Providing student research grants is a key feature of our Science and Knowledge program, where we assist students in progressing their post-graduate studies and careers.
The program encourages students in the ecological sciences and helps us understand our nature reserves better.
We are delighted to bring you this research report update from 2023 Roy and Marjory Edwards Scholarship recipient (over 3 years), Beth Treglown.
Identifying environmental drivers that destabilise ecological communities of temperate wetlands
- Beth Treglown
- Roy and Marjory Edwards Scholarship recipient
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Animal Behaviour), PhD in Freshwater Ecology, Flinders University
Beth is undertaking a multi-year research project, from 2023 to at least 2026, investigating three South Australian wetlands and how the environmental factors at each site influence plant and animal community structure.
Each of the three South Australian wetlands—Murbpook Nature Reserve, Watchalunga Nature Reserve, and Reedy Creek—possess a unique environmental profile. Understanding these distinct characteristics is crucial for conserving and managing the diverse fish and animal populations in the Murray River and broader regions. This research will provide invaluable insights by identifying the environmental drivers and their impact on the biological community and trophic structure.
Investigating the links between the environmental drivers and how plants and animals may be affected, and in turn, how these drivers influence diet and food web relationships, will address knowledge gaps regarding the species associated with South Australia’s wetlands and provide an understanding of the ecological community processes and essential functions of these wetland locations.
Project goals:
- Identify possible negative environmental drivers that are influencing each unique wetland location.
- Develop an understanding of the ecological communities of fish and frogs and their food items (macroinvertebrates) and how these may be influenced by deleterious environmental drivers.
- Develop an understanding of trophic functioning of fish, frogs and their food items at various wetland sites and how these may be influenced by deleterious environmental drivers.
- Investigate if there are species of conservation significance at any of this research locations.
- Investigate any spatial distribution changes since the floods across the research wetland sites.
- Determine Chytrid fungus presence across sites and infection rate of frogs.
The first year of the project has been dedicated to meticulous planning and preparation. This includes gathering preexisting information, completing university tasks, identifying and planning for logistical challenges, and organising all necessary equipment for sampling and fieldwork.
Multiple visits to each site in late 2023 and early 2024 allowed for logistical understanding and identified potential research challenges. The challenges identified across locations have necessitated the refinement of field trip objectives per trip, including the decision to undertake a greater frequency of shorter trips and gather information over a longer period of time.
Beth collected surface water data across all sites during the initial visits, and testing indicated no noticeable pattern or differences at any location. This meant a predetermined environmental gradient could not be established before biological sampling was planned. To fill that knowledge gap, the physical characteristics of each wetland—such as distance from inflow area and water depth—were considered for sampling sites within location selection.
Sampling sites across all locations have been finalised, and extensive environmental and biological sampling commenced in March 2024 to determine the physical wetland characteristics that may influence environmental drivers across each wetland location. Geological cores are also planned to be used to check salinity travelling from groundwater to surface water. Water temperature and depth loggers have been purchased to better understand water depth and temperature influences in these unique wetland locations, and electrical conductivity loggers have been installed at Murbpook Nature Reserve.
Beth’s ongoing research will provide valuable information regarding the considerations required to tailor unique wetland management, and we look forward to bringing you further updates on this process and project in the coming years.
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