Article
Environmental Sciences
Catherine Allan, Robyn J. Watts
Summary: This paper analyzes interview-derived discourse in order to understand the framing of two trials related to environmental water in the Edward/Kolety-Wakool river system in Australia. The research identifies four different frames of environmental water, each focusing on expert practices and potentially marginalizing other ways of understanding the river system. The study suggests that participants in social learning/adaptive management should be open to exploring alternate framings of situations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hai Tao, Aqeel Ali Al-Hilali, Ali M. Ahmed, Zainab Haider Mussa, Mayadah W. Falah, Salwan Ali Abed, Ravinesh Deo, Ali H. Jawad, Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud, Mohd Talib Latif, Zaher Mundher Yaseen
Summary: The Murray-Darling river basin in Australia is facing severe heavy metal contamination, leading to increased crop productivity, soil fertility loss, and pollution in the surroundings. The study examined heavy metal contamination in eight study sites using various pollution indices, and found a high level of pollution in the basin. The contamination has significant impacts on human health and local environmental conditions.
Article
Geography
Sue Jackson
Summary: This article examines the multiple river realities enacted by the large, coordinated environmental flow along the Barwon-Darling (Barka) River in 2018, exploring the significant changes in Australia's water governance system. Through geographical analysis, scientific practices, and regulatory technologies, managers navigate ontological and spatio-temporal issues related to the dynamism of the river. The discourse on naturalisation constrains and enables discussions on water relations, highlighting the complexity of decision-making and socio-material connections in water management.
GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Russell Crosbie, Bill Wang, Shaun Kim, Cherry Mateo, Jai Vaze
Summary: This study examines the fluctuation of surface water - groundwater interactions in the Murray-Darling Basin over a 49-year period. It reveals that the direction of water exchange has changed in many areas, from gaining to losing, due to declining groundwater levels. This finding highlights the limitations of our hydrological models in predicting low flows.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ian P. Prosser, Francis H. S. Chiew, Mark Stafford Smith
Summary: The study focuses on water management policy in the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia, evaluating the operation of the policy through a synthesis of research data and literature. Limitations and inequities that could arise in the context of climate change are identified, and solutions proposed to be implemented during the formal review in the future.
Article
Fisheries
Yiwen Chen, Matthew J. Colloff, Anna Lukasiewicz, Jamie Pittock
Summary: Environmental flows are crucial for the conservation and management of rivers, flood plains, and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin. However, there are issues in the allocation of environmental water, especially for small wetlands that may not achieve ecological benefits. To meet the wetland conservation goals of the Plan, restrictions on flooding of private land need to be relaxed.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Osvaldo Silva Zefanias Nhassengo, Hiroaki Somura, June Wolfe
Summary: This study focuses on the sustainability of the Lower Limpopo River basin in Mozambique, Africa, and finds that water scarcity may lead to unmet water demands.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Kate Lyons, Jamie Pittock, Matthew J. Colloff, Yilan Yu, Eytan Rocheta, Celine Steinfeld
Summary: The critique of the evaluation method for the SDLAM in the Murray-Darling Basin raises concerns about its lack of scientific rigor, bias towards measuring infrastructure outputs, and exclusion of residual risks, Basin-wide impacts, and climate change. Improved evaluation processes, including empirical data on outputs, outcomes, and impacts, are necessary to ensure that conservation objectives for wetlands can be met under SDLAM projects.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Tibby, D. Haynes, M. Gibbs, L. Mosley, R. P. Bourman, J. Fluin
Summary: The Murray River is Australia's longest river and its terminal lakes are ecologically important wetland ecosystems. However, water extraction has caused degradation and rising salinity in the lower lakes. The current management and water allocation plans aim to maintain the freshwater ecosystems based on the lakes' historical characteristics.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter Debaere, Tianshu Li
Summary: The study finds that the water market reforms in the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia have led to changes in water allocation, particularly during drought periods. Technological improvements have helped increase water productivity, and there has been a shift in activity between agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Stephen Bell
Summary: This paper examines the capacity of the Australian federal government to achieve its water management and environmental goals through the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. It explores the concept of state capacity, focusing on the institutional capabilities of the state and its ability to work with key stakeholders. The paper highlights how key players have manipulated state capacity to serve their own interests, undermining the federal state's power and subverting the goals of the Basin Plan.
WATER ALTERNATIVES-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL ON WATER POLITICS AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Milo Costanza-van den Belt, Rohit Rao, Matthew J. Colloff, Jamie Pittock, Bradley Moggridge
Summary: Water managers in the Murray-Darling Basin are starting to recognize the cultural and environmental benefits of Indigenous co-management of environmental water. However, there is a disparity between Western technical and scientific perceptions and traditional knowledge and values when prioritizing environmental water use. The distribution of environmental flows does not meet the cultural needs of Indigenous nations due to physical restrictions and policy limitations, but there are environmental and cultural co-benefits when Indigenous peoples partner with environmental water managers.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guobin Fu, Rodrigo Rojas, Dennis Gonzalez
Summary: Groundwater levels in the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia have shown an overall increasing trend, influenced by recharge changes and groundwater extraction. The analysis methods used in this study provided similar statistical significances and magnitudes, with some differences. Irrigation activities were identified as a contributing factor to the decreasing groundwater level.
Article
Biology
Mathis L. Messager, Julian D. Olden, Jonathan D. Tonkin, Rachel Stubbington, Jane S. Rogosch, Michelle H. Busch, Chelsea J. Little, Annika W. Walters, Carla L. Atkinson, Margaret Shanafield, Songyan Yu, Kate S. Boersma, David A. Lytle, Richard H. Walker, Ryan M. Burrows, Thibault Datry
Summary: Accelerating the design and implementation of environmental flows (e-flows) is crucial for preserving freshwater biodiversity and its benefits. However, the current focus on ensuring adequate flow conditions at local sites overlooks the role of other ecological processes, hindering the effectiveness of e-flow programs. In this study, a step-by-step operational framework is proposed to address this gap and improve e-flow outcomes by considering metasystem dynamics.
Article
Ecology
Jian D. L. Yen, Jim R. Thomson, Jarod P. Lyon, Wayne M. Koster, Adrian Kitchingman, Scott Raymond, Kasey Stamation, Zeb Tonkin
Summary: This study investigated the effects of altered river discharge patterns on fish populations and found that both population trends and changes in discharge and water temperature have an impact on fish abundance. Population trends confounded the effects of discharge and water temperature, highlighting the need for a greater focus on the processes underpinning multiyear population trends in research.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bronte E. Van Helden, Paul G. Close, Rochelle Steven
Article
Ecology
Charlotte J. Chandler, Bronte E. Van Helden, Paul G. Close, Peter C. Speldewinde
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mark G. Allen, David L. Morgan, Paul G. Close, Stephen J. Beatty
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Temika J. Mathieson, Paul G. Close, Bronte E. Van Helden, Peter C. Speldewinde, Sarah J. Comer
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bronte E. Van Helden, Paul G. Close, Barbara A. Stewart, Peter C. Speldewinde, Sarah J. Comer
Summary: Urbanization poses a major threat to biodiversity globally, but urban areas can offer opportunities for conservation. This study found that the endangered western ringtail possum can exclusively reside in gardens and utilize novel resources more frequently. The results demonstrate the potential of gardens to support individuals and suggest the importance of incorporating modified habitats into conservation policies in urban landscapes.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bronte E. Van Helden, Paul G. Close, Barbara A. Stewart, Peter C. Speldewinde, Sarah J. Comer
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2020)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Justin Aaron Benson, Barbara Ann Stewart, Paul Graeme Close, Alan John Lymbery
Summary: The five global Mediterranean-climate regions are experiencing alarming rates of freshwater biodiversity loss, with freshwater mussels being one of the most threatened faunal groups. In the Mediterranean-climate regions, med-mussel species are almost twice as likely to be imperilled and require more conservation actions compared to non-med mussels. Urgent efforts are needed to address the threats facing med-mussels and enhance conservation measures in these regions.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Michelle L. Pyke, Paul G. Close, Rebecca J. Dobbs, Sandy Toussaint, Brendan Smith, Zynal Cox, Devena Cox, Kevin George, Phillip McCarthy, Bernadette Angus, Elaine Riley, Julian Clifton
Summary: Historical and contemporary Indigenous wetland management significantly influences wetland ecology and conservation, with the Multiple Evidence Base approach aimed at enriching understanding and solutions for environmental challenges.
Article
Ecology
Leah S. Beesley, Bradley J. Pusey, Michael M. Douglas, Chris S. Keogh, Mark J. Kennard, Caroline A. Canham, Paul G. Close, Rebecca J. Dobbs, Samantha A. Setterfield
Summary: The research found that the energy reserves of fork-tailed catfish are related to flow and habitat, with wet season flows and groundwater-fed refuge pools being crucial for their energetics. The body condition and fat reserves of fork-tailed catfish are influenced by flow variation, decreasing as the dry season progresses.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Bronte E. Van Helden, Paul G. Close, Barbara A. Stewart, Peter C. Speldewinde
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal variations in garden features influencing the presence and/or abundance of arboreal, flying, and ground-dwelling mammals in urban gardens. The findings suggest that sampling in multiple seasons is essential for identifying comprehensive features influencing wildlife in gardens, as different factors may be influential in different seasons. It is important to consider both features that support wildlife across seasons and those that support critical life-history events in a single season for effective conservation outcomes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rochelle Steven, Bronte E. Van Helden, Ayesha I. Tulloch, Megan Barnes, Paul G. Close, Richard A. Fuller
Summary: The study shows that urban householders have the potential to identify threatened nocturnal mammals in their gardens with a high level of accuracy, and that the amount of time lived at a residence is a significant predictor of accuracy in species identification. Interestingly, individuals with a high level of certainty in their ability to correctly identify nocturnal mammals were not necessarily more accurate in their species identifications.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Justin Benson, Barbara Stewart, Paul Close, Alan Lymbery
Summary: This study explored the spatial distribution of intraspecific genetic diversity in the threatened freshwater mussel, Westralunio carteri, in south-western Australia. The results showed the existence of three subregions of genetic diversity and limited connectivity among populations in recent times. Genetic hotspots were identified throughout the region, with a significant hotspot probably arising from the overlap of lineages in historical refugia. This study highlights the importance of targeted management of multiple genetic units for effective conservation of spatially structured taxa.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Esther K. Gibbons, Paul G. Close, Bronte E. Van Helden, Nicola J. Rooney
Summary: Providing garden water sources is beneficial for wildlife, especially smaller-bodied animals, as it supplements the value of urban lake systems. A study conducted in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom found that over 70% of garden owners had at least one water source, and 43 taxa of animals were observed visiting these water sources. The variety and prevalence of garden water sources make them effective conservation measures.
Article
Ecology
Marie B. Busschots, Paul G. Close, Bronte E. Van Helden, Peter C. Speldewinde
Summary: The study found no clear correlation between the presence of the western ringtail possum and remnant vegetation in urban environments, suggesting that highly modified habitats can also contribute to wildlife conservation. The potential role of these habitats in conservation efforts should be seriously considered.
Article
Zoology
Bronte E. Van Helden, Paul G. Close, Barbara A. Stewart, Peter C. Speldewinde, Sarah J. Comer
AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY
(2020)