When good animals like bad habitats: ecological traps in the marine environment

When good animals like bad habitats: ecological traps in the marine environment

"By altering the environment, are humans tricking animals into making poor life choices?"

WETLAND WARRIOR – HELPING TO CONSERVE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

WETLAND WARRIOR – HELPING TO CONSERVE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

Author: Author: PhD Alyssa Giffin Read time: 777 words about 6 minutes. Welcome to part three of the five-part Transition article series, the sequel to the Emergent series, that follows ARI’s Post-Doc Research Fellows as they navigate the next stage of their academic journey post-PhD. Take a journey with them and hear about some of [...]

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%.

Coastal freshwater wetlands: the forgotten (wet)lands

Coastal freshwater wetlands: the forgotten (wet)lands

By PhD candidate Rebekah Grieger Read Time: 468 words about 4 minutes. Wetlands are important features in the coastal landscape, providing many important ecosystem services. Much of the research into coastal wetlands focuses on the salty ones – mangroves, saltmarsh, seagrass – but there are equally important wetlands just up-stream that are generally overlooked, coastal freshwater wetlands.  Our [...]

There are cross-benefits to protecting coastal wetlands in the wake of COVID-19

There are cross-benefits to protecting coastal wetlands in the wake of COVID-19

Dr Ryan Pearson Read Time: 503 words about 3 minutes. The effects of COVID-19 on the world has been profound. We're now re-evaluating intergovernmental, trade and personal relationships, and rethinking our consumer needs. Environmental groups have been encouraging people to 'eat more fish' in response to this pandemic.  Consumer surveys during the pandemic have  also highlighted [...]

How can we best assess the threats and status of connected coastal wetland habitats?

How can we best assess the threats and status of connected coastal wetland habitats?

By Dr Michael Sievers Reading Time: 485 words about 3 minutes. Habitat degradation is a global crisis. Quantifying and evaluating habitat change and its impacts on ecosystem function is needed to inform management and conservation that ultimately safeguards biodiversity and human benefits. Many of these benefits in coastal ecosystems depend not only on habitat status, [...]

The role of wetlands in improving water quality and protecting coastal ecosystems

The role of wetlands in improving water quality and protecting coastal ecosystems

By Melanie Roberts and Fernanda Adame Article Read Time: 524 words about 3 minutes. The 2019 Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report from the Australian Government Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority identifies the risk of nutrient runoff from catchments for the reef as Very High, the same rating as the 2014 and 2009 reports.  --- This [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

The Amazon is under threat, but our new study gives hope to improving conservation planning and management

The Amazon is under threat, but our new study gives hope to improving conservation planning and management

Author: Dr Vanessa  Reis, Wetland ecosystems are important hotspots of biodiversity in the Amazon River Basin, but they're under threat from human activity.  These ecosystems rely on the maintenance of the annual river flood pulse that drives inundation across the major wetlands of the Amazon. Infrastructure project proposals such as dams have increased in response to higher [...]