Full Title
Fish-habitat associations of the Lower Darling River, New South Wales
Student
Julie Bindokas
Supervisors
Dr Brian Malone
Clayton Sharpe
Dr. Todd Wallace
Associate Supervisor: Dr Dale McNeil
Funding Body
BIOSIS Research
Native Fish Strategy
Duration
2009
Outcomes
Thesis
Summary
This honours project will focus on the fish-habitat associations between large- and small-bodied fish within the regulated lower Darling River. The aims of this study are:
1. To determine whether habitat and micro-habitat variables between deep pools and shallow connecting reaches are significantly different, and whether these variables change over time.
2. To determine whether large-bodied and small-bodied fish assemblages have significantly different abundances in the two habitat types of deep pools and shallow reaches.
3. To study fish-micro-habitat associations within the deep pools and shallow reaches in order to determine micro-habitat utilisation by different large- and small-bodied fish species.
A combination of sampling techniques including underwater sonar imaging, electrofishing, fyke netting, dip netting and the use of bait traps will be used.
This project is funded by BIOSIS research and the Native Fish Strategy project and has a large application to the re-snagging works that are currently being undertaken to re-establish fish habitat within the Murray-Darling Basin.
