isolated wetlands. Many other wetlands in the region became totally dry during the drought and may take many years to recover following re-connection. Variability of in-channel flows and periodic reconnection of wetlands to prevent extended drying and to facilitate carbon transfer may benefit yabby populations. Background Riverine have a range of life history strategies which allow them to utilise and occupy riverine habitats. In south-eastern Australia nine frog species are wholly dependent on flowing water for reproduction, () whilst five others use streams for breeding only under certain flow conditions (; ). Many generalist riverine frog species utilise a range of habitats created during overbank events, such as back-waters and ground-water pools (; 1). Permanently inundated systems may not necessarily support frog breeding due to their high predator densities, rather they may be used as refuge habitats during dry periods (Wassens and Maher 2011). Seasonally or intermittently inundated wetland systems, such as the Edward Wakool system, may be important for breeding by species with longer development times (Wassens et al. 2010; Wassens and Maher 2011) therefore in-channel environmental watering is most likely to lead to an increase in frog abundance and calling activity if intermittent and seasonal habitats are created adjacent to the main channel. For example Wassens and Maher (2011) found that temporary water bodies created during environmental flows were preferentially utilised for breeding over the more persistent habitat within the stream channel. Hypotheses Frog activity (number of individuals calling and observed) will increase in rivers that receive environmental relative to rivers that do not receive environmental water. Frog breeding (by presence of egg masses, tadpoles and metamorphs) will be observed more in rivers that receive environmental water relative to rivers that do not. Methods
isolated wetlands. Many other wetlands in the region became totally dry during the drought and may take many years to recover following re-connection. Variability of in-channel flows and periodic reconnection of wetlands to prevent extended drying and to facilitate carbon transfer may benefit yabby populations. Background Riverine have a range of life history strategies which allow them to utilise and occupy riverine habitats. In south-eastern Australia nine frog species are wholly dependent on flowing water for reproduction, () whilst five others use streams for breeding only under certain flow conditions (; ). Many generalist riverine frog species utilise a range of habitats created during overbank events, such as back-waters and ground-water pools (; 1). Permanently inundated systems may not necessarily support frog breeding due to their high predator densities, rather they may be used as refuge habitats during dry periods (Wassens and Maher 2011). Seasonally or intermittently inundated wetland systems, such as the Edward Wakool system, may be important for breeding by species with longer development times (Wassens et al. 2010; Wassens and Maher 2011) therefore in-channel environmental watering is most likely to lead to an increase in frog abundance and calling activity if intermittent and seasonal habitats are created adjacent to the main channel. For example Wassens and Maher (2011) found that temporary water bodies created during environmental flows were preferentially utilised for breeding over the more persistent habitat within the stream channel. Hypotheses Frog activity (number of individuals calling and observed) will increase in rivers that receive environmental relative to rivers that do not receive environmental water. Frog breeding (by presence of egg masses, tadpoles and metamorphs) will be observed more in rivers that receive environmental water relative to rivers that do not. Methods
edward-wakool-2012-13-final-report-part1.docx