviewed. Three projects are already approaches for water quality the CRCFE website (link from front either completed or in progress, monitoring. The ‘Multiple Lines and page) and in print. Derivative based on the framework: monitoring Levels of Evidence’ schema consists publications are planned. programs for the Thomson-Macalister of software and a manual, and is at c Wetlands knowledge relevant to the Rivers (DSE) and streams of the Mt present being rigorously tested. Lower Murray swamps has been Lofty Ranges (DWLBC); and a c CRCFE reviewed the ACT’s compiled and provided to the Victoria-wide monitoring program Environmental Flow Guidelines, on DWLBC, to help identify natural (DSE). contrat to the ACT Government. A wetlands that have ecological c ‘Recent lessons on river rehabilitation report, ‘Review of the 1999 ACT conservation value, and that are in eastern Australia’ is a management Environmental Flow Guidelines’ by amenable to ecological rehabilitation, guide (in press) that captures recent Ralph Ogden, Peter Davies, Bronwyn as a guide for assigning priority to lessons that have emerged from Rennie, James Mugodo and Peter restoration works.

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 43 c A Waterwatch training workshop was with invited papers from Jane 8 CRCFE scientists are working regu- 8 Outcomes from workshops and held by the CRCFE in the ACT, and Hughes, Sam Lake and Stuart Bunn. larly with the ACT water managers to research on ephemeral wetlands and specialist theory and training sessions Ben Cook (PhD student), Nick Bond devise strategies for Canberra’s main deflation basins have been incorpo- were delivered by three CRCFE staff and Paul Reich also attended and water supply catchments. rated into management guidelines for at the Waterwatch conference in presented posters on their research. 8 CRCFE has devised a monitoring ephemeral deflation basin lakes for Adelaide. The Third Symposium is planned to design specifically for DSE for as- the MDBC. c The CRCFE team that works on the be held in Australia in 2007. sessing ecological responses to 8 CRCFE ran the Ninth International Narran project contributed an article c Gary Jones has helped to coordinate future environmental flows in the Conference on River Research and to the Jan/Feb ’05 Western Division the development of the Inland Waters Wimmera and Glenelg Rivers, western Applications in early July 2003 at Newsletter (a DIPNR production) on Theme for the 2006 Australian State Victoria. Albury, NSW. Together with a pre- the Narran project. Readers of the Environment (SoE) report, as a 8 The CRCFE has established a multi- conference forum on flow ecology and (landholders and NRM managers) mentor of the SoE committee. A state working group to develop a environmental flows, the conference commented very favourably. workshop was organised in July 2004 generic framework for monitoring brought together managers and c The CRCFE facilitated a workshop on to provide input on the appropriate environmental flows, following on national and international the importance of floodplain-wetland indicators and conceptual model. from the project above that researchers. habitat for native fish at the Australian highlighted the challenges in 8 CRCFE helped organise, and facili- During 2003–2004: Society for Fish Biology annual designing monitoring programs for tated, a workshop attended by ~80 8 conference (20–21 September 2004). the conclusions and report of the environmental flows in lowland rivers scientists and aquatic managers to The workshop explored what is Scientific Reference Panel for the with naturally variable flow regimes. discuss the current status of knowl- known of flow–wetland–native fish Living Murray initiative were widely The framework is expected to be edge on fish-habitat rehabilitation and interactions for the Living Murray considered to have contributed both complete in late 2004. management issues. Papers from the to the National Water Initiative significant ecological asset sites, 8 City water managers in Melbourne, workshop are to serve as a benchmark. confirmed in June 2004 and to the consistent with activities proposed by Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney have 8 The Narran Project (joint CRCFE- first-step decision of the Murray- the MDBC Native Fish Strategy. The accepted CRCFE’s advice on storm- MDBC) is involving key members of Darling Basin Ministerial Council, in workshop objectives were established water drainage connection with urban the Lower Balonne Floodplain com- November 2003, to adjust the man- following discussions between the streams, and have begun to collect munity via the Lower Balonne agement of the Murray system’s water Murray-Darling Basin Commission, the information on infrastructure that Community Reference Group and the over the next five years so that an the Arthur-Rylah Institute, the they need to be able to apply the Narran Community Reference Panel. estimated average extra 500 GL per University of Adelaide and the advice. Leading irrigators and pastoralists in year can be devoted to environmental CRCFE. the area are collaborating in the needs. 8 A risk-based approach formulated by c CRCFE staff (Lintermans, O’Connor, CRCFE is to be incorporated into project. 8 The Goulburn River Scientific Panel Cottingham) have edited the guidelines for suspended sediments, 8 CRCFE staff have run or helped run for the Living Murray, and its report, proceedings of a workshop they by EPA Victoria. three international and national facilitated on ‘Fish Habitat Rehabilita- ‘Environmental flow recommendations 8 CRCFE (MDFRC), with the River conferences and 12 major training tion and Management in the Murray- for the Goulburn River below Lake Murray Catchment Water workshops or courses for scientists Darling Basin’ for MDBC in February Eildon’, contributed to the Living Management Board, and DLWBC, is and water industry personnel, two 2004. Papers from the workshop are Murray intiative above. contributing to the SA Wetlands freshwater schools for school to serve as a benchmark. 8 Public talks by Gary Jones and Ben Baseline Monitoring project that is students, and 14 other workshops or Gawne contributed to community c The CRCFE was well represented at expected to make a difference to SA seminar series during 2003–2004. understanding of the Living Murray the Second International Symposium wetland management. on Riverine Landscapes in Sweden, initiative, and therefore indirectly to river management. Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 44 During 2002–2003: 8 CRCFE was invited to be part of the condition of the Keepit Dam and its 8 the CRCFE conducted the assess- Victorian Technical Audit Panel to immediate surroundings, at DIPNR’s ment of three environmental flows review groundwater management request. scenarios for the River Murray, under plans and streamflow management During 2001–2002: the Living Murray Initiative for its plans. 8 partner the Murray-Darling Basin 8 A team from CRCFE reviewed CRCFE convened and led the Expert Commission, and for the Murray- Melbourne Water’s Waterway Man- Reference Panel on Environmental Darling Basin Ministerial Council, which agement Strategy and their decision Flows and Water Quality Require- is widely seen to have influenced river support system STREAMS. CRCFE ments for the River Murray System, management in 2003–2004. identified opportunities for further for the MDBC. The CRC provided a key technical report supporting the 8 Scientific knowledge generated by the refinement. April 2002 Ministerial Council decision CRCFE was part of the basis for 8 CRCFE contributed to the to continue development of River environmental flow recommendations development of a long-term Murray environmental flows for the Goulburn River, Victoria. The monitoring program for Melbourne allocations. Low Flow Recruitment hypothesis for Water. This included liaising with 8 fish and wetland macroinvertebrate Melbourne Water staff and arranging Described the environmental health of responses to inundation, and CRCFE for the project to be undertaken by the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin work on the microbial processing of researchers from Monash University. in a report to the MDBC titled Snap- shot of the Condition of the Rivers in carbon and nutrients in relation to 8 CRCFE continued to collaborate with the Murray-Darling Basin. ‘seasonal flow inversion’ below Lake SCA, DIPNR and NSW EPA on re- 8 Eildon, and the FLOWS methodology, searching the ecological consequences Coordinated Scientific Panel assess- to which CRCFE research contributed of reduced connectivity and increased ments for Victoria’s Ovens River and strongly, have been used for this and fragmentation of rivers in the Sydney Broken River, and produced a techni- other environmental flow studies in region using genetic techniques. cal report reviewing the Scientific Victoria. Panel approach to determining 8 At the Murray Unregulated River environmental flows for DNRE 8 In regular discussions, the CRCFE Management Committee meeting, Victoria. advised and assisted its partner water CRCFE staff gave advice on the 8 authorities for Canberra in devising stream flow management plan for Undertook a major Aquatic environmental flows for the Cotter Billabong Creek. Biodiversity Assessment Pilot Study River (Canberra’s main water supply) on behalf of the Sydney Catchment 8 CRCFE provided DIPNR with input to during the drought of spring/summer Authority. the Darling Anabranch Management 2002 and summer/autumn 2003, and 8 Plan and has advised on environmen- Facilitated a whole-of-water cycle in managing water quality and envi- tal flows. benchmarking study workshop for ronmental flows in the Cotter River ACTEW Corporation. 8 The Lower Basin Laboratory of the since the bushfires of January 2003. 8 Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Undertook assessment of proposed 8 CRCFE collaborated with the Depart- Centre (CRCFE) is helping manage management scenarios for the Lower ment of Sustainability and environmental flows for the Mallee Balonne River system for DNRM Environment (Victoria) to develop CMA in western Victoria. Queensland. Sustainable Diversion Limits for 8 8 Produced two river management Victorian rivers. The CRCFE undertook a literature review of the aquatic ecological guides for regional catchment man- agement organisations that were

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 45 distributed to over 3500 stakeholders. 8 Reviewed progress made towards the and each project has had input from During 2004–2005, the success of the There has been strong demand for definition, measurement and reporting industry via the Program Advisory CRCFE’s rebid, jointly with the CRC for these guides. of Ecologically Sustainable Develop- Committees and other collaborations. Catchment Hydrology, was announced. ment as it is applied to Queensland’s The new CRC will have over 40 During 2000–2001: water resources, in a 2-day workshop Of 35 active core- and associated- participants, about one-third of which 8 CRCFE provided First National with QDNR. research projects in 2004–2005, 18 have not been participants in the two involved staff from several partner Assessment of River Condition, 8 Provided scientific input to, and former CRCs. The new partners comprise institutions. Eight of the 11 phase-2 core through the NLWRA, as a basis for oversaw, several riverine representatives from private industry, projects were cross-institutional, and also large-scale decision making about environmental flows assessment including small-medium size enterprises 10 associated projects. The staff interact improving river condition across expert panels. (SMEs), as well as public industry and Australia. via frequent phone and email contact and research providers. regular program and project meetings. 8 Developed a framework which will During 1999–2000: Phase I research teams (2000–2003), provide for a comprehensive annual 8 the CRCFE’s ability to improve water now disbanded, combined staff across Research and researchers review of the condition of the Basin’s management was recognised by a sites in a similar way. waterways — the Sustainable Rivers wide range of stakeholders as shown Research portfolio appropriate to Audit — for the MDBC. by the high demand for the CRCFE’s short- and longer-term issues for the Maintaining a strong partner base, expertise from community groups, the water industry UPDATE, JUNE 2004: ‘After a highly 1999–2005 successful pilot trial in four rivers, a water industry, politicians, the media Our research portfolio has targeted both The CRCFE consisted of 19 partners at new $11 million six-year program’ and the general public. short and long-term issues facing the June 2005, since two partners — Lower called the Sustainable Rivers Audit 8 Many of the CRCFE’s recommenda- water industry. CRCFE projects have Murray Water and Sunraysia Rural Water will ‘audit the health of the Murray- tions were adopted via consultancies. ranged from large integrated three- to Authority — amalgamated into one in Darling Basin’s rivers and streams’ in five-year projects looking at scientific 2004–2005. The partners comprised six 23 river valleys: announced on 10 Research undertaken in large multi- questions underpinning sustainable water research providers and 13 public and June 2004 by Murray-Darling Basin disciplinary projects is managed in an resources management, to short-term 6– private water-industry agencies. Commission (MDBC) President Ian integrated way, 1999–2005 12 month projects addressing immediate Sinclair. (See http:// Large multi-disciplinary projects have The Senior Management Team and the needs and knowledge gaps. Up till 2004– www.mdbc.gov.au/commcentre/elist/ formed the core of the CRCFE’s research Knowledge Exchange team have been in 2005, additional targeted funding has eletter/Issue32-july04.htm) portfolio. These projects use expertise regular contact with members of the been provided through government and 8 The National Water Quality Manage- from across the CRCFE to focus on CRCFE’s partner organisations, industry research grants. ment Strategy guidelines for water problems at an appropriate field scale discussing their requirements and We believe that most benefit is gained if quality (and sediments) and for water- (preferably at landscape scale), and are supplying advice and information. The research projects are developed as quality monitoring and reporting, managed in an integrated way. Senior Management Team members collaborative partnerships between completed and published. Both were staff members in four of our partner researchers and managers. Program guidelines have had large input from The CRC’s research portfolio has been research providers. Advisory Committees (PACs), established CRCFE staff over several years, and guided by a conviction that if truly multi- for each research program, formalised Bill Maher was a principal writer of the disciplinary and collaborative research is Wherever possible, CRCFE has ensured the involvement of industry staff in monitoring and reporting guidelines to be undertaken, the researchers and that the involvement of partner research planning and activities. and the sediment quality guidelines. managers must be involved from the start organisations in CRCFE work has been in developing the projects. We have acknowledged in publicity about the These guidelines are now the basis Industry personnel have continued to be invested in leadership training to help Centre. for water quality measurements and involved directly with many of the latest staff work in these integrated projects, reporting, nationally. post-graduate students, as mentors (see

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 46 below), ensuring that the students’ Number of postgraduate students enrolled and working with the CRCFE, and degrees conferred research topics have continued relevance 2004–2005 2003–2004 2002–2003 2001–2002 2000–2001 1999–2000 to water industry issues. PhD 41 48 51 47PhD+MSc 41 51 Research is of an excellent standard MSc 1 1 1 na 1 12 and is published in refereed literature Conferred 7 10 4 8 na 11 All research projects undertaken within Associated projects 10 10 6 na 90 25 the CRCFE have undergone a rigorous na = information not available review process to ensure excellent quality science which is relevant and of benefit to our partners. To reinforce this, we have had a quality assurance review process that all research projects have One of the ways in which the CRCFE has Short courses and workshops devel- undergone. It had three levels: Education and training ensured its research is world-class has oped and presented 8 internal review of the science (by Involvement of non-university staff in been through international collaborations During 2004–2005, CRCFE personnel management committee); teaching postgraduate courses and with selected institutions and researchers. have run, or jointly run 11 professional 8 research supervision external review of the science (by These linkages have enriched the training courses, and five short courses peers); and research generated by both parties and Nine CRCFE postgraduate students have and interactive workshops or forums for 8 review of management relevance (by benefited the broader water science had non-university staff as co-supervisors industry staff, managers and researchers. PACs). community in Australia as CRCFE in 2004–2005. In 2003–2004, 2002–2003, Three conferences and 28 courses or All research projects were approved by researchers have shared their 2001–2002, 2000–2001 and 1999–2000, interactive workshops were run in 2003– the CRCFE’s Board. knowledge. Several key researchers in the numbers were 9, 10, 10, 1 and 22, CRCFE have been on international respectively. Additionally, each year the 2004; 13 research planning, joint problem The list of articles accepted by, or pub- committees (e.g. DIVERSITAS, and CRCFE has had several students solving or communications workshops were lished in, refereed journals has varied editorial boards) by invitation (see page involved in collaborative projects with organised in 2002–2003, 17 in 2001–2002, from year to year. In total the CRCFE has 31). non-university partners of the CRCFE and 17 in 2000–2001 and 3 in 1999–2000. published approximately 450 papers benefiting from feedback and advice they Effective project management with since mid-1999, though the number receive from them. Applications of research appears higher in the yearly figures, regular reporting to Board because there is some overlap with The CRCFE Project Management System The industry mentoring scheme for Adoption of research by partners, papers in press at the ends of financial has tracked the achievement of postgraduate students, introduced in 1999–2005 milestones for individual projects. All staff 2003, has continued this financial year, years: 8 Environmental flow monitoring and accessed the Project Management 2004–2005. Recipients of CRCFE top-up 97 articles in 2004–2005; assessment framework (MDBC, DSE, System through the secure CRCFE and APA scholarships have had industry DWLBC) 104 articles in 2003–2004; intranet web site. Reasons for missed mentors, as well as supervisors, to 8 67 in 2002–2003; milestones were provided by the Project ensure that the students’ training River health assessment methods 50 in 2001–2002; Leader and these formed part of the produces new scientists with a sound (Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA), Exceptions Report to the Board. understanding of the water industry. MDBC, QNRM, DSE, DIPNR, EPA 94 in 2000–2001; NSW, EPAV, Environment ACT) 43 in 1999–2000. 8 Waterway condition assessment (National Land & Water Resources Audit)

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 47 8 Integrated urban land and water Technical publications produced, 1999–2004 management (ACT Government, 2004–2005 2003–2004 2002–2003 2001–2002 2000–2001 1999–2000 Melbourne Water) 8 Urban stream rehabilitation (ACT Technical reports 26 14 11 16 17 25 Government, Melbourne Water, NSW Consultancy reports 32 54 21 17 44 58 EPA (DEC), SCA,) Software 1 3 2 - - - 8 Biodiversity assessment methods and ID guides 0 6 2 7 10 7 management (SCA, EPAV) Tech memos na 1 3 1 1 1 and electronic publications 8 Environmental flows assessment and setting (MDBC, DSE, SCA, QNRM, ACT Government, ACTEW, Melbourne Water, Goulburn-Murray Water) Advice and consultancies provided to Production of technical publications during 2004–2005, and chair or deputy 8 Environmental flow effects — monitor- industry partners and others & appropriate for end-users and devel- chair of 10 of those bodies. They include: ing (DSE, EPAV, Melbourne Water, Applied research, investigation and opment of other vehicles for reaching 8 NSW Scientific Committee for the MDBC, DIPNR, QNRM, Environment consulting contracts with non- these groups Threatened Species Conservation Act ACT, DWLBC) participating agencies To broaden access to CRCFE research 8 Queensland threatened species 8 Taxonomic guides (DSE, QNRM, CRCFE staff completed or were engaged findings, technical reports are now made scientific committee DIPNR, EPAs) in six consultancies generating income of available in PDF format on the CRCFE 8 ACT Flora and Fauna Committee $250,000 during 2004–2005, and website, and non-technical descriptions of 8 Fish management (MDBC, DWLBC, (Chair) provided advice, continuing input, training research findings are also produced, DIPNR, QNRM) 8 or assistance to all 13 of our industry often via Watershed, our newsletter/ ACT Environment Advisory Commit- 8 Lake, reservoir, wetland management partners as well as our six research magazine. tee (Lower Murray Water, DIPNR, Envi- providers, plus numerous non-partner 8 Australian Government State of the ronment ACT, MDBC, SCA, DWLBC, groups (see table at end of Chapter 4). The CRC uses a variety of Environment Committee ACTEW Corporation) communication strategies to reach end- (‘Consultancies’ include all external 8 ACT Water Supply Catchments 8 Stream rehabilitation (DSE, QNRM, users, including one-on-one knowledge contracts, including contract research.) Management Committee (Chair) SCA, MDBC) exchange, web placement of information 8 DSE Technical Advisory Panel on 8 Ecological risk assessment In 2003–2004, 20 or more consultancies and reports, seminars, workshops, environmental flows (Chair) (Melbourne Water, EPAV, Goulburn- generated $715,000 in income. During conferences, consultative and business Murray Water, DSE, SCA) 2002–2003, 2001–2002, 2000–2001, meetings, international visits, advisory 8 Gippsland Lakes Task Force 1999–2000, there were 19 consultancies committees and training sessions. 8 CRCFE research staff have worked 8 Gippsland Integrated Natural ($576,000 income), 28 consultancies as consultants for partner agencies Resource Forum (Chair) ($780,000 income), 16 consultancies Centre staff involvement in (e.g. DWLBC, DIPNR, MDBC, 8 Australian Society for Limnology ($1.1 million income) and 36 government and other advisory bodies Goulburn-Murray Water, DEC, DSE). (President and Vice-President) consultancies ($1.4 million income), 8 respectively. In 1999–2000, staff provided CRCFE staff have been members of at Australian Society for Fish Biology advice and assistance on more than 250 least 34 committees and advisory bodies (President) occasions to industry partners and others. to government agencies and natural 8 Victorian Catchment Management resources management groups, at local, Council state, national and international level,

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 48 8 Gippsland Water Technical Review 8 Scientific Committee of DIVERSITAS Management and budget Deliver induction program so that all Committee (Chair) crosscutting network on freshwater new entrants to the centre have an Effectiveness of Board in setting 8 EPA Victoria Scientific Advisory Panel biodiversity understanding of the organisation, its research directions and providing 8 8 Ramsar Convention’s Scientific and operations and resources Board of EPA Victoria overall policies for the centre Technical Review Panel 8 Board of Wetland Care Australia An induction program is carried out 8 Global Water Systems Project, The Board has been very involved with 8 Murray Wetland Working Group annually as part of the project manage- Scientific Steering Committee (a joint developing the research portfolio and with ment course for new students and staff. 8 Environment ACT/ACTEW environ- project of Diversitas, the IGBP, the setting other policies for the CRCFE. The The postgraduate student manual mental flows technical working group IHDP and the WCRP) Board’s Research Committee has outlines funding opportunities, 8 Task Force on Declining Amphibian 8 North American Benthological Society enabled timely feedback on research applications, and other administrative Populations Executive Committee (Chair) project matters to the Senior procedures. 8 Management Team and other senior Lindsay Wallpolla Environmental 8 North American Benthological Society research staff. Provide appropriate staff development Flows Steering Committee (Chair of Awards of Excellence Committee meetings) opportunities within the centre 8 North American Benthological Society Reporting progress to the Board and 8 Technical Audit Panel for Streamflow International Planning Committee to the Commonwealth Staff have been given opportunities to and Groundwater Management Plans, expand their scientific and managerial DSE During the first five years of this CRCFE, The CRCFE Board received financial skills through CRCFE-funded attendance 8 Scientific Reference Panel for Lower staff were members of 38 committees information on a quarterly basis and at national and international conferences Snowy River Rehabilitation Trial (chairing 6) in 2003–2004, 10 committees research-progress reports at each Board and workshops, plus national scientific in 2002–2003, 17 committees (chairing 3 meeting. 8 Scientific Advisory Group, Moreton and managerial development training of them) plus 3 expert advisory panels in courses. The CRCFE provides substantial Bay Waterways and Catchments The Australian Government has been 2001–2002, 59 committees (chairing 8 of annual funding (in excess of $50,000) for Partnership (Deputy Chair) advised of the financial position of the them) plus 23 expert advisory panels in this purpose. 8 Scientific Expert Panel, Ecosystem 2000–2001, and more than 56 CRC each quarter. Health Monitoring Program, Moreton committees and advisory bodies (chairing Significantly increase revenues from Accurate monitoring of agreed perfor- Bay Waterways and Catchments 11 of them) in 1999–2000. outside sources during the life of the mance indicators Partnership (Deputy Chair) centre Media exposure by centre 8 Scientific Expert Panel, Moreton The CRCFE has a project management The CRCFE was paid $250,000 during Region Water Resource Planning, Each year the CRCFE’s work is covered system in place, which has tracked the 2004–2005 for consultancies, including Moreton Bay Waterways and by a range of mass media outlets as well completion of milestones for the research contract research. Income from Catchments Partnership (Chair) as industry newsletters. In 2004–2005, component. Other performance indicators consultancies in earlier years is reported 8 Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Council staff and students of the CRCFE gener- have been monitored through the CRCFE above. Scientific Advisory Panel. ated over 50 media hits that we know of, Information Management System. with another 12 foreshadowing eWater 8 2nd International Symposium on CRC, in connection with Gary Jones. Riverine Landscapes, Scientific Comparable numbers in 2003–2004, Committee 2002–2003, 2001–2002, 2000–2001, 8 Australian–Japanese ‘Predictions in 1999–2000 were >200, 104, 150, 130 and Ungauged Basins’ Working Group (D. 103 media hits, respectively. Baldwin, CSIRO)

Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 49 Changing: The Ecology of Desert Rivers. Mitchell, A.M., Baldwin, D.S. and Rees, G.N. Thoms, M.C., Sheldon, F. and Crabb, P. 2004. 7. Publications and Cambridge University Press. (2005) Alterations to potential A hydrological perspective of the Darling presentations Freudenberger, D. and Norris, R. (2004) phosphorus release processes from River. In: Breckwoldt, R., Boden, R. and Angling after the fires. The Flyfisher 9, anaerobic freshwater sediments with Andrew, J. (eds) The Darling. Murray- 81–84. additions of different species of labile Darling Basin Commission, Canberra. carbon. In: L. Serrano and H.L. Jarman, P.J. and Brock, M.A. (2004) The Thoms, M.C., Terrill, P., Crabb., P., Maher, S., Books and chapters in books Golterman (eds) Phosphate in evolving intent and coverage of Harris, J. and Sheldon, F. (2004) Sediments. Backhuys: Netherlands. Abal, E.G., Bunn, S.E. and Dennison, W.C. legislation to protect biodiversity in New Environmental flows in the Darling Basin. (eds) (2005). Healthy Waterways, Healthy South Wales. In: Threatened Species Mitchell, A.M. and Baldwin, D.S. (2005) In: Breckwoldt, R., Boden, R. and Andrew, Catchments: Making the connection in Legislation: Is It Just An Act? Eds Interactions between organic phosphorus J. (eds) The Darling. Murray-Darling south east Queensland. Moreton Bay and Hutchings, P., Lunney, D. & Dickman, C. in aquatic nutrient cycles. In: B.L. Turner, Basin Commission, Canberra. Catchments Partnership, Brisbane Royal Zoological Society of New South E. Frossard and D.S. Baldwin (eds) Thoms, M.C. (in press) An interdisciplinary Queensland. 222 p. Wales. Mosman, NSW, Australia, pp. 1– Organic Phosphorus in the Environment. and hierarchical approach to the study CAB International: Oxfordshire, UK. Abal, E.G., Bunn, S.E., Dennison, W.C., 19. and management of river ecosystems. In: Greenfield, P.F. and Tarte, D. (2005) The Kennard, M.J. (2004) Appendix H: Freshwater Oliver, R., Grace, M., Olley, J. and Cooper, B. International Perspectives on the State of way forward. In: Abal, E.G., Bunn, S.E. fish. In: Mary Basin Water Resource Plan (2004) Water quality. Chapter 13. In: the Art and Pathways Forward. and Dennison, W.C. (eds) (2005). (WRP) — Environmental Conditions Breckwoldt, R., Boden, R. and Andrew, J. International Association of Hydrological Healthy Waterways, Healthy Catchments: Report. Eds S. Brizga, A.H. Arthington, S. (eds) The Darling. Murray-Darling Basin Sciences. Making the connection in south east Choy, L. Duivendoorden, M. Kennard, R. Commission, Canberra, 298–329. Thoms, M.C., Beyer, P. and Rogers, K.H. (in Queensland. Moreton Bay and Maynard, and W. Poplawski. Queensland Pusey, B.J., Kennard, M.J. and Arthington, press) Variability, complexity and diversity Catchments Partnership, Brisbane Department of Natural Resources, A.H. (2004) Freshwater Fishes of North- — the geomorphology of river Queensland, pp. 209–216. Brisbane. eastern Australia. CSIRO Publishing, ecosystems in dryland regions. In: Abal, E.G., Dennison, W.C. and Bunn, S.E. Kennard, M.J. (2005) Appendix H. Freshwater Melbourne, 684 pp. Kingsford, R.T. (ed.) The Ecology of (2005) Setting. In: Abal, E.G., Bunn, S.E. fish. In: Logan–Albert Basin Water Sheldon, F. and Thoms, M.C. (2004) River Desert Rivers. Cambridge University and Dennison, W.C. (eds) (2005). Resource Plan (WRP) — Environmental corridors. In: Breckwoldt, R., Boden, R. Press, pp. 47–75. Healthy Waterways, Healthy Catchments: Conditions Report. (Ed. S. Brizga). and Andrew, J. (eds) The Darling. Murray Tockner, K., Bunn, S.E., Gordon, C., Naiman, Making the connection in south east Queensland Department of Natural Darling Basin Commission, Canberra. R.J., Quinn, G.P. and Stanford, J.A. (in Queensland. Moreton Bay and Resources and Mines, Brisbane. Smith, M., Carruthers, T. and Bunn, S.E. press). Floodplains: critically threatened Catchments Partnership, Brisbane Lintermans, M. and Phillips, B. (eds) (2005) (2005) Aquatic habitats. In: Abal, E.G., ecosystems. In: N. Polunin (ed.) Future of Queensland, pp. 35–68. Management of Murray Cod in the Bunn, S.E. and Dennison, W.C. (eds) Aquatic Ecosystems. Cambridge Arthington, A.H., Baran, E., Brown, C.A., Murray-Darling Basin. Statement, (2005) Healthy Waterways, Healthy University Press. Dugan, P., Halls, A.S., King, J.M., Minte- recommendations and supporting papers Catchments: Making the Connection in Turner, B., Frossard, E. and Baldwin, D.S. Vera, C.V., Tharme, R.E. and Welcomme, from a workshop held in Canberra, 3–4 South-east Queensland. Moreton Bay (eds) (2005) Organic Phosphorus in the R.L. (2005) Water requirements of June 2004. Murray-Darling Basin and Catchments Partnership, Brisbane Environment. ABI Publishing, floodplain rivers and fisheries: existing Commission, Canberra. 128 pp. Queensland, pp. 13–34. Wallingford.UK. 399 p. decision-support tools and pathways for Lintermans, M., Cottingham, P. and O’Connor, Thoms, M.C., Hill, S.M., Spry, M.J., Chen, Welcomme, R.L., Bene, C., Brown, C.A., development. In: Comprehensive R. (eds) (2005) Fish Habitat X.J., Mount, T.J. and Sheldon, F. (2004) Arthington, A.H., Dugan, P., King, J.M. Assessment of Water Management in Rehabilitation and Management in the The geomorphology of the Darling River. and Sugunan, V. (2005) Predicting the Agriculture. International Water Murray-Darling Basin. Statement, In: Breckwoldt, R., Boden, R. and water requirements of river fisheries. In: Management Institute, CGIAR. 59 pp. recommendations and supporting papers Andrew, J. (eds). The Darling. Murray- Wetlands as an Ecological Resource Bunn, S.E., Balcombe, S.R., Davies, P.M., from a workshop held in Albury, 10–11 Darling Basin Commission, Canberra. 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Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 50 Refereed journal articles macroinverterbate recolonization in the Bunn, S.E., Thoms, M.C., Hamilton, S.K. and Crook, D.A. (2004) Movements associated Cotter River, Australia. Verh. Internat. Capon, S.J. (in press). Flow variability in with home range establishment by two Arthington, A.H., Balcombe, S.R., Wilson, Verein. Limnol. 29. dryland rivers: boom, bust and the bits in species of lowland river fish. Canadian G.A., Thoms, M.C. and Marshall, J. Bernhardt, E., Bunn, S.E., Hart, D.D., between. River Research and Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic (2005) Spatial and temporal variations in Malmqvist, B., Muotka, T., Naiman, R.J., Applications Sciences 61, 2183–2193. fish assemblage structure within isolated Pringle, C., Reuss, M. and van Wilgen, B. Capon, S.J. (2005) Flood variability and Davis, J., Horwitz, P., Norris, R.H., waterholes during the 2001 dry season of (in press). The challenge of ecologically spatial variation in plant community Chessman, B., McGuire, M. and Sommer, an arid-zone floodplain river, Cooper sustainable water management. Water composition and structure on a large arid B. (in press) Are river bioassessment Creek, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Policy. floodplain. Journal of Arid Environments methods using macroinvertebrates Research 56, 25–35. Bernhardt, E.S., Palmer, M.A., Allan, J.D., 60(2), 283–302. applicable to wetlands ? Hydrobiologia. Baker, A.M., Hughes, J.M., Dean, J.C. and Alexander, G., Barnas, K., Brooks, S., Carini, G. and Hughes, J.M. (2004) Population Doody, J.S., Georges, A. and Young, J.E. Bunn, S.E. (2004) Mitochondrial DNA Carr, J., Clayton, S., Dahm, C., Follstad- structure of Macrobrachium australiense (2004) Determinants of reproductive reveals phylogenetic structuring and Shah, J., Galat, D., Gloss, S., Goodwin, (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) in Western success and offspring sex in a turtle with cryptic diversity in Australian freshwater P., Hart, D., Hassett, B., Jenkinson, R., Queensland, Australia: the role of environmental sex determination. macroinvertebrate assemblages. Marine Katz, S., Kondolf, G.M., Lake, P.S., Lave, contemporary and historical processes. Biological Journal of the Linnaean and Freshwater Research 55, 629–640. R., Meyer, J.L., O’Donnell, T.K., Pagano, Heredity 93, 350–364. Society 80, 1–16. Balcombe, S.R. and Closs, G.P. (2004) L., Powell, B. and Sudduth, E. (2005) Carini, G. and Hughes, J.M. (in press) Douglas, M.M., Bunn, S.E. and Davies, P.M. Spatial relationships and temporal Synthesizing U.S. river restoration efforts. Population genetic structure and (2005) River and wetland food webs in variability in a littoral macrophyte fish Science 308, 636–637. phylogeography of an endangered Australia’s wet–dry tropics: general assemblage. Marine and Freshwater Bond, N. and Lake, P.S. (2005) Ecological freshwater snail Notopala sublineata principles and implications for Research 55, 609–617. restoration and large-scale ecological (Gastropoda: Viviparidae). Biological management. Marine and Freshwater Balcombe, S.R., Bunn, S.E., Davies, P.M., disturbance: the effects of drought on the Journal of the Linnean Society. Research 56, 329–342. and McKenzie-Smith, F.J. (in press) response of fish to a habitat restoration Choquenot, D., Nicol, S. and Koehn, J. (2004) Dyer, F. and Thoms, M.C. (in press) Managing Variability of fish diets between dry and experiment. Restoration Ecology 13, 39–48. Bioeconomic modelling in the river flows for hydraulic diversity. River flood periods in an arid zone floodplain Boys, C.A. and Thoms, M.C. (in press) A development of invasive species policy. Research and Applications. river. Journal of Fish Biology. large-scale, hierarchical approach for New Zealand Journal of Marine and Fellows, C.S., Clapcott, J.E., Udy, J.W., Bunn, Baldwin, D.S., Mitchell, A.M., Rees, G.N., assessing habitat associations of fish Freshwater Research 38, 419–428. (in S.E., Harch, B.D, Smith, M.J. and Davies, Watson, G.O. and Williams, J.L. (in assemblages in large dryland rivers. press 2004) P.M. (in press) Benthic metabolism as an press) Nitrogen processing by biofilms Hydrobiologia. Churchill, R.C., Meathrel, C.E. and Suter, P.J. indicator of stream ecosystem health. along a lowland river continuum. River Brock, M.A., Nielsen, D.L. and Crosslé, K. (2004) A retrospective assessment of Hydrobiologia. Research and Applications. (2005) Changes in biotic communities gold mining in the Reedy Creek sub- Feminella, J.W. and Walsh, C.J. (2005) Baldwin, D.S., Rees, G.N., Mitchell, A.M. and developing from freshwater wetland catchment, northeast Victoria, Australia: Urbanization and stream ecology: an Watson, G.O (in press) Spatial and sediments under experimental salinity residual mercury contamination 100 introduction to the series. Journal of the temporal variability of nitrogen dynamics and water regimes. Freshwater Biology years later. Environmental Pollution 132, North American Benthological Society 24, in an upland stream before and after a 50, 1376–1390. 355–363. 585–587. drought. Marine & Freshwater Research. Brookes, J.D., Aldridge, K., Wallace, T., Close, P.G., Pusey, B.J. and Arthington, A.H. Hamilton, S.K., Sippel, S.J and Bunn, S.E. Ballinger, A., Mac Nally, R. and Lake, P.S. Linden, L. and Ganf, G.G. (in press) (2005) Larval description of the sympatric (2005) Separation of algae from detritus (2005) Immediate and longer-term effects Multiple interception pathways for species, Craterocephalus for stable isotope or ecological of managed flooding on floodplain resource utilisation and increased stercusmuscarum stercusmuscarum stoichiometry studies using density invertebrate assemblages in south- ecosystem resilience. Hydrobiologia. (Pisces: Atherinidae) and Mogurnda fractionation in colloidal silica. Limnology eastern Australia: generation and Brooks, A.J., Haeusler, T., Reinfelds, I. and adspersa (Pisces: Eleotridae) from and Oceanography Methods 3, 149–157. maintenance of a mosaic landscape. Williams, S. (2005) Hydraulic tropical streams of north-east Freshwater Biology 50, 1190–1205. microhabitats and the distribution of Queensland, Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 66(3), 668–684. Barlow, A.J., Marchant, R. and Norris, R. 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Refereed journal articles Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 51 Hamilton, S.K., Bunn, S.E., Thoms, M.C. and Past and present patterns of connectivity King, A.J. (2004) Ontogenetic patterns of Linke, S., Norris, R.H., Faith, D.P. and Marshall, J. (2005) Persistence of aquatic among populations of four cryptic species habitat use of fish in an Australian Stockwell, D. (2005) ANNA: A new refugia between flow pulses in a dryland of freshwater mussels Velesunio spp. in lowland river. Journal of Fish Biology 65, prediction method for bioassessment river system (Cooper Creek, Australia). central Australia. Molecular Ecology 13, 1582–1603. programs. Freshwater Biology 50(1), 147– Limnology and Oceanography 50, 743– 3197–3212. King, A.J. (2005) Ontogenetic dietary shifts of 158. 754 Hyne, R.V., Pablo, F., Aistrope, M., Leonard, fishes in an Australian floodplain river. Lintermans, M. (2004) Human-assisted Hammer, M.P. and Walker, K.F. (2004) A A. and Ahmad, N. (2004) Comparison of Marine and Freshwater Research 56, dispersal of alien freshwater fish in catalogue of South Australian freshwater time-integrated pesticide concentrations 215–225. Australia. New Zealand Journal of Marine fishes including new records, range determined from field deployed passive Koehn, J.D. (2004) Rehabilitating fish habitats and Freshwater Research 38, 481–501. extensions and translocations. samplers with daily river water in Australia: improving integration of Lloyd, N.J., Mac Nally, R. and Lake, P.S. Transactions of the Royal Society of extractions. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 23, science, management and the (2005) Spatial autocorrelation of South Australia 128, 85–97. 2090–2098. community. Ecological Management and assemblages of benthic invertebrates and Harbott, E.L. and Grace, M.R. (2005) Extra- Jackson, J.E., Raadik, T.A., Lintermans, M. Restoration 5(3), 211–213. its relationship to environmental factors in cellular enzyme response to bioavail- and Hammer, M. (2004) Alien salmonids Koehn, J.D. and Harrington, D.J. (2005) two upland rivers in southeastern ability of dissolved organic C in streams in Australia: impediments to effective Collection and distribution of early life Australia. Diversity and Distributions 11, of varying catchment urbanization. impact management, and future stages of the Murray cod (Maccullochella 375–386. Journal of the North American directions. New Zealand Journal of peelii peelii) in components of a regulated Lloyd, N.J., Mac Nally, R. & Lake, P.S. (in Benthological Society 24, 588–601. Marine and Freshwater Research 38, river system. Australian Journal of press) Spatial scale of autocorrelation of Harbott, E.L., Grace, M.R., Webb. J.A. and 447–455. Zoology 53, 137–144. assemblages of benthic invertebrates in Hart, B.T. (2005) Small-scale temporal Kennard, M.J., Arthington, A.H, Pusey, B.J. Koehn, J.D. and Mackenzie, R.F. (2004) two upland rivers in south-eastern variation and the effect of urbanisation on and Harch, B.D. (2005) Are alien fish a Priority management actions for alien Australia and its implications for extracellular enzyme activity in streams. reliable indicator of river health? freshwater fish species in Australia. New biomonitoring and impact assessment in Journal of Environmental Monitoring 7(9), Freshwater Biology 50, 174–193. Zealand Journal of Marine and streams. Environmental Monitoring and 861–868. Kennard, M.J., Harch, B.D., Pusey, B.J. and Freshwater Research 38, 457–472. Assessment. Hatt, B.E., Fletcher, T.D., Walsh, C.J. and Arthington, A.H. (in press) Accurately Koehn, J.D. and McDowall, R.M. (2004) Madsen, B.L., Boon, P.J., Lake, P.S., Bunn, Taylor, S.L. (2004). The influence of defining the reference condition for Invasive species: fish and fisheries. A S.E., Dahm, C.N., Langford, T.E. and urban density and drainage infrastructure summary biotic metrics: a comparison of workshop overview, then and now. New Zalewski, M. (in press). Ecological on the concentrations and loads of four approaches. Hydrobiologia. Zealand Journal of Marine and principles and stream restoration. pollutants in small streams. Environmental Kennard, M.J., Pusey, B.J., Arthington, A.H., Freshwater Research 38, 383–389. Verhandlungen für internationalen Management 34,112–124. Vereinigung Limnologie. Harch, B.D. and Mackay, S.J. (in press) Koehn, J.D., Nicol, S.J. and Fairbrother, P.S. Howitt, J.A., Baldwin, D.S., Rees, G.N. and Utility of a multivariate modelling method (2004) Spatial arrangements and physical Marshall, J.C., Steward, A.L. and Harch, B.D. Hart, B.T. (2004) Facilitated for prediction of freshwater fish characteristics of structural woody habitat in (in press) Taxonomic resolution and heterogeneous photodegradation of assemblages and evaluation of river a lowland river in south-eastern Australia. quantification of freshwater dissolved organic matter by particulate health. Hydrobiologia. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and macroinvertebrate samples from an iron. Environmental Chemistry 1(3), 197– King, A.J. (2004) Density and distribution of Freshwater Ecosystems 14, 457–464. Australian dryland river: the benefits and 205. costs of using species abundance data. potential prey for larval fish in the main Lake, P.S. (in press) Perturbation, restoration Hydrobiologia. Huey, J., Baker, A.M. and Hughes, J.M. (in channel of a floodplain river: the role of and seeking ecological sustainability in press) Patterns of connectivity and gene pelagic and epibenthic meiofauna. River Australian flowing waters. Hydrobiologia. Marshall, N.A. and Bailey, P.C.E. (2004) flow in two species of eel-tailed catfish, Research & Applications 20(8), 883–897. Impact of secondary salinisation on Lamb, D.W., Bunganaen, Y., Louis, J., Neosilurus hyrtlii and Porochilus freshwater ecosystems: effects of King, A.J. (2004) Niche overlap between Woolsey, G.A., Oliver, R.L. and White, G. argenteus (Siluriformes: Plotosidae), in contrasting, experimental, short-term larvae of exotic and native fish in a (2004) Fibre evanescent field absorption western Queensland’s dryland rivers. releases of saline wastewater on lowland river. Abstract only. New Zealand (FEFA): an optical fibre technique for Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. macroinvertebrates in a lowland stream. Journal of Marine and Freshwater measuring light absorption in turbid water Marine and Freshwater Research 55, Hughes, J., Baker, A.M., Bartlett, C., Bunn, S., Research 38, 563. samples. Marine and Freshwater 509–523. Goudkamp, K. and Somerville, S. 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Refereed journal articles Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 52 Meathrel, C.E., Suter, P.J. and Reid, S. (2004) Page, T.J., Sharma, S. and Hughes, J.M. Burdekin River, north-eastern Australia. Sheldon, F. and Thoms, M.C. (in press) Habitat and dietary preferences of fresh- (2004) Deep phylogenetic structure has Biological Invasions. Geomorphic in-channel complexity: the water turtles in ephemeral billabongs on conservation implications for the ornate Rees, G.N., Baldwin, D.S., Watson, G.O., key to organic matter retention in large the Ovens River, north-east Victoria. The rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus) in Perryman, S. and Nielsen, D.L. (2004) dryland rivers? Geomorphology. Victorian Naturalist 121(1), 4–14. Queensland, eastern Australia. Marine Ordination and significance testing of Sheldon, F. and Thoms, M.C. (in press) Metzeling, L., Tiller, D., Newall, P., Wells, J. and and Freshwater Research 55, 1–8. microbial community composition derived Relationships between flow variability and Reed, J. (in press) Biological object-ives for Page, T.J., Choy, S.C. and Hughes, J.M. from terminal restriction fragment length invertebrate assemblage composition: the protection of rivers and streams in (2005) The taxonomic feedback loop: polymorphisms: application of data from four Australian dryland rivers. Victoria, Australia. Hydrobiologia. symbiosis of morphology and molecules. multivariate statistics. Antonie van River Research and Applications. Metzeling, L., Robinson, D. and Perriss, S. (in Biology Letters 1, 139–143. Leeuwenhoek International Journal of Siebentritt, M.A., Ganf, G.G. and Walker, K.F. press) Can the detection of salinity and Page, T.J., Baker, A.M., Cook, B.D. and Microbiology 86, 339–347. (2004) Effect of an artificially enhanced habitat simplification gradients using Hughes, J.M. (2005) Historical Rees, G.N., Beattie, G., Bowen, P.M. and flood on riparian vegetation. River rapid bioassessment of benthic transoceanic dispersal of a freshwater Hart, B.T. (in press) Heterotrophic Research & Applications, published invertebrates be improved through finer shrimp: the colonization of the South bacterial production in the lower River online in Wiley InterScience taxonomic resolution or alternative Pacific by the genus Paratya (Atyidae). Murray, south eastern Australia. Marine (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: indices? Hydrobiologia. Journal of Biogeography 32, 581–593. and Freshwater Research. 10.1002/rra.794. Mugodo, J., Kennard, M., Liston, P., Nichols, Palmer, M.A., Bernhardt, E.S., Allan, J.D., Rees, G.N., Bowen, P.M. and Watson, G.O. (in Smith, B.B. and Walker, K.F. (2004) S., Linke, S., Norris, R. and Lintermans Lake, P.S., Alexander, G., Brooks, S., press) Variability in benthic respiration in Reproduction of common carp in South M. 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Journal of drought. J. North American Benthological Johnson, R.K. and Norris, R.H. (in press) 532, 53–67. Applied Ecology 42, 208–217. Society. Setting expectations for the ecological Nichols, S.J., Robinson, W.A. and Norris, Parsons, M.E., Thoms, M.C. and Norris, R.H. Reid, M.A. and Ogden, R.W. (in press). Trend, condition of streams: the concept of R.H. (in press) Sample variability (2004) Development of a standardised variability or extreme event? The import- reference condition. Ecological influences on the precision of predictive approach to river habitat assessment in ance of long-term perspectives in river Applications. bioassessment. Hydrobiologia. Australia. Environmental Monitoring and ecology. River Research and Applications. Thoms, M.C. and Olley, J.M. (2004) The Assessment 98, 109–130. Nicol, S.J., Lieschke, J., Lyon, J. and Koehn, Reid, M.A. and Quinn, G.P. (2004) stratigraphy, mode of deposition and age of J.D. (2004) Observations on the distribution Parsons, M. 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Refereed journal articles Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 53 Thorp, J.H., Thoms, M.C. and Delong, M.D. Bunn, S. and Cullen, P. (2004). Water quality McNeil, D. and Milligan, A. (2005) Billabongs: Milligan, A. and Hawking, J. (2005) ‘Oils’ ain’t (in press) Ecological regulation in river and aquatic ecosystem health in the Lake refuges or fish traps? Watershed April (necessarily) ‘oils’: the importance of networks across time and space. River Eyre Basin. In Scientific Advisory Panel 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. knowing what you’re dealing with. Research and Applications. Information Papers 2004. Lake Eyre Milligan, A. and Cottingham, P. (2004) World Watershed August 2005. CRC for Walsh, C.J., Fletcher, T.D. and Ladson, A.R. Basin Ministerial Forum. Pp. 31–34. experience focuses on streams suffering Freshwater Ecology. (2005) Stream restoration in urban Australian Government. ‘urban syndrome’. Watershed October Nichols, S. and Milligan, A. (2005) catchments through re-designing Bunn, S. and McMahon, T. (2004). Flow 2004. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. Watercourses Online. Brochure. stormwater systems: looking to the regimes and aquatic ecosystem health in Milligan, A. (2004) Let’s cure urban Norris, R. and Milligan, A. (2004) Rapidly catchment to save the stream. Journal of the Lake Eyre Basin. In Scientific syndrome. Watershed October 2004. assessing thousands of kilometres of the North American Benthological Society Advisory Panel Information Papers 2004. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. river condition across Australia. 24, 690–705. Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum. Pp. Milligan, A., Quinn, G. and Ogden, R. (2005) Watershed October 2004. CRC for 17–20. Australian Government. Walsh, C.J., Roy, A.H., Feminella, J.W., Ecological effects of changing flows — Freshwater Ecology. Cottingham, P.D., Groffman, P.M. and Capon, S. (2005) The Narran News. Newsletter clear but not simple. Watershed April Rennie, B., Osborne, W. and Milligan, A. Morgan, R.P. (2005) The urban stream No. 7, February, CRC for Freshwater 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. (2005) New hope for the southern syndrome: current knowledge and the Ecology. Milligan, A. and Cottingham, P. (2005) A corroboree frog. Watershed April 2005. search for a cure. Journal of the North Capon, S. (2005) The Narran News. Newsletter framework for monitoring and assessing CRC for Freshwater Ecology. American Benthological Society 24, 706– No. 8, April, CRC for Freshwater Ecology. the effects of environmental flows. Schreiber, S. and Williams, D. (2005) Could 723. Crook, D. (2004) It’s like reality TV underwater Watershed April 2005. CRC for targeted water management bring Westwood, K.J. and Ganf, G.G. (2004) Effect ... almost. Watershed October 2004. CRC Freshwater Ecology. invading species under control? of cell flotation on growth of Anabaena for Freshwater Ecology. Milligan, A., Cottingham, P. and Dyer, F. Watershed August 2005. CRC for circinalis under diurnally stratified Doody, S., Osborne,W. and Bourne, D. (2005) Case study: monitoring the effects Freshwater Ecology. conditions. Journal of Plankton Research (2004). Reconciling farming with wildlife: of Wimmera–Glenelg environmental Thiem, J. (2005) Trout cod in the 26, 1183–1197. vertebrate biodiversity in the rice-growing flows. Watershed April 2005. CRC for Murrumbidgee River. Watershed August Young, J.E., Georges, A., Doody, J. S., West, Riverina. IREC Farmers Newsletter, Rice Freshwater Ecology. 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. P.B. and Alderman, R.L. (2004) Pivotal R&D Special 165, 21–23. Milligan, A. (2005) Progress in understanding Walsh, C. (2005) New life for urban streams. range and thermosensitive period of the Georges, A., White, M., Guarino, E., dry rivers. Watershed April 2005. CRC for Australasian Science 26(7) 22–24 pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta Fitzsimmons, N. and Goodsell, T. (2005) Freshwater Ecology. (Testudines: Carettochelydidae), from White, H. and Milligan, A. (2005) Very young Life in the slow lane: how a freshwater northern Australia. Canadian Journal of Milligan, A. (2005) Towards understanding Murray and trout cod are sensitive to turtles comes to thrive in the outback. Zoology 82, 1251–1257. and maintaining aquatic biodiversity. salinity. Watershed August 2005. CRC for Watershed August 2005. CRC for Watershed August 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. Freshwater Ecology. Freshwater Ecology. Williams, D. (2004) Feature plant: Cabomba Non-refereed publications Hyne, R., Pablo, F. and Aistrope, M. (2004). Milligan, A. and Cottingham, P. (2005) or fanwort. Watershed October 2004. Passive sampling for rice pesticides. Lessons in river rehabilitation. Watershed CRC for Freshwater Ecology. Adams, J. (2005) Northern Basin Freshwater IREC Farmers Newsletter, Rice R&D August 2005. CRC for Freshwater Forum 2004. Watershed April 2005. CRC Williams, D. (2005) Feature plant: Alligator Summer Edition 165, 29–30. Ecology. for Freshwater Ecology. weed. Watershed April 2005. CRC for Jones, G. (2004) The role of science and Milligan, A. and George, A. (2005) Watering Freshwater Ecology. Adams, J. (2004) Narran Lakes Ecosystem innovation in Australia’s water policy patterns for floodplain eucalypts. Williams, D. (2005) Feature plant: Cumbungi. Study News. Newsletter No.6, October. reform. Watershed October 2004. CRC Watershed August 2005. CRC for Watershed August 2005. CRC for CRC for Freshwater Ecology. for Freshwater Ecology. Freshwater Ecology. Freshwater Ecology. Adams, J. and Wilson, G. (2005) Northern Jones, G. (2005) Managing the ecological Milligan, A. and O’Connor, R. (2005) What do Zukowski, S. (2004) Primary-schoolers Basin Lab winds up. Watershed August risks of water trading. Watershed April we know about assessing aquatic hunger for facts about freshwater. 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. biodiversity? Watershed August 2005. Watershed October 2004. CRCFE. Brooks, S. (2005) Coming to grips with the Jones, G. (2005) So long and thanks for all CRC for Freshwater Ecology. science of stream restoration. Watershed the fish. Watershed August 2005. CRC April 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. for Freshwater Ecology. Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 54 Consultancy and technical reports Syndrome to Cure? Outcomes of RIRDC Publication No 04/ RIRDC Project Lemann, C. and Norris, R. (2004) Biological workshops held at the Symposium on No RIC04-10. Monitoring Of Water Quality In Four Adams, J. and Rennie, B. (2005) A checklist Urbanization and Stream Ecology, Ebner, B., Johnson, L. and Lintermans, M. Streams In Kosciuszko National Park, to aid in preparing wetland management Melbourne University, Melbourne, 2005. Re-introduction of Trout Cod into NSW. CRC for Freshwater Ecology report plans. Management guide/Technical Australia 8–10 December 2003. CRC for the Cotter River Catchment. Final report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service report, CRC for Freshwater Ecology. Freshwater Ecology, Canberra. to Natural Heritage Trust. Environment for sampling period August 2004. Bardos, D.C., Grace, M.R. and Hart, B.T. (in Cottingham, P., Barrett, J., Geddes, M. and ACT, Canberra. 34 pp. Lemann, C., Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2004) press) Ecological risk assessment for algal Koehn, J. (Eds) (2005) Rivers and Gawne, B., Baldwin, D., Beattie, G., Bowen, Biological monitoring of the Thredbo bloom development in Lake Yarrunga. estuaries theme: The River Murray and T., Ellis, I., Frankenberg, J., Lorenz, Z., River June 2004.CRC for Freshwater Technical report, CRC for Freshwater Murray estuary case study. Proceedings Merrick, C., Oliver, R., Rees, G., Ecology report to Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Ecology. of a workshop held at the Australian Treadwell, S. and Williams, D. (in press) Ltd Barlow, A., Norris, R., Nichols, S. and Arthur, R. Society for Fish Biology 2004 Fisheries Ecological functioning of the Murray River Lemann, C., Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2004) (2004) Business Plan 2004 for Water Ecosystem Symposium, Adelaide, ecosystem. CRCFE Technical report. Biological monitoring of the Thredbo September 2004. CRC Freshwater Education and Training (WET) DRAFT. Gill, A.M., Good, R., Kirkpatrick, J., Lennon, River August 2004. CRC for Freshwater Ecology and Murray Darling Basin CRC for Freshwater Ecology, University of J., Mansergh, I. and Norris, R. (2004) Ecology report to Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Commission. Canberra. Beyond the Bushfires 2003: Ltd. Barlow, A., Norris, R. and Nichols, S. (2004) Cottingham, P., Bond, N., Lake, S., Bunn, S. Environmental issues in the Australian Lemann, C., Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2004) Training and Education for the Water and Outhet, D. (2005) Lessons on river Alps. Report for the Australian Alps Biological monitoring of the Thredbo Industry: Report on a Survey of CRCFE rehabilitation in eastern Australia. Liaison Committee, September 2004. River October 2004. CRCFE report to Technical report, CRC Freshwater Partner Organizations and Other Water Graham, R. and Harris, J. (2005) Floodplain Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Ltd. Ecology, Canberra. Resource Managers. CRC for Freshwater inundation and fish dynamics in the Lemann, C., Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2004) Ecology, University of Canberra. Cottingham, P., Quinn G., King A., Norris R., Murray-Darling Basin. Current concepts Determination of the Effects of Perisher Barlow, A., Norris, R. and Nichols, S. (2004) Chessman B. and Marshall C. (2005) and future research: a scoping study. Carpark on the Water Quality and Training and education for the water Environmental Flows Monitoring and Technical report, CRC for Freshwater Biological Integrity of Perisher Creek. industry: Report on workshop proceedings, Assessment Framework. CRC Ecology. CRC for Freshwater Ecology report to Freshwater Ecology, Canberra. 26 February 2004, University of Canberra Harris, J., Bowling, L., Keller, R., Kress, J., NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service ACT. CRC for Freshwater Ecology, Cottingham, P., Stewardson, M. and Webb, A. Lake, S., McPhail, B. and Simpson, J. (in November 2004. University of Canberra. (2005) Victorian Environmental Flows press) The Tooma River Project: Lemann, C., Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2004) Boys, C.A., Esslemont, G. and Thoms, M.C. Monitoring and Assessment Program — interdisciplinary probes into ill-defined Biological monitoring of the Thredbo River (2005) Fish Habitat Assessment and Stage 1: Statewide Framework. CRC and capricious pollution. CRC for November 2004. CRCFE report to Protection in the Barwon-Darling and Freshwater Ecology and CRC Catchment Freshwater Ecology technical report. Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Ltd. Hydrology report to the Victorian Paroo Rivers. Final Report by the New Hart, B., Burgman, M., Webb, A., Allison, G., Lemann, C., Tingle, F. and Norris, R.H. (2005) Department of Sustainability and South Wales Department of Primary Chapman, M., Duivenvoorden, L., Biological monitoring of the Thredbo Environment. Industries and the Cooperative Research Feehan, P., Grace, M., Lund, M., Pollino, River January, 2005.CRC for Freshwater Centre for Freshwater Ecology to the Coysh, J., Norris, R., Kotlash, A. and Davies, C. C., Carey, J., McCrea, A., (2004) Ecology report to Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Australian Department of Agriculture, (2005) Ecological and physical Ecological Risk Management Framework Ltd. Fisheries and Forestry. NSW DPI, Nelson characteristics of the Shoalhaven River for the Irrigation Industry. Water Studies Lintermans, M. (in press) The Re- Bay, 105 pp. catchment: towards a conceptual Centre, Monash University, Melbourne. establishment of the Endangered Fish, understanding. CRC for Freshwater Butcher, R. and Hale, J. (2005) Wetland Johnson, S. (in press) The role of community Macquarie Perch, Macquaria Ecology report to the Metropolitan Water recovery prioritisation. Waters Edge data in natural resources management. australasica, in the Queanbeyan River, Directorate — Dept of Infrastructure, Consulting report for CRC for Freshwater CRCFE/Waterwatch Victoria. New South Wales, with an Examination of Planning and Natural Resources and the Ecology. Dietary Overlap with Alien Trout. CRC Sydney Catchment Authority. King, E.L., Webb, J.A., (2005) Westernport Cottingham, P., Walsh, C., Rooney, G. and Catchment Water Quality Trend Analysis. Freshwater Ecology Technical Report. Doody, S., Osborne,W., Bourne, D., Rennie, Fletcher, T. (Eds) (2004) Urbanization Water Studies Centre, Monash University, B. and Sims, R. (2004) Vertebrate Impacts on Stream Ecology — From Melbourne. Biodiversity on Australian Rice Farms. Consultancy and technical reports Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 55 Lintermans, M., Cottingham, P. and O’Connor, Peat, M. and Norris, R.H. (2004) The Scott, A. (in press) Historical evidence of Tingle, F., Lemann, C. and Norris, R.H. (2005) R. (eds) Native Fish Habitat biological condition of the Cotter River native fish in the Murray-Darling Basin at Determination of the effects of Perisher Rehabilitation and Management in the during a drought flow regime. CRC the time of European settlement, from the carpark on the water quality and Murray-Darling Basin. Statement, Freshwater Ecology report to ACTEW diaries of the first explorers. Technical biological integrity of Perisher Creek. recommendations and supporting papers Corporation Ltd. report, CRC for Freshwater Ecology. Interim report for November 2004 to from a Workshop held in Albury NSW, Peat, M. and Norris, R.H. (2005) The effect of Scott, A. (in review) Recent advances in January 2005. CRC for Freshwater 10–11 February 2004. Murray-Darling low flow variation on periphyton predicting ecology–flow relationships: Ecology report to NSW National Parks Basin Commission and Cooperative downstream of dams on the Cotter River. outcomes of CRCFE research. CRCFE. and Wildlife Service. Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, CRC Freshwater Ecology report to Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2005) Biological Walsh, C.J., Leonard, A.W., Ladson, A.R. and Canberra. ACTEW Corporation Ltd. monitoring of water quality in four Fletcher, T.D. (2004) Urban Stormwater Lutton, S. (in press) Drivers for the ecological Peat, M. and Norris, R.H. (2005) The streams in Kosciuszko National Park, and the Ecology of Streams. CRC for condition of dryland rivers in northern biological condition of the Cotter River NSW. Report for sampling period May Freshwater Ecology, Canberra, 44 p. NSW - Part A. Technical report, during the current drought. CRC 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology report Webb, J.A., (2004) Maribyrnong and CRCFE.Mackay, S. and Marsh, N. (2005) Freshwater Ecology report to ACTEW to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Werribee catchments water quality trend The response of aquatic macrophytes to Corporation Ltd. Service. analysis. Water Studies Centre, Monash riparian shading in a stream rehabilitation Peat, M. and Norris, R. (2005) Stream health Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2005) Biological University, Melbourne. site. Technical report 05/5, CRC for in the ACT Forests Estate: the effects of monitoring of the Thredbo River. May Webb, J.A., Hart, B.T., (2004) Environmental Catchment Hydrology and CRC for fire and post-fire management. CRC 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology report Risks from Salinity Increases in the Freshwater Ecology. Freshwater Ecology report to ACT to Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Ltd. Goulburn-Broken Catchment. Water Norris, R.H., Chester, H. and Thoms, M.C. Forests. Tingle, F., Peat, M. and Norris, R.H. (2005) Studies Centre, Monash University, (2004) Ecological Sustainability of Peat, M. and Norris, R. (2005) Potential Determination of the effects of Perisher Melbourne. Modified Environmental Flows in the ecological effects of releasing treated carpark on the water quality and Webb, A., Bond, N., Mac Nally, R., Quinn, G., Cotter River During Drought Conditions water for environmental flows into the biological integrity of Perisher Creek. Wealands, S., Vesk, P. and Spring, D. January 2003–April 2004. CRC for Queanbeyan River: review and study Interim report for February to April 2005. (2005) Rivers in landscapes: heuristic Freshwater Ecology, Report to design. CRC Freshwater Ecology report CRC for Freshwater Ecology report to NSW models linking ecological responses and Environment ACT, 78 p. to ACTEW Corporation Ltd. National Parks and Wildlife Service. large scale drivers. CRC for Freshwater O’Connor, R. (2004) Ecological Risk Peat, M. and Norris, R. (2005) Investigation of Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2005) Biological Ecology, Melbourne. Assessment of ACT Water Source nitrogen and ammonia requirements for monitoring of the Thredbo River. April Williams, D. and Roberts, J. (2005) Riparian Options. Report to ACTEW Corporation the Perisher Valley Sewage Treatment 2005. CRC for Freshwater Ecology report vegetation diversity in the Sydney Catch- Ltd, from a workshop held at the Plant to improve aquatic ecosystem to Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Ltd. ment Authority’s area of operation. University of Canberra on September 14, protection. CRC for Freshwater Ecology Technical report, CRC for Freshwater 2004. CRC for Freshwater Ecology. Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2005) Biological report to NSW Department of the monitoring of water quality in four Ecology. http//freshwater.canberra.edu.au. O’Connor, R. and Kotlash, A. Assessing and Environment and Conservation. streams in Kosciuszko National Park, monitoring aquatic biodiversity: what Peat, M. and Norris, R. (2004) A review of NSW. Report for sampling period have we learnt? Management guide/ Software ACT Forests water monitoring 1996– February 2005. CRC for Freshwater Technical report, CRC for Freshwater 2004. CRC for Freshwater Ecology report Ecology report to NSW National Parks Ecology. http://freshwater.canberra. Mugodo, J. (2005) Multiple lines and levels of to ACT Forests. and Wildlife Service. edu.au. evidence software, with MLLE Manual Peat, M., Lemann, C. and Norris, R. (2004) Tingle, F. and Norris, R. (2005) Biological and Software User Guide. Ogden, R., Davies, P., Rennie, B., Mugodo, J. ACT Water quality monitoring program monitoring of the Thredbo River. February and Cottingham, P. (2004). Review of the macroinvertebrate component. CRC for 2005. CRCFE report to Kosciusko 1999 ACT Environmental Flow Freshwater Ecology report to Thredbo Pty Ltd. Guidelines. CRC Freshwater Ecology Environment ACT. report to Environment ACT.

Consultancy and technical reports Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 56 Papers in conference proceedings Balcombe, S.R. and Bunn, S.E. (2005) The Koehn, J., Stuart, I. and Crook, D. (2004) Murray-Darling Basin. Statement, trophic basis of fish assemblages in a Linking the ecological importance of recommendations and supporting papers Adams, J.C. and Tyson, D.R. (2005). Local dryland river. Proceedings of the downstream fish movements to from a workshop held in Canberra, 3–4 knowledge of the Narran Lakes: oral Fisheries Ecosystem Symposium, management of Murray-Darling Basin fish June 2004. Murray-Darling Basin history as a line of evidence in ecological Australian Society for Fish Biology, populations. In: Lintermans, M. and Commission, Canberra, pp. 64–69. understanding. In: Rutherfurd, I.D., Adelaide, September 2004. Phillips, B. (eds) Downstream Movement Wiszniewski, I., Askey-Doran, M. and Lintermans, M. and Rowland, S.J. (2005) Bond, N. and Lake, P.S. (2005) Disturbance of Fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. Murray cod information sheet. In: Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings of the 4th Workshop held in Canberra, 3–4 June Australian Stream Management regimes and stream restoration: the Lintermans, M. and Phillips, B. (eds) importance of restoring refugia. In: 2003. Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Management of Murray Cod in the Conference, 19–22 October 2004, Canberra, pp. 67–78. Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 28–33. Rutherfurd, I.D., Wiszniewski, I., Askey- Murray-Darling Basin — Workshop Held Doran, M. and Glazik, R. (eds) Ladson, A.R., Walsh, C.J. and Fletcher, T.D. in Canberra, 3–4 June 2004: Statement, Anderson, B., Reich, P., Lake, P.S., Proceedings of the 4th Australian Stream (2005) Improving stream health in urban Recommendations and Supporting Rutherfurd, I., Quinn, G. and Stewardson, Management Conference, 19–22 October areas by reducing runoff frequency from Papers. Murray-Darling Basin M. (2005) The riparian rehabilitation 2004, Launceston, Tasmania, pp.90–94. impervious surfaces. In: Proceedings of Commission, Canberra, pp 123–125. experiment: evolution of a practical the 29th Hydrology and Water Resources methodology. In: Rutherfurd, I.D., Cornforth, R., Rees, G., Croome, R. and Lintermans, M., Robinson, W. and Harris, J. Baldwin, D. (2004) Bacterial abundance Symposium (on CD). Engineers Australia, (2005) Identifying the health of fish Wiszniewski, I., Askey-Doran, M. and Canberra. Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings of the 4th and extracellular enzyme activity in the communities in the Murray-Darling Basin: Australian Stream Management surface microlayer of Normans Lagoon, Ladson, A.R., Walsh, C.J., Fletcher, T.D., the Sustainable Rivers Audit. In: Conference, 19–22 October 2004, near Albury, New South Wales. Cornish, S. and Horton, P. (2004) Rutherfurd, I.D., Wiszniewski, I., Askey- Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 40–46. Environmental Engineering Research Improving stream health by reducing the Doran, M. and Glazik, R. (eds) Event 2004, Environmental Change: connection between impervious surfaces Proceedings of the 4th Australian Stream Arthington, A.H., Lorenzen, K., Pusey, B.J., Make It Happen. University of and waterways. 3rd National Conference Management Conference, 19–22 October Abell, R., Halls, A., Winemiller, K.O., Wollongong Press, pp. 145–151. on Water Sensitive Urban Design. 2004, Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 363– Arrington, D.A. and Baran, E. (2004) River Jones, G. (2005) Integration: not seeing the Adelaide, South Australia, 21–25 368. fisheries: ecological basis for management November 2004 (on CD). Engineers and conservation. In: Welcomme, R.L. and forest for the trees? Keynote Address at Lintermans, M., Rowland, S.J., Koehn, J., Integration Symposium, hosted by Land Australia and the Australian Water Butler, G., Simpson, R. and Wooden, I. Petr, T. (eds) Proceedings of the Second Association. International Symposium on the and Water Australia, September 2004. (2005) The status, threats and Management of Large Rivers for Fisheries: On CD, from Land and Water Australia. Lintermans, M. (2005) Dealing with sand in management of freshwater cod species in Sustaining Livelihoods and Biodiversity in King, E.L. and Webb, J.A. (2005) Temporal the Murrumbidgee River: Can you Australia. In: Lintermans, M. and Phillips, the New Millennium, Volume I. Food and changes in urban stream recreate and maintain deepwater habitats B. (eds) 2005. Management of Murray Agriculture Organization of the United macroinvertebrate assemblages: a in sediment-impacted large rivers? In: Cod in the Murray-Darling Basin- Nations and Mekong River Commission pp. Bayesian hierarchical approach to Lintermans, M., Cottingham, P. and workshop held in Canberra, 3-4 June 21–60. analysing sparse monitoring data. O’Connor, R. (eds) Fish Habitat 2004: Statement, recommendations and MODSIM 05, Melbourne. Rehabilitation and Management in the supporting papers. Murray-Darling Basin Arthington, A.H., Tharme, R., Brizga, S.O., Murray-Darling Basin. Statement, Commission, Canberra, pp 15–29. Koehn, J.D. and Nicol, S.J. (2004) A strategy Pusey, B.J. and Kennard, M.J. (2004) recommendations and supporting papers to rehabilitate native fish in the Murray- Marsh, N.A., Bunn, S. and Rutherford, J.C. Environmental flow assessment with from a workshop held in Albury, 10–11 Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia. In: (2005) Restoring water temperature emphasis on holistic methodologies. In: February 2004. Murray-Darling Basin Proceedings of the Second International regimes of small streams with riparian Welcomme, R.L. and Petr, T. (eds) Commission and CRC for Freshwater Symposium on the Management of Large revegetation. In: Rutherfurd, I.D., Proceedings of the Second International Ecology. Canberra. Symposium on the Management of Large Rivers for Fisheries Volume II. Welcome, Wiszniewski, I., Askey-Doran, M. and Rivers for Fisheries: Sustaining Livelihoods R. and Petre, T. (eds.) FAO regional Lintermans, M. (2005) Summary of Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings of the 4th and Biodiversity in the New Millennium, Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, management policies and fisheries Australian Stream Management Volume II. Food and Agriculture Thailand, RAP Publication 2004/16, pp regulations for Murray cod in the Murray- Conference, 19–22 October 2004, Organization of the United Nations and 141–149. Darling Basin. Pp 64-69 In: Lintermans, Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 403–409. Mekong River Commission, pp. 37–65. M. and Phillips, B. (eds) 2005. Management of Murray Cod in the

Conference Proceedings publications Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 57 Marsh, N., Kennard, M., Stewardson, M. and Pusey, B.J., Arthington, A.H. & Kennard, M.J. Woods, M., Rainger, M. and Thoms, M.C. Bond, N. (2004) Overview of research in the Arthington, A. (2005) Using the River (2004) Hydrologic regime and its influence (2004) Limitations for improving flow Granite Creeks project. Wood in Streams Analysis Package to quantify the effect of on broad-scale patterns of fish biodiversity regimes when planning at the sub- Symposium, Monash University Churchill flow change on in-stream habitat avail- in north-eastern Australian rivers. catchment scale — an example from the Campus, September 2004. ability. Engineers Australia. 29th Hydrology Proceedings of the 5th International Barwon-Darling river system, NSW. In: Brock, M.A. and Miller, W. (2004) Persistence and Water Resources Symposium. 21–23 Symposium on Ecohydraulics, Madrid, Rutherfurd, I.D., Wiszniewski, I., Askey- of seed banks in Australian temporary February 2005, Canberra. Spain, 12–17 September 2004. Doran, M. and Glazik, R. (eds) wetlands: a clue to wetlands resilience. Marsh, N.A., Rutherfurd, I. and Bunn, S. (2005) Pusey, B.J., Arthington, A.H. and Kennard, M.J. Proceedings of the 4th Australian Stream 7th International INTECOL Wetlands Suspended sediment yield following (2005) Threats to freshwater fishes of the Management Conference, 19–22 October Conference, Utrecht, Netherlands, July riparian revegetation in a small southeast wet tropics region. Proceedings of the 2004, Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 704– 2004. 709. Queensland stream. In: Rutherfurd, I.D., Ozwater 2005 Watershed Symposium, Brock, M.A. and Miller, W. (2004) Persistence Wiszniewski, I., Askey-Doran, M. and Townsville, May 2005. of seed banks in Australian temporary Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings of the 4th Rayburg, S., Neave, M., Thoms, M.C. and Presentations by CRCFE staff wetlands: a clue to wetlands resilience. Australian Stream Management Mesley, E. (2005). A preliminary Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd Conference, 19–22 October 2004, investigation into the influence of changing Adams, J. and Tyson, D. (2004) Local Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 410–414. stream network patterns on the distribution knowledge as a line of evidence in – 4 December 2004. Murray, O., Rayburg, S., Thoms, M.C. and of water in the Narran Lakes ecosystem. In: understanding dryland aquatic Bunn, S.E. (2004) Distinguished Lecture Neave, M. (2005) Variations of wetland Rutherfurd, I.D., Wiszniewski, I., Askey-Doran, ecosystems. (Poster) Australian Society Series, Department of Natural Resources patch characteristics under different M. and Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings of the for Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, & Mines, Brisbane, June 2004. inundation levels using remotely sensed 4th Australian Stream Management Adelaide 29 November – 4 December Bunn, S.E. (2004) Food webs in floodplain data: preliminary results from the Narran Conference, 19–22 October 2004, 2004. river ecosystems. Queensland Lakes, NSW. In: Rutherfurd, I.D., Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 509–515. Aldridge, K., Brookes, J. and Ganf, G. (2004) Department of Primary Industries and Wiszniewski, I., Askey-Doran, M. and Southwell, M.R., Thoms, M.C., Foster, J.M. and Phosphorous retention in steams; Fisheries, Deception Bay, July 2004. Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings of the 4th Lenon, E. (2004) Geomorphic variation and influences of carbon and phosphorus Bunn, S.E. (2004) Freshwater issues in South Australian Stream Management the accumulation of organic matter: the stoichiometry. Australian Society for East Qld. Citizens Senate, South East Conference, 19–22 October 2004, Barwon-Darling, Australia. In: Rutherfurd, Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Queensland NRM Group, Brisbane, Launceston, Tasmania, pp. 439–444. I.D., Wiszniewski, I., Askey-Doran, M. and Adelaide 29 November – 4 December November 2004. Nichols, S., Barlow, A., Norris, R., Gray, B. Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings of the 4th 2004. and Evans, L. (2004) AUSRIVAS online: Australian Stream Management Balcombe, S.R., Fawcett, J., Wright, A and Bunn, S.E. (2004) Restoring ecological bringing education, research and the Conference, 19–22 October 2004, Bunn, S.E. (2004) Floodplain use by the processes and ecosystem health in water industry together. Conference Launceston, Tasmania. fish assemblages of an arid zone Australian streams and rivers. 2nd International Symposium on Riverine proceedings for AWA’s Education: The Thoms, M.C. and Dyer, F.D. (2004) Hydraulic Australian river. Australian Society for Landscapes, Bredsel, Sweden, Key to Sustainable Water Management diversity in a regulated river. Proceedings of Fish Biology Annual Conference, Glenelg, 16 August 2004. — Going Beyond Conversation, 28–29 the Fifth International Symposium on SA, September 2004. January 2004, Canberra, pp. 131–139. Bunn, S.E. (2004) River ecosystem health. Ecohydraulics: Aquatic Habitats: Analysis Bond, N. (2004) Granite creeks work, talk and Environmental Engineering Society, Norris, R., Liston, P., Mugodo, J., Nicols, S., and Restoration, Madrid, Spain, poster at Second International Queensland. Brisbane, September 2004. Quinn, G., Cottingham, P., Metzeling, L., pp. 1289–1293. Symposium on Riverine Landscapes, Perriss, S., Robinson, D., Tiller, D. and Webb, J.A., Bond, N.R., Wealands, S.R., Mac Sweden, August 2004. Bunn, S.E., Balcombe, S., Fellows, C.S. and Wilson, G. (2004) Multiple lines and levels McKenzie-Smith, F. (2005) Influence of Nally, R., Grace, M.R. and Quinn, G.P. Bond, N. (2004) Habitat restoration in of evidence for detecting ecological flow regime on the food web of a dryland (2005) Bayesian classification of degraded rural streams: the granite responses to management interventions. river system. 53rd Annual Meeting, North catchments using spatial data: a first step to creeks project. Healthy Rivers, Healthy In: Rutherfurd, I.D., Wiszniewski, I., Askey- American Benthological Society, New improved modelling of catchment effects on Communities conference, the University Doran, M. and Glazik, R. (eds) Proceedings Orleans, USA, June 2005. stream ecological condition. MODSIM 05, of Melbourne at Dookie, Victoria, of the 4th Australian Stream Management Melbourne. 9 December. Cook, B. (2004) at Second International Conference, 19–22 October 2004, Symposium on Riverine Landscapes, Launceston, Tasmania. Sweden, August 2004. Conference Proceedings, Presentations Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 58 Ebner, B., Thiem, J., Gilligan, D., Wooden, I. Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, variability and assemblage responses: Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd and Lintermans, M. (2005) Surveying a Adelaide 29 November – 4 December. stability, persistence and resilience of Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November fish community in the Murrumbidgee Hughes, J. (2004) at Second International freshwater fish in eastern Australian – 4 December 2004. River — the effect of effort. Australian Symposium on Riverine Landscapes, rivers of contrasting flow and habitat McQuire, L., Neave, M. and Rayburg, S. Society for Fish Biology Conference, Sweden, August 2004. variability (Poster). 4th International (2004) Assessing agrochemical trends in Darwin July 13–15, 2005. Ecohydraulics Symposium, Madrid Spain, Hughes, J., Fawcett, J., Cook, B. and the Namoi River catchment using an September 2004. Fellows, C.S., Bunn, S.E., Beard, N.J., Ponniah, M.(2005) A translocation gives index model. Australian Society for Thoms, M.C. and Mesley, E. (2005) insight into the effects of hybridization Lake, P.S. (2004) at Second International Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Benthic algal production in two dryland between wild populations: implications for Symposium on Riverine Landscapes, Adelaide 29 November – 4 December. rivers. 53rd Annual meeting, North understanding the distributions of closely Sweden, August 2004. Mugodo, J., Norris, R., Metzeling, M., Yuan, American Benthological Society, New related species. 53rd Annual meeting, Lake, P.S., Bond, N., Glaister, A. and L., Liston, P., Wilkinson, S., Perriss, S., Orleans, USA, May 2005. North American Benthological Society, Downes, B. (2005) Restoration in sand- Robinson, D. and Nichols, S. (2005) Fletcher, T. D. and Walsh, C. J. (2005). An New Orleans, USA, May 2005. slugged streams and drought. Joint Using taxon–environment relationships overview of MUSIC v3 and its Humphries, P. (2004) The Campaspe flow meeting of the North American for defining macroinvertebrate reference applications for modelling stormwater manipulation project. Healthy Rivers, Benthological Society and the American communities in disturbed areas. 53rd management to achieve ecosystem Healthy Communities conference, the Geophysical Union, New Orleans, Annual meeting, North American health improvement. Stormwater Industry University of Melbourne at Dookie, Louisiana, USA May 2005. Benthological Society, New Orleans, Association of Queensland State Victoria, 9 December. Lake, S. (2004) Restoration ecology and USA, May 2005. Conference, Gold Coast 14–15 April Infante, D.M., Allan, J.D., Linke, S. and Norris looking forward. Healthy Rivers, Healthy Nichols, S., Barlow, A., Norris, R. and Gray, B. 2005. R.H. (2004) Environmental factors Communities conference, the University (2004) AUSRIVAS online: learn to assess Gawne, B. (2004) ‘The Living Murray: A shaping fish and macroinvertebrate of Melbourne at Dookie, Victoria, river condition. (Poster) Australian Healthy Working River?’ 12th Annual assemblages in streams of southeastern 9 December. Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual Jonathan Mann Lecture, The Murray and Michigan. Annual conference of the North Lake, S. (2004) The ecology of stream Congress, Adelaide 29 November – 4 Its People, La Trobe University, 21 American Benthological Society, restoration. Keynote Address at the December 2004. October 2004. Vancouver, 6-10/6/2004 British Columbia, Northern Rivers Conference on Nichols, S., Barlow, A., Norris, R. and Rennie, Glaister, A. (2004) The snag bag for sampling Canada Ecological Restoration and Monitoring, B. (2004) Training to support water wood-dwelling invertebrates. Wood in Kennard, M.J., Pusey, B.J. and Arthington, Southern Cross University, Lismore, resource managers. Australian Society Streams Symposium, Monash University, A.H. (2005) Ecological trait composition NSW, October 2004. for Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Churchill Campus, September 2004. of freshwater fish across gradients of Linke, S., Hawkins, C.P. and Norris, R.H. Adelaide 29 November – 4 December. Hammer, M.P. and Walker, K.F. (2004) A environmental variability in north-eastern (2004) Rapid assessment of conservation Nielsen, D.L. and Brock, M.A. (2004) Impacts catalogue of South Australian freshwater Australia. (Invited speaker) Joint meeting value: the influence of taxonomic of increasing salinity on Australian fishes as a baseline for management and of the North American Benthological resolution. Annual conference of the wetland seed and egg banks. Australian conservation. Australian Society for Society and the American Geophysical North American Benthological Society, Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Union, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA May Vancouver, 6-10/6/2004 British Columbia, Congress, Adelaide 29 Nov – 4 Dec. Adelaide 29 November – 4 December. 2005. Canada Nielsen, D.L. and Brock, M.A. (2004) Impacts Harbott, E., Grace, M. and Hart, B. (2004) Kennard, M.J., Pusey, B.J., Arthington, A.H. Linke, S., Bailey, R., Norris, R., Bailey, J. and of increasing salinity on Australian Carbon bioavailability and enzyme: the and Harch, B.D. (2004) Overview of a Bailey, B. (2005) Muddy waters: wetland seed banks. 7th International effect of urbanization. Australian Society program for quantitative assessment of introducing systematic conservation INTECOL Wetlands Conference, Utrecht, for Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, the status of aquatic ecosystems in planning to riverine landscapes. 53rd Netherlands, July 2004. Adelaide 29 November – 4 December. eastern Australia using fish. 4th Annual meeting, North American Nielsen, D.L. and Brock, M.A. (2004) Hawking, J., Gawne, B and Gigney, H. (2004) International Ecohydraulics Symposium, Benthological Society, New Orleans, Predicting the ecological consequences Quantifying flow-habitat-biota Madrid Spain, September 2004. USA, May 2005. of aquatic salinity. Northern Basin Forum, relationships of macroinvertebrates using Kennard, M.J., Pusey, B.J., Marsh, N. and Marchant, R., Barlow, A. and Norris, R. (2004) Murray-Darling Freshwater Research different functional patches in the Broken Arthington, A.H. (2004). Modelling The effect of dams on macroinvertebrate Centre Laboratory, Goondiwindi, River, Victoria. Australian Society for relationships between environmental recolonisation in the Cotter River. November 2004.

Presentations by CRCFE staff Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 59 Nielsen, D.L., Brock, M.A., Sim, L., Davis, J. Page, T., Choy, S. and Hughes, J. (2004) Ryan, K., Ebner, B. and Norris, N. (2004) Thiem, J., Ebner, E., Johnston, L. and and Chambers, J. (2004) Wetland Indistinct freshwater shrimp: genetics and Ecological characteristics of the Broadhurst, B. (2005) Home-range of a diversity: the role of climate chnage and morphology of cryptic species within freshwater crayfish Euastacus crassus large endangered Percichthyid: the effect salinity in creating a homogeneous Caridina indistincta and Caridina (decapoda: parastacidae), with of temporal resolution Australian Society landscape. Limpacs Climate Change mccullochi (Decapoda: Atyidae) in observations of reproductive biology and for Fish Biology Conference, Darwin July Conference, Mildura, September 2004. eastern Australia. Australian Society for the implications of changes in flow. 13–15, 2005. Norris, R. (2004) River health and water Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd Thoms, M. (2005) A continua or a series of quality – where does it come from and Adelaide 29 November – 4 December Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November patches — the downstream morphology where does it matter? Invited Address at 2004. – 4 December 2004. of a large dryland river system. 53rd the Australian Fertilizer Industry Peat, M. and Norris, R. (2005) Environmental Sheldon, F. and Costelloe, J. (2004) Annual meeting, North American Conference, August 2004, South-east flows: implementing adaptive Variability and river health in ephemeral Benthological Society, New Orleans, Queensland. See www.fifa.asn.au. management with a water utility, streams. Australian Society for Limn- USA, May 2005. Norris, R. (2005) Lessons learned from government agency and researchers. ology, 43rd Annual Congress, Adelaide Vanderkruk, K., Hart, B. and Grace, M. (2004) developing Australia’s National River Riversymposium, Brisbane 6-9 August 29 November – 4 December 2004. Hyporheic nutrient dynamics in Health Program. Invited Address to the 2005. Stewardson, M. and Metzeling, L. (2005) Creightons-Branjee Creek, Victoria. USEPA (Washington DC, USA). 20 May. Perryman, S., Walsh, C. and Rees, G. (2004) relations between flow regime and Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd Norris, R.H., Liston, P., Linke, S., Mugodo, J., Denitrifers along an urban gradient: invertebrate communities in upland rivers Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November Metzeling, M., Newall, P., Nichols, S., and they’re not that cosmopolitan. Australian of the Latrobe Basin, Victoria, Australia. – 4 December 2004. Wilson, G. (2004) Bioassessment Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual 53rd Annual meeting, North American Vogel, M., Nielsen, D.L., Petrie, R. and Brock, methods minefield: choosing a method. Congress, Adelaide 29 November – Benthological Society, New Orleans, M.A. (2004) The impact of saline water on Annual conference of the North American 4 December 2004. USA, May 2005. wetland seed germination and aquatic Benthological Society, Vancouver, 6-10/6/ Petrie, R., Nielsen, D.L., Vogel, M. and Brock, Stoddard, J.L., Larsen, D.P., Hawkins, C.P., plant growth. Australian Society for 2004 British Columbia, Canada M.A. (2005) How long does it take to Johnson, R.K. and Norris, R.H. (2005) Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Norris, R., Liston, P., Mugodo, J. and Nichols, deplete the egg bank in wetland Setting Expectations for the Ecological Adelaide 29 November – 4 December. S. (2005) Multiple lines and levels of sediments? Australian Society of Condition of Streams: The Concept of Wallace, T., Ganf, G. and Brookes, J. (2004) evidence for detecting ecological Limnology Conference, Adelaide, Reference Condition. Annual conference Kinetics and bioavailability of dissolved responses to management intervention. December 2004. of the North American Benthological organic carbon leached from autumn leaf 53rd Annual meeting, North American Reich, P. (2004) at Second International Society, 22-27/5/2005, New Orleans, litter and garden waste. Australian Benthological Society, New Orleans, Symposium on Riverine Landscapes, Louisiana, USA. Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual USA, May 2005. Sweden, August 2004. Tewman, M., Walsh, C. and Tsyrlin, E. Congress, Adelaide 29 November – Padgham, M. and Walsh, C. J. (2005) A Reid, M., Thoms, M., Munro, F. and Schmidt, Impacts of stormwater treatment wetlands 4 December 2004. method for adapting ecological distance S. (2004) The importance of connectivity on stream macroinvertebrates: could we Walsh, C. (2004) Setting objectives for matrices to asymmetrical autocorrelation between patches in riverine landscapes: be degrading streams to reduce pollutant stormwater management to protect within dendritic stream networks. Joint an example from the Lower Macintyre loads? Australian Society for Limnology, stream ecosystems. Stormwater meeting of the North American River, Murray-Darling Basin. Australian 43rd Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 Workshop, Auckland Regional Council, Benthological Society and American Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual November – 21–22 October 2004, Auckland, NZ. 4 December 2004. Geophysical Union, New Orleans 23–27 Congress, Adelaide 29 November – Walsh, C.J. (2004) The costs of not changing May 2005. 4 December 2004. Tewman, M., Walsh, C. and Tsyrlin, E. (2004) the way we manage stormwater. Water Page, T. and Hughes, J. (2005) Biological and Rennie, B., Ogden, R., Nichols, S., Barlow, A. Impacts of stormwater treatment wetlands the precious drop. Stormwater Industry earth history as revealed by Australian and Norris, R. (2004) Courses in on stream macroinvertebrates: could we Association of Victoria Seminar, subtropical sand islands. 53rd Annual Freshwater Ecology for Catchment be degrading streams to reduce pollutant 3 November 2004. meeting, North American Benthological Management (poster). 4th Australian loads? Australian Society for Limnology, Society, New Orleans, USA, May 2005. Stream Management Conference, 43rd Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 Launceston, September. November – 4 December 2004.

Presentations by CRCFE staff Annual Report 2004–2005 CRC for Freshwater Ecology 60 Walsh, C.J. and Padgham, M. (2005) An inter-city comparison of macroinvertebrate assemblage response to urban land use in south-eastern Australia. Joint meeting of the North American Benthological Society and American Geophysical Union, New Orleans 23–27 May 2005. Webb, J.A. (2004) Incorporation of uncertainty into the outputs of probabilistic risk assessment: what do we know about what we don’t know? Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November – 4 December 2004. William, J., Baldwin, D., Rees, G. and Watson, G. (2004) Microbial diversity in a stream impacted by sand slug — effects of ‘rehabilitation’. Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November – 4 December 2004. Wilson, G., White, M., Khan, T. and Khan, M. (2004) Fish community structure across a floodplain terminal wetland system: the Narran Lakes, north-west NSW. Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November – 4 December 2004. Wright, A., Balcombe, S., Fawcett, J. and Bunn, S. (2004) Floodplain use by the fish assemblages of Cooper Creek, Lake Eyre Basin, Australia. Australian Society for Limnology, 43rd Annual Congress, Adelaide 29 November – 4 December 2004.

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