A Conceptual Review of Aquatic Ecosystem Function and Fish Dynamics in the Lake Eyre Basin, Central Australia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Conceptual Review of Aquatic Ecosystem Function and Fish Dynamics in the Lake Eyre Basin, Central Australia McNeil, D.G., Cheshire D.L.M., Schmarr, D.W. and Mathwin, R. Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 15/36 www.goyderinstitute.org Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series ISSN: 1839-2725 The Goyder Institute for Water Research is a partnership between the South Australian Government through the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, CSIRO, Flinders University, the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. The Institute will enhance the South Australian Government’s capacity to develop and deliver science-based policy solutions in water management. It brings together the best scientists and researchers across Australia to provide expert and independent scientific advice to inform good government water policy and identify future threats and opportunities to water security. The following Associate organisations contributed to this report: Enquires should be addressed to: Goyder Institute for Water Research Level 4, 33 King William Street Adelaide, SA, 5000 tel: 08-8236 5200 e-mail: [email protected] Citation McNeil, D.G., Cheshire D.L.M., Schmarr, D.W. and Mathwin, R. (2015) A conceptual review of aquatic ecosystem function and fish dynamics in the Lake Eyre Basin, central Australia. Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 15/36, Adelaide, South Australia. Copyright ©2015 South Australian Research and Development Institute, Aquatic Sciences. To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of the South Australian Research and Development Institute, Aquatic Sciences. Disclaimer The Participants advise that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research and does not warrant or represent the completeness of any information or material in this publication. Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... I Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ III Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ IV Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................................................... 4 Conceptual Modeling .......................................................................................................................... 4 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Hydro-Climatic Model ......................................................................................................................... 8 Functional Habitat Types - Refuges ................................................................................................... 11 Ark Refuges .................................................................................................................................... 14 Polo Club: Selective species refuges ............................................................................................. 16 Disco Refuges ................................................................................................................................ 18 Anthropogenic Refuges ................................................................................................................. 18 Stepping Stone Refuges ................................................................................................................. 19 Casino Refuges .............................................................................................................................. 19 Refuge Transitions and the Influence of the Hydro-Climatic Environment ...................................... 20 Spatial Catchment Refuge Models .................................................................................................... 21 Seasonal and supra seasonal drought disturbance ........................................................................... 23 Hydrological Components ................................................................................................................. 25 Biological traits of fishes.................................................................................................................... 28 Fish Trait Matrix ............................................................................................................................ 28 Resistance and Resilience.................................................................................................................. 31 Resistance Mechanisms .................................................................................................................... 32 Water Quality Tolerance and Fish Distribution ................................................................................. 32 Salinity ........................................................................................................................................... 32 Dissolved Oxygen .......................................................................................................................... 35 Water Temperature....................................................................................................................... 36 Water Quality and Refuges Under the Hydro-climatic Model. ..................................................... 36 Resistance and the Loss of Species ............................................................................................... 38 Resilience Mechanisms ..................................................................................................................... 40 Colonisation ................................................................................................................................... 40 Recruitment ................................................................................................................................... 45 Assemblage Structure ................................................................................................................... 47 Abundance..................................................................................................................................... 52 Exotic Fishes ...................................................................................................................................... 57 Disease .............................................................................................................................................. 58 Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 61 McNeil et al. 2015 I Integrating conceptual modelling for the Strategic Adaptive Management of the Lake Eyre Basin 61 Integration of Conceptual Models under the Hydro-Climatic Framework ....................................... 63 Example Hypotheses ..................................................................................................................... 65 Expanding the LEBRA Fish Trajectory Model..................................................................................... 67 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................ 70 References ............................................................................................................................................. 72 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 83 Appendix 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 83 McNeil et al. 2015 II Acknowledgements We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal custodians from across the Lake Eyre Basin and pay our respects to the Aboriginal elders past and present. The authors would like to thank Jim Cox (SARDI) for managing the project and helping to develop a successful project plan and structure, and Michele Ackroyd and Tony Minns from the Goyder Institute for supporting the project. Neil Power (DEWNR) was instrumental in developing the scope and plans for the project and additional input was provided by Glen Scholz (DEWNR), Tom Carrangis (DEWNR) and Sonia Colville (DoTE) also provided input and influence on drafts of the project plan throughout its development. All members of the Goyder Institute Research Advisory Committee are thanked for their feedback and advice in developing the project. We thank Qifeng Ye from SARDI (Aquatic Sciences) for providing staff and project management and assisting with the on-ground delivery. The authors greatly acknowledge the work of previous authors who have published their work