WHAT WILL CLIMATE CHANGE MEAN FOR WATER STORAGES?

WHAT WILL CLIMATE CHANGE MEAN FOR WATER STORAGES?

By Deputy Director David Hamilton Read Time: 421 words, 5 minutes. Recent funding from Water Research Australia to support a consortium of researchers to work on the effect that low reservoir levels has on water quality is providing impetus to better understand the effects of climate change of water storages. These storages are vital for [...]

Director’s Welcome to Edition 4 of the ARI Magazine

Director’s Welcome to Edition 4 of the ARI Magazine

Australian Rivers Institute Director Professor Stuart Bunn. Photo Australian Rivers Institute. Author: Australian Rivers Institute Director Stuart Bun Magazine Link: Magazine - Read Time: 711words, about 6 minutes. After an unavoidable delay, I welcome you to this edition of the Australian Rivers Institute Magazine. Looking back over the past year, it is quite remarkable to [...]

Bring living waters back to our planet

Bring living waters back to our planet

Rivers, lakes, and wetlands support extraordinary diversity. Such bodies of water host more species per square kilometre than forests or oceans. Yet they are losing this biodiversity two to three times faster than forests and oceans. Populations of freshwater animals, including river dolphins, sturgeon, beavers, crocodiles, and giant turtles, have already plummeted by 88%.

Climate Change strikes again: Warming rivers are reducing fish recruitment

Climate Change strikes again: Warming rivers are reducing fish recruitment

There is an urgent need to understand what factors contribute to successful breeding and juvenile survival for Australia’s freshwater fishes, especially as many freshwater fish species are affected by events like those that led to the recent fish kills in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Director’s Welcome to ARI Magazine Edition 3

Director’s Welcome to ARI Magazine Edition 3

Australian Rivers Institute Director, Stuart Bunn. We welcome you back to another edition of the Australian RiversInstitute (ARI) Magazine. (Link). Over the past few months our staff have been active in strengthening research partnerships and establishing new connections across the globe. The importance of connections, not only with fellow researchers, industry and government but also [...]

Can trees control algal blooms – you’d be surprised

Can trees control algal blooms – you’d be surprised

By Professor Michele Burford Reading Time: 537 words, about 3 minutes. Algal blooms are a major issue for water security globally and in Australia. We have seen the damage algal blooms have had on Murray-Darling Basin and the issues Florida have had with the recent 'red tide' epidemic. As our climate changes, we can expect [...]

The ecological importance of groundwater along the Fitzroy River

The ecological importance of groundwater along the Fitzroy River

By Ryan Burrows Article Read Time: 623 words about 4 minutes. Groundwater upwelling to rivers not only sustains surface flow but also delivers nutrients and creates favourable conditions for algae growth, importantly algae is a critical food source for aquatic animals. The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. Geikie [...]

In the face of degradation: Planning framework can help safeguard Amazon wetlands

In the face of degradation: Planning framework can help safeguard Amazon wetlands

By Dr Vanessa Reis In the face of dramatic degradation of the Amazon ecosystems, a new conservation planning framework can help safeguard the floodplain wetlands. Floodplain wetlands are unique ecosystems often highly influenced by seasonal variation in their connection to rivers. They contribute to the Amazons high biodiversity and are used by the local people [...]

Should we keep hanging our water out to dry – or is there another solution?

Should we keep hanging our water out to dry – or is there another solution?

  By Professor Fran Sheldon As the drought tightens its grip on southeastern Australia many towns look like running out of drinking water with a forecast of millions of dollars needing to be spent to keep regional communities viable until the drought breaks. This current drought is occurring hot (pardon the pun) on the heels [...]

Assessing Deltas in Canada: We all live downstream

Assessing Deltas in Canada: We all live downstream

By Tim Jardine NOTE: This is a guest article written by Dr Tim Jardine from the School of Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. So I’ve heard it said. And there’s some truth to it. Unless you’re camped on the top of a mountain peak, you’re going to be downstream of [...]