Conceptualizing Hydro-socio-ecological Relationships to Enable More Integrated and Inclusive Water Allocation Planning

Douglas, Michael M.; Jackson, Sue; Canham, Caroline A.; Laborde, Sarah; Beesley, Leah; Kennard, Mark J.; Pusey, Bradley James; Loomes, Robyn; Setterfield, Samantha A.

doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2019.10.021

Cited by 41 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 65 publications

(117 reference statements)

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“…1a, Supplement Table S1). Most macroinvertebrates exhibited highly negative δ 13 C values between − 30 to − 33 ‰, suggesting they obtained their energy from terrestrial carbon sources and/or phytoplankton (Fig. 1a, Supplement Table S2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We found little evidence that large-bodied fish contained remote carbon. However, our ability to investigate an energy subsidy from the floodplain to the main-channel was hampered by overlapping algal biofilm δ 13 C values in these two habitats. For instance, a Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test revealed that δ 13 C values for algal biofilm were similar in floodplain and main-channel habitats (Kruskal-Wallis χ 2 = 0.240, df = 1, p = 0.624).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…main-channel, floodplain, estuary) of energy that underpin consumer production 15 . Previous food web research undertaken in the upper reaches and tributaries of the Fitzroy River found that isotopic ratios of carbon 13 C/ 12 C in dry season pools were closely coupled with values of local algal biofilm, indicating that this was the dominant energy source sustaining fish production 16,17 . This suggests that floodplains do not deliver an important energetic subsidy to the river, in contrast to other tropical rivers in Australia [18][19][20] and elsewhere 21,22 .…”

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confidence: 92%

“…However, there are scant ecological data from the Fitzroy River to support decision making 13 , but see 14 for an exception.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…A key knowledge gap for the Fitzroy River is the extent to which the energetic function of the riverine ecosystem relies on various aspects of the flow regime 13 . Food web studies that use stable isotopes to trace the flow of energy (carbon) through the food web are useful for understanding riverine energetics because they can identify the sources (e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

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New insights into the food web of an Australian tropical river to inform water resource management

Beesley

Pusey

Douglas

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Rivers around the world are threatened by altered flow due to water resource development. Altered flow can change food webs and impact riverine energetics. The Fitzroy River, in northern Australia, is targeted for development but uncertainty remains about the sources of carbon supporting the food web, particularly in the lowlands-the region most likely to be impacted by water extraction. This study used stable isotopes to investigate if algal biofilm is the main carbon source sustaining fish in lowland habitats. We also sought evidence that large-bodied migratory fish were transporting remote carbon around the system. Our results revealed that local algal biofilm carbon was the dominant source of energy sustaining fish in wet season floodplain habitats, but that fish in main-channel pools during the dry season were increasingly dependent on other carbon sources, such as leaf litter or phytoplankton. We found no evidence that large-bodied fish were transporting remote carbon from the floodplain or estuary into the lower main-channel of the river. We recommend that water planners take a precautionary approach to policy until sufficient food web evidence is amassed. Freshwater ecosystems sustain remarkable biodiversity and provide important services to nature and society but are degrading globally at an increasing rate 1. A common threat to freshwater systems is changes in flow-regime arising from water resource development to support agriculture 2,3. Changes in flow regime can alter hydrological connectivity between the river and its estuary, the river and its floodplain, and between surface and subsurface water 2,4,5. Altered connectivity may reduce the movement of nutrients and animals, and change the flow of energy through the food web, ultimately reducing the abundance of species valued by people (e.g. fish) 6,7. Understanding how riverine food webs function is essential if we are to estimate the likely impacts of flow alteration, make informed water management decisions and enact effective policy. The implementation of environmental flows policy is now considered critical to reverse the decline of freshwater biodiversity 8. There is an increasing focus on water management decisions and environmental flow policy in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia, as pressure mounts to develop the region's large river systems 9,10. The region includes some of Australia's most intact freshwater ecosystems, which support high biodiversity, numerous endemic species and many fish which move between riverine, floodplain and estuarine environs 11. The Fitzroy River, in the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia, has been identified as having potential for development 10 , and at least one application to divert water from the river to grow fodder crops for cattle is being considered by government. This intermittent river, 700 km in length 10 , is highly valued by the Indigenous peoples who live along it, and for whom customary harvest of large-bodied fish and freshwater prawns is important 12. Water managers are tasked w...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…However, there are scant ecological data from the Fitzroy River to support decision making 13 , but see 14 for an exception.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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New insights into the food web of an Australian tropical river to inform water resource management

Beesley

Pusey

Douglas

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Mimicking functional elements of the natural flow regime promotes native fish recovery in a regulated river

Baruch,

Yarnell,

Grantham

et al. 2024

Ecological Applications

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Streamflow regimes that maintain vital functions and processes of aquatic ecosystems are critical to sustaining ecosystem health. In rivers with altered flow regimes, restoring components of the natural flow regime is predicted to conserve freshwater biodiversity by supporting ecological functions and geomorphological processes to which native communities are adapted. However, the effectiveness of environmental flow restoration is poorly understood because of inadequate monitoring and uncertainty in ecological responses to managed changes in specific, quantifiable aspects of the annual streamflow regime. Here, we used time series models to analyze 25 years of fish assemblage data collected before and after environmental flow implementation in a dammed river in California, USA. We examined the response of the fish community to changes in individual components of the flow regime known to support ecosystem functions. We found that as functional flow components shifted toward their predicted natural range, the quasi‐extinction risk (likelihood of population declines of >80%) decreased for the native fish assemblage. Following environmental flow implementation, observed changes toward natural ranges of dry season duration, fall pulse flow magnitude, and wet season timing each reduced quasi‐extinction risk by at least 40% for the native assemblage. However, functional flow components that shifted away from their predicted natural range, including lower spring recession flows and higher dry season baseflow, resulted in greater quasi‐extinction risk for native species. In contrast, non‐native species decreased in abundance when flow components shifted toward predicted natural ranges and increased when components shifted away from their natural range. Although most functional flow components remained outside of their natural range following environmental flow implementation, our results indicate that even moderate shifts toward a natural flow regime can benefit native and suppress non‐native fish species. Overall, this study provides the most compelling evidence to date of the effectiveness of functional environmental flows in supporting native fish recovery in a highly regulated river.

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Functional traits of riparian trees in the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia

et al. 2022

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Riparian trees are critically important for maintaining the ecological function of freshwater ecosystems. Globally, anthropogenic changes to water regimes are impacting the health and distribution of riparian trees. Understanding the physiological constraints on the distribution of riparian tree species in relation to the water regime is essential for informed water resource management that seeks to limit impacts on riparian trees. To fill an identified knowledge gap for the Fitzroy River, a significant river in the wet-dry tropics of north-western Australia, we used a trait-based approach to characterise nine common riparian tree species in relation to their distribution along a hydrological gradient. We assessed key functional traits related to drought and flood flows. Leaf mass per unit area (LMA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), foliar carbon content (% C) and the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N) are broadly related to plant productivity and durability and may reflect resistance to fluvial stress. Traits related to water availability were stem specific density (SSD), mean xylem vessel diameter and xylem vessel density, as well as foliar δ 13 C which is related to water use efficiency, and leaf osmotic potential at full hydration (π 100 ) as a measure of drought tolerance. We found that π 100 , δ 13 C and SSD values reflected species hydrological habitat preferences, with higher δ 13 C values and lower π 100 for species distributed in the drier floodplain habitats, compared with species constrained to the riverbank. Low SSD values for species close to the riverbank may be indicative of aerenchyma tissue in response to flooding. Differences in leaf trait values were primarily attributed to differences between evergreen Myrtaceous and deciduous non-Myrtaceous species, rather than hydrological habitat preferences. LMA was greatest for the Myrtaceous study species, with deciduous non-Myrtaceous species associated with wetter habitats having the lowest values. The physiology of riparian trees in northern Australia is not well described for the majority of species. Our study provides insight into plant functional strategies in response to both flooding and drought and is a critical step in understanding plant responses to future water-take scenarios to support evidence-based decision making.

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Conceptualizing Hydro-socio-ecological Relationships to Enable More Integrated and Inclusive Water Allocation Planning

Abstract: Highlights d We used a transdisciplinary approach to support more inclusive water planning d We developed a hydro-socio-ecological model to underpin water allocation decisions d We propose principles for using e-flows to protect biodiversity and Indigenous values

Cited by 41 publications

References 65 publications

New insights into the food web of an Australian tropical river to inform water resource management

New insights into the food web of an Australian tropical river to inform water resource management

Mimicking functional elements of the natural flow regime promotes native fish recovery in a regulated river

Functional traits of riparian trees in the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia

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