Figure E12. Change in weir pool median velocity each day due to Commonwealth environmental water. Colours represent the timing of the change, shaded by season. The height of each bar represents the number of days over the year the change in velocity due to environmental water was within that range. F: Background Flow provides habitat and resources for aquatic organisms by altering the concentrations and transport of dissolved and particulate matter. Here we consider dissolved and particulate matter to include: Salinity, which is a measure of total dissolved salts and is a key parameter governing the distribution and abundance of aquatic biota. Salinity is strongly influenced by flow through the alteration of groundwater inputs, evapoconcentration and intrusions of seawater (Brookes et al. 2009; Aldridge et al. 2011; 2012; Mosley et al. 2012). Dissolved inorganic nutrients, which are essential resources for the growth and survival biota and are readily assimilated (Poff et al. 1997). Nitrogen, phosphorus and silica are particularly important because they often control the productivity of aquatic ecosystems. Flow results in the mobilisation and transport of dissolved nutrients through the leaching of nutrients from dried sediments and dead organic matter. Particulate organic nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), which are those nutrients incorporated into the tissue of living and dead organisms. Flow can influence particulate organic nutrient concentrations and transport through a number of mechanisms, including through increased productivity associated with elevated dissolved nutrient concentrations. Chlorophyll a, which is a measure of phytoplankton biomass, with phytoplankton being an important primary producer of riverine ecosystems. Flow can influence chlorophyll a concentrations and transport through increased phytoplankton productivity.
Figure E12. Change in weir pool median velocity each day due to Commonwealth environmental water. Colours represent the timing of the change, shaded by season. The height of each bar represents the number of days over the year the change in velocity due to environmental water was within that range. F: Background Flow provides habitat and resources for aquatic organisms by altering the concentrations and transport of dissolved and particulate matter. Here we consider dissolved and particulate matter to include: Salinity, which is a measure of total dissolved salts and is a key parameter governing the distribution and abundance of aquatic biota. Salinity is strongly influenced by flow through the alteration of groundwater inputs, evapoconcentration and intrusions of seawater (Brookes et al. 2009; Aldridge et al. 2011; 2012; Mosley et al. 2012). Dissolved inorganic nutrients, which are essential resources for the growth and survival biota and are readily assimilated (Poff et al. 1997). Nitrogen, phosphorus and silica are particularly important because they often control the productivity of aquatic ecosystems. Flow results in the mobilisation and transport of dissolved nutrients through the leaching of nutrients from dried sediments and dead organic matter. Particulate organic nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), which are those nutrients incorporated into the tissue of living and dead organisms. Flow can influence particulate organic nutrient concentrations and transport through a number of mechanisms, including through increased productivity associated with elevated dissolved nutrient concentrations. Chlorophyll a, which is a measure of phytoplankton biomass, with phytoplankton being an important primary producer of riverine ecosystems. Flow can influence chlorophyll a concentrations and transport through increased phytoplankton productivity.