Hello friends,
Welcome to the Flow-MER Newsletter through which we share stories and insights from across our Program. In this edition, we connect you to lagoons, swamps and yellowbelly, as well as linking you to our new Flow-MER Friday Webinar series covering waterbird movements, foodwebs and refugia.
We hope you enjoy the newsletter and encourage you to share the stories widely.
- The Flow-MER Team 😊
LACHLAN SELECTED AREA
How our Flow-MER researchers get ‘undone’ by the beauty of the places we care about...
One of the things that motivates our researchers is their love of the special places where we undertake our work. This photo story gives you an insight into the recent autumn vegetation monitoring, where 13 different floodplain and wetland sites were visited within the Lower Lachlan catchment to survey groundcover vegetation.
FOOD WEBS & WATER QUALITY BASIN THEME
Understanding what drives food webs, and how environmental flows can boost energy in riverine ecosystems
Improving our understanding of how energy, nutrients and other resources are incorporated into food webs will increase our capacity to maximise the benefits of using water for the environment.
LOWER MURRAY SELECTED AREA
Electrofishing: What is it and how does it work?
Scientists often use boat electrofishing to collect data and/or fish samples with the aim of understanding the status of fish populations and their response to management. It can help answer many questions for the Flow-MER program.
MURRUMBIDGEE SELECTED AREA
Pumped – how flows are revitalising fish, frogs and flowers at Sunshower Lagoon
Sunshower Lagoon is one of a series of oxbow lagoons that occur along the Murrumbidgee River between Wagga Wagga and Hay in southern New South Wales. Since 2010, Sunshower Lagoon has filled during three natural floods, which were boosted with water for the environment.
GWYDIR SELECTED AREA
Cultural value of a Yellowbelly
Yellowbelly hold cultural values rooted in economics, social and environmental health, spirituality & as good old tasty tucker. These medium-sized native fish live throughout the Murray-Darling Basin and are known by different names in different regions.
Flow-MER Friday Webinar Series
BIODIVERSITY BASIN THEME
Webinar #1: Spatial and temporal scales of waterbird movements and habitat use
Presenter: Dr Heather McGinness, Senior Research Scientist (CSIRO)
FOOD WEBS & WATER QUALITY BASIN THEME
Webinar #2: Developing an environmental water energetics response model
Presenter: Paul McInerney, Senior Research Scientist (CSIRO) and James Hitchcock, Postdoctoral Researcher (University of Canberra)
BIODIVERSITY BASIN THEME
Webinar #3: Identification, characterisation and management of refuge habitat
Presenter: Dr. Joanne Bennett, Postdoctoral Researcher (University of Canberra)
Flow-MER is the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office’s on-ground Monitoring, Evaluation and Research program. We are working in partnership with scientists, water managers and communities across the Murray-Darling Basin to help us understand how fish, birds, vegetation and river connectivity are responding to Commonwealth environmental water.
For more information, please visit www.flow-mer.org.au
The Flow-MER program team acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners as the First Peoples of the lands and waters of the Murray Darling Basin. We recognise their unique ability to care for Country and their deep spiritual connection to it. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices.
