A5034145311- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Marine and fisheries research
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Forest Management and Policy
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Water Quality and Pollution Assessment
- Landslides and related hazards
Goyder Institute for Water Research
2024-2025
Reef Ecologic
2013-2021
Charles Sturt University
2012-2017
Murray Darling Basin Authority
2011-2017
The University of Adelaide
2017
La Trobe University
2014
Abstract Aim After environmental disasters, species with large population losses may need urgent protection to prevent extinction and support recovery. Following the 2019–2020 Australian megafires, we estimated recovery in fire‐affected fauna, inform conservation status assessments management. Location Temperate subtropical Australia. Time period 2019–2030 beyond. Major taxa terrestrial freshwater vertebrates; one invertebrate group. Methods From > 1,050 taxa, selected 173 whose...
Abstract Aim The incidence of major fires is increasing globally, creating extraordinary challenges for governments, managers and conservation scientists. In 2019–2020, Australia experienced precedent‐setting that burned over several months, affecting seven states territories causing massive biodiversity loss. Whilst the were still burning, Australian Government convened a Expert Panel to guide its bushfire response. A pressing need was target emergency investment management reduce chance...
The lower reaches of the expansive Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, are a hotspot for freshwater biodiversity. regional ecosystem, however, has been significantly altered by river regulation, including local and catchment-wide water abstraction. Freshwater fishes have suffered from resultant flow regime, together with other threats habitat degradation alien species. Impacts reached critical point (imminent species extinction) during prolonged drought (1997–2010) that lead to broad-scale loss...
The global extinction crisis is intensifying rapidly, driven by habitat loss, overexploitation, climate change, invasive species, and disease. This unprecedented loss of species not only threatens ecological integrity but also undermines ecosystem services vital for human survival. In response, many countries have set ambitious conservation targets such as halting extinctions, yet the necessary financial commitments to achieve this are rarely prescribed. Estimating costs can be achieved...
Freshwater crayfish are amongst the largest macroinvertebrates and play a keystone role in ecosystems they occupy. Understanding global distribution of these animals is often hindered due to paucity distributional data. Additionally, non-native introductions becoming more frequent, which can cause severe environmental economic impacts. Management decisions related their habitats require accurate, up-to-date data mapping tools. Such currently patchily distributed with limited accessibility...
Abstract Prolonged flooding in 2010/11 ended a decade of drought and produced large‐scale hypoxic blackwater event across the southern M urray‐ D arling B asin, A ustralia. The conditions caused fish kills urray crayfish E uastacus armatus to emerge from water onto river banks avoid poor quality. This study examined medium‐term impact this on populations R iver, where approximately 1800 km main channel were affected by hypoxia. surveyed J uly 2012, along 1100‐km section iver at 10 sites six...
Catastrophic megafires can increase extinction risks; identifying species priorities for management and policy support is critical preparing responding to future fires. However, empirical data on population loss recovery post-fire, especially megafire, are limited taxonomically biased. These gaps could be bridged if species' morphological, behavioural, ecological life history traits indicated their fire responses. Using expert elicitation that estimated changes following the 2019–20...
Abstract Aim Changing preferences regarding which species humans have transported to new regions can major consequences for the potential distribution of alien taxa, but mechanisms shaping these patterns are poorly understood. We assessed extent changes in human transporting and introducing freshwater fishes altered their biogeography. Location Australia. Methods compiled an up‐to‐date database established drainages Australia before after number fish doubled (pre‐1970 post‐1970,...
Abstract Euastacus gamilaroi Morgan 1997, the Gamilaroi crayfish, was initially described based on specimens collected in 1954 from Hanging Rock, New South Wales, but since then scant subsequent records hinder conservation of this endangered species. Extensive sampling during 2006–2023 delineated distribution, habitat preferences, biological traits, and status Together with concurrent molecular taxonomic analyses were extend species range headwater regions highland streams above 960 m...
Restoration programs in the form of ex-situ breeding combined with reintroductions are becoming critical to counteract demographic declines and species losses. Such increasingly using genetic management improve conservation outcomes. However, lack long-term monitoring indicators following reintroduction prevents assessments trajectory persistence reintroduced populations. We carried out an extensive program wild for a threatened small-bodied fish (southern pygmy perch, Nannoperca australis)...
Understanding dispersal traits and adaptive potential is critically important when assessing the vulnerability of freshwater species in highly modified ecosystems. The present study investigates population genetic structure Murray crayfish Euastacus armatus southern Murray–Darling Basin. This has suffered significant declines sections River recent years, prompting need for information on natural recruitment processes to help guide conservation. We assessed allele frequencies from 10...
Abstract Numerous freshwater species are recreationally harvested, yet conservation concerns often ignored. This may lead to conflict between fisheries and management for a species. Approximately one‐third of crayfish globally threatened with extinction, including the Murray crayfish, Euastacus armatus (von Martens, 1866) in south‐eastern Australia. There has been substantial commercial recreational fishing E. since European settlement, as well other threats such poor water quality (e.g....
Abstract Aim Fires can severely impact aquatic fauna, especially when attributes of soil, topography, fire severity and post‐fire rainfall interact to cause substantial sedimentation. Such events immediate mortality longer‐term changes in food resources habitat structure. Approaches for estimating impacts on terrestrial species (e.g. intersecting extent with distributions) are inappropriate as sedimentation carry well downstream the extent, occur long after fire. Here, we develop an approach...
Abstract We present the outcomes of two conservation initiatives, namely ‘The Australian Crayfish’ and ‘Saving Spinys’ projects, which have substantially contributed to enhancing our understanding E. spinichelatus concerning its distribution, habitat, biology, status. extend range encompass headwater reaches Namoi River within Murray-Darling Basin. The use molecular taxonomy analyses identified divergent lineages that acted remove southeastern tributaries Hastings most western tributary...
We conducted the first comprehensive assessment of extinction risk Australia's freshwater fishes. Using International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) criteria, 37% (88 species) 241 assessed species were threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable), with one as being Extinct. Lepidogalaxiidae and Neoceratodontidae had highest level threat (100%, both single families), followed by Galaxiidae (78% 40 species), Percichthyidae (62% 22 Melanotaeniidae (53% 19 species)....
Abstract This study documented the swimming capacity of a large ambush predator, Murray cod M accullochella peelii , endemic to Murray‐Darling Basin, Australia. It was evident that species is generalist, maintaining moderate ability across all aspects parameters were investigated. For instance, capable prolonged performance (critical speed, U crit : absolute, 0.26–0.60 m·s −1 relative, 1.15–2.20 BL s ) inferior active fish species, but comparable with other predators. The had low energetic...
Regulation has profoundly altered the ecological character of many rivers in world, with pronounced effects dryland systems subject to competing demand for water between environment and society. Pervasive changes flow regimes have cascading on processes biota attuned natural variability. The Lower River Murray south-eastern Australia occupies a curious landscape, being large lowland river flowing through semi-arid environs fed by vast inland basin from upstream temperate (River Murray,...
Abstract The serial discontinuity concept ( SDC ) proposes that hypolimnetic‐releasing impoundments cause major disruptions to the naturally occurring physical, chemical and biological gradients of rivers but this impact diminishes with distance downstream. Such a gradient in discharge, flow velocity temperature regime occurs below large impoundment, Hume Dam, on River Murray south‐eastern Australia. To examine effects disturbance warm‐water large‐bodied freshwater fish, cod Maccullochella...
ABSTRACT The 60‐km‐long pool created by the Mildura weir exhibits pronounced physical, chemical and biological gradients along its length. As river deepens widens downstream pool, flow velocity decreases potential for thermal stratification (intensity duration of stratification) increases. Most nutrient concentrations (TN, NO x , FRP) as well euphotic depth increased in direction whereas TP turbidity decreased. increase bioavailable nutrients co‐occurred with an electrical conductivity...