Nap Nap - riparian Waugorah vegetation contribute to wetland productivity Nimmie-Caira SBF throughout spring Support the nutrients and carbon refuge (south and summer, habitat and fluxes, primary Caira channel) dominated by breeding productivity (CHL a) copepods with and secondary requirements of cladocerans and Nimmie-Caira productivity native ostracods present refuge (north (Microinvertebrates)? vegetation, Caira channel) waterbirds and fish Yarradda Lagoon Main findings from microinvertebrate monitoring program High densities of microinvertebrates (500-1000 /L) were recorded following inundation of monitored wetlands with Commonwealth environmental water in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. Densities were higher in the mid-Murrumbidgee (Yarradda Lagoon) and Nimmie-Caira wetlands than in the Redbank wetlands in both years. In both watering densities of microinvertebrates fell by March in all zones. In both watering copepods dominated wetland assemblages, with cladocerans and lower densities of ostracods also present. Responses of microinvertebrates to inundation were consistent across suggesting the current regime of wetting and drying is maintaining the egg bank and high levels of productivity. Discussion, recommendations and adaptive management In both 2014-15 and 2015-16, Commonwealth environmental water was delivered to wetlands in order to improve water quality and to support the feeding habitat and breeding requirements of native vegetation, waterbirds, fish and other vertebrates (turtles, frogs). The current water regime is yielding productive feeding habitats for filter-feeding waterbirds, fish, larval fish and tadpoles in terms of microinvertebrate densities. Based on information from fisheries research, microinvertebrate densities between 100-1000 /L support larval fish and adult fish that predate on microinvertebrates (King 2004). Required microinvertebrate densities for waterbirds and tadpoles are not known.
riparian vegetation Support the habitat and breeding requirements of native vegetation, waterbirds and fish Nap Nap - Waugorah Nimmie-Caira SBF refuge (south Caira channel) Nimmie-Caira refuge (north Caira channel) Yarradda Lagoon contribute to wetland productivity nutrients and carbon fluxes, primary productivity (CHL a) and secondary productivity (Microinvertebrates)? throughout spring and summer, dominated by copepods with cladocerans and ostracods present Main findings from microinvertebrate monitoring program High densities of microinvertebrates (500-1000 /L) were recorded following inundation of monitored wetlands with Commonwealth environmental water in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. Densities were higher in the mid-Murrumbidgee (Yarradda Lagoon) and Nimmie-Caira wetlands than in the Redbank wetlands in both years. In both watering densities of microinvertebrates fell by March in all zones. In both watering copepods dominated wetland assemblages, with cladocerans and lower densities of ostracods also present. Responses of microinvertebrates to inundation were consistent across suggesting the current regime of wetting and drying is maintaining the egg bank and high levels of productivity. Discussion, recommendations and adaptive management In both 2014-15 and 2015-16, Commonwealth environmental water was delivered to wetlands in order to improve water quality and to support the feeding habitat and breeding requirements of native vegetation, waterbirds, fish and other vertebrates (turtles, frogs). The current water regime is yielding productive feeding habitats for filter-feeding waterbirds, fish, larval fish and tadpoles in terms of microinvertebrate densities. Based on information from fisheries research, microinvertebrate densities between 100-1000 /L support larval fish and adult fish that predate on microinvertebrates (King 2004). Required microinvertebrate densities for waterbirds and tadpoles are not known.
murrumbidgee-ltim-report-2015-16.docx