Full Title
Does time since flooding affect emergence of microinvertebrates and plants from wetland sediments?
Student
Kiya Podnar
Supervisors
Robyn Watts and Andrea Wilson (Charles Sturt University) and Daryl Nielsen
Funding Body
Charles Sturt University
Duration
2008
Outcomes
Honours
Summary
The regulation of many of the rivers in Australia for their use in water supply and irrigation has lead to the degradation of many wetlands. This regulation can reduce or stop the flow of water to some of these wetlands. The seed and egg banks present in the sediments of dry wetlands have been shown to be long lived because of plants and animals physiological, morphological, behavioural or life cycle characteristics. However, limited information is known about the resilience of egg and seed banks to the duration of drying of wetland sediments. This research will examine the effects of differing duration of wetland drying on the emergence of microinvertebrates and plants from wetland sediments. To conduct this research, sediments will be collected from approximately 20 wetlands with varying flood histories. The wetland sediments will be re-wetted and the emergence of micro-invertebrates and plants will be observed and identified over a set period of time.
