Honours Project #1 Role of submerged plants in wetland biodiversity: developing knowledge to underpin wetland restoration Short project description & main objectives: This project follows on from a recent BSc Honours project examining whether native and exotic submerged plants support different freshwater invertebrate assemblages in wetlands. That project showed that both native and exotic submerged plants increase invertebrate biodiversity in wetlands. This new project focuses on investigating whether the physical structure that plants provide is their most important role in increasing invertebrate biodiversity. A field experiment will place plastic aquarium plants that mimic the shape of common plant species (plant analogues) into local wetlands and observe their colonization by invertebrates. Real plants will also be sampled to identify what species live on the real plants in the same wetland. By comparing the analogues to the natural plants, we will be able to see whether structure alone is driving the positive effect of plants on invertebrate diversity. Mixed plant stands can also be compared, and the diversity and abundance of algal epiphytes can also be examined as they are an important food source. Exotic and native plants can also be compared. This is a field and lab-based experimental project suitable for 1 or 2 students. Principal supervisor: Assoc Prof Belinda Robson Other supervisors: Dr Jane Chambers Contact details for further information: b.robson@murdoch.edu.au February or mid-year start Start & finish date of project: All projects are available either full time (2 semesters), part Available part-time? time (4 semesters) or a combination (3 semesters). Research centre/group: Aquatic Ecosystems Research Group Desired background of applicants: Completed ENV332 managing wetlands and water Honours Project #2 Invasive fan palms in wetlands origins and consequences –
Honours Project #1 Role of submerged plants in wetland biodiversity: developing knowledge to underpin wetland restoration Short project description & main objectives: This project follows on from a recent BSc Honours project examining whether native and exotic submerged plants support different freshwater invertebrate assemblages in wetlands. That project showed that both native and exotic submerged plants increase invertebrate biodiversity in wetlands. This new project focuses on investigating whether the physical structure that plants provide is their most important role in increasing invertebrate biodiversity. A field experiment will place plastic aquarium plants that mimic the shape of common plant species (plant analogues) into local wetlands and observe their colonization by invertebrates. Real plants will also be sampled to identify what species live on the real plants in the same wetland. By comparing the analogues to the natural plants, we will be able to see whether structure alone is driving the positive effect of plants on invertebrate diversity. Mixed plant stands can also be compared, and the diversity and abundance of algal epiphytes can also be examined as they are an important food source. Exotic and native plants can also be compared. This is a field and lab-based experimental project suitable for 1 or 2 students. Principal supervisor: Assoc Prof Belinda Robson Other supervisors: Dr Jane Chambers Contact details for further information: b.robson@murdoch.edu.au Start & finish date of project: February or mid-year start Available part-time? All projects are available either full time (2 semesters), part time (4 semesters) or a combination (3 semesters). Research centre/group: Aquatic Ecosystems Research Group Desired background of applicants: Completed ENV332 managing wetlands and water Honours Project #2 Invasive fan palms in wetlands – origins and consequences
AquiticEcosystemsResearchGroup_Honours2019Robson.docx