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1
Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) for streams & rivers in SE Queensland, Australia?
Fran SheldonFran Sheldon
Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith UniversityAustralian Rivers Institute, Griffith University
2
• Background to the region and the Healthy Waterways Partnership
• Designing the Monitoring Program – Focus on the process used to develop a cost-effective
monitoring program• Linking monitoring and restoration – Echidna
Creek• Using the data to explore long-term trends• The Program in 2009 – where to now
Lecture Outline
2
3
15 major catchments22,353 km2
Background to the study region
4
Importance of the region’s waterways:• High conservation signficance (Ramsar)• Major commercial and recreational fisheries• Water supply (urban and rural)• Recreation and transport
3
5
1881 19911947
<3030-250250-5,000 Persons km-2
The human footprint: • 20% of original vegetation remains - less adjacent to streams
• Altered hydrology - dams & weirs• Declining water quality (nutrients & sediment)• Declines in aquatic diversity
6
www.healthywaterways.org
4
7
Having a common vision:
“South-east Queensland’s catchments and waterways will, by 2020, be healthy living ecosystems supporting the livelihoods and lifestyles of people in South-east Queensland and will be managed in collaboration between community, government and industry.”
8
Achieving the vision:
• Set values that reflect the vision
• Measurable water quality objectives that protect the values
• Management actions to achieve these objectives
5
9
A Staged Approach: Stage 2- Moreton Bay
Stage 11994-1997
ScopingStage 2
1997-1999
MoretonBay
Stage 31999-2001
Catchments
2001-2004
WaterManagement
2004-2007
Land toSea
2007-2009
SustainableRegions
On-going Partnership
Councils, State Government & NHTFunding
Designed Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program; produced environmental monitoring report cards.Monitoring
Fate, transport & impacts of sediments nutrients & toxicants in Moreton Bay
ResearchDeveloped Water Quality Management StrategyStrategy
10
Stage 3 - Focus on Catchments
Stage 11994-1997
ScopingStage 2
1997-1999
MoretonBay
Stage 31999-2001
Catchments
2001-2004
WaterManagement
2004-2007
Land toSea
2007-2009
SustainableRegions
On-going Partnership
Councils, State Government & NHT, ARC, CRCs($17 Million over 3 years)Funding
Implemented Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program; Designed freshwater monitoring programMonitoring
Source of sediments and nutrients identified; In-stream processes studied, Lyngbya investigations
Research
Revised Strategy; Riparian rehabilitation methods and priorities setStrategy
6
11
Aim of DIBM3To develop a cost-effective, coordinated ecosystem health monitoring program (EHMP) for freshwaters of the region that is able to measure and report on current and future changes in ecological health.
12
The process
Drop indicatorDrop indicator
Majorfieldstudy
Majorfieldstudy
Review ofclassification
Develop water quality guidelines
Ecosystem Health Monitoring ProgramEcosystem Health Monitoring Program
No
Identifypotential indicators
Develop Conceptual models
Pilot studies
Catchment-scaleclassificationYesNo
PHASE
1
Isindicator proven?
Doesindicatorwork?
Yes
No YesDoesindicatorperform?
PHASE
2
7
13
ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES BIOLOGICAL PATTERNS1 Amino acids in algae 28 Genetic structure of population2 Benthic metabolism 29 Structure and function of fish communities3 Tracking sewage Nitrogen using δ15N 30 Structure and function of in-stream habitat4 Tracking catchment disturbance using δ15N 31 Structure and function of macrophyte communities5 Tracking Carbon using 13C 32 Structure and function of riparian vegetation6 Food web structure 33 Structure and function of invertebrate communities7 Nitrogen cycling - denitrification 34 Structure of benthic microbial community8 Filamentous algae – nutrient or shade limitation 35 Structure and function of benthic algal community9 Filamentous algae – using tiles as substrate 36 Structure and function of diatom community10 Chlorophyll a - as measure of productivity 37 Structure and function of frog community11 Measures of resilience 38 Blue-green algae – presence/absence12 Microbial processing in sediments 39 Macrophyte condition13 Depth of biological activity in sediments 40 Fish condition / Fish kills14 Macrophyte biomass measure of productivity 41 Recreational fish catch & extent of fish stocking
42 Health and presence of “megafauna” (eg. platypus)HUMAN HEALTH 43 Presence of exotic species
15 Coliform counts 44 Asymmetry / high rates of deformities16 Chryptosporidium counts 45 Bio-accumulation17 Giardia counts
WATER PHYSICO-CHEMISTRYDIRECT MEASURES OF DISTURBANCE 46 Nutrient concentrations
18 Riparian canopy – Hemiphot assessment 47 Nutrient flux from sediments19 Extraction: un/licenced 48 Colour20 Weirs: presence and effects 49 Salinity/conductivity21 Hydrological deviation 50 Temperature22 Extent of flow regulation 51 Dissolved oxygen – snapshot measures23 Assessments of channel integrity 52 Dissolved oxygen – diel measures24 Pins for measuring erosion 53 Turbidity25 Floodplain area 54 Pesticides – snapshot measures26 Presence of rubbish in urban drains 55 Pesticides – integrative measures27 Encroachment of terrestrial vegetation 56 Alkalinity - ionic composition
14
The process
Drop indicatorDrop indicator
Majorfieldstudy
Majorfieldstudy
Review ofclassification
Develop water quality guidelines
Ecosystem Health Monitoring ProgramEcosystem Health Monitoring Program
No
Identifypotential indicators
Develop Conceptual models
Pilot studies
Catchment-scaleclassificationYesNo
PHASE
1
Isindicator proven?
Doesindicatorwork?
Yes
No YesDoesindicatorperform?
PHASE
2
8
15
ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES BIOLOGICAL PATTERNS1 Amino acids in algae 28 Genetic structure of population2 Benthic metabolism 29 Structure and function of fish communities3 Tracking sewage Nitrogen using δ15N 30 Structure and function of in-stream habitat4 Tracking catchment disturbance using δ15N 31 Structure and function of macrophyte communities5 Tracking Carbon using 13C 32 Structure and function of riparian vegetation6 Food web structure 33 Structure and function of invertebrate communities7 Nitrogen cycling - denitrification 34 Structure of benthic microbial community8 Filamentous algae – nutrient or shade limitation 35 Structure and function of benthic algal community9 Filamentous algae – using tiles as substrate 36 Structure and function of diatom community10 Chlorophyll a - as measure of productivity 37 Structure and function of frog community11 Measures of resilience 38 Blue-green algae – presence/absence12 Microbial processing in sediments 39 Macrophyte condition13 Depth of biological activity in sediments 40 Fish condition / Fish kills14 Macrophyte biomass measure of productivity 41 Recreational fish catch & extent of fish stocking
42 Health and presence of “megafauna” (eg. platypus)HUMAN HEALTH 43 Presence of exotic species
15 Coliform counts 44 Asymmetry / high rates of deformities16 Chryptosporidium counts 45 Bio-accumulation17 Giardia counts
WATER PHYSICO-CHEMISTRYDIRECT MEASURES OF DISTURBANCE 46 Nutrient concentrations
18 Riparian canopy – Hemiphot assessment 47 Nutrient flux from sediments19 Extraction: un/licenced 48 Colour20 Weirs: presence and effects 49 Salinity/conductivity21 Hydrological deviation 50 Temperature22 Extent of flow regulation 51 Dissolved oxygen – snapshot measures23 Assessments of channel integrity 52 Dissolved oxygen – diel measures24 Pins for measuring erosion 53 Turbidity25 Floodplain area 54 Pesticides – snapshot measures26 Presence of rubbish in urban drains 55 Pesticides – integrative measures27 Encroachment of terrestrial vegetation 56 Alkalinity - ionic composition
Reduced list of indicators
16
Indicators trialed in pilot studies
• Fish as bioindicators• Nutrient flux• Denitrification• Benthic metabolism • Tiles for algal growth• Microbes as bioindicators• Amino acid composition of plants
field trial
9
17
The process
Drop indicatorDrop indicator
Majorfieldstudy
Majorfieldstudy
Review ofclassification
Develop water quality guidelines
Ecosystem Health Monitoring ProgramEcosystem Health Monitoring Program
No
Identifypotential indicators
Develop Conceptual models
Pilot studies
Catchment-scaleclassificationYesNo
PHASE
1
Isindicator proven?
Doesindicatorwork?
Yes
No YesDoesindicatorperform?
PHASE
2
18
• Show how healthy ecosystems function
• Show how they respond to human disturbance
• Indicate critical components in the ecosystem to target for monitoring
• Highlight appropriate management actions for rehabilitation
Task: Conceptual models
Ecosystem processes
GPP R24N and P Sediment
Highly Impacted Site
SEQRWQMS 2001
GPP R24
Minimally Impacted Site
Nutrients Sediment
SEQRWQMS 2001
10
19
The process
Drop indicatorDrop indicator
Majorfieldstudy
Majorfieldstudy
Review ofclassification
Develop water quality guidelines
Ecosystem Health Monitoring ProgramEcosystem Health Monitoring Program
No
Identifypotential indicators
Develop Conceptual models
Pilot studies
Catchment-scaleclassificationYesNo
PHASE
1
Isindicator proven?
Doesindicatorwork?
Yes
No YesDoesindicatorperform?
PHASE
2
20
Task: Classification of SEQ riversTo identify classes of freshwaters
1. Ensure comparisons are valid• Compare apples with apples• Develop water quality guidelines
2. Assist in site selection• Stratify sites across region
11
21
ClassificationBased on 4 variables
– rainfall – altitude– slope– stream size
4 groups– Upland (red)– Lowland (blue)– South Coastal (green)– North Coastal (light blue)
Classification of south eastQueensland streams
22
The process
Drop indicatorDrop indicator
Majorfieldstudy
Majorfieldstudy
Review ofclassification
Develop water quality guidelines
Ecosystem Health Monitoring ProgramEcosystem Health Monitoring Program
No
Identifypotential indicators
Develop Conceptual models
Pilot studies
Catchment-scaleclassificationYesNo
PHASE
1
Isindicator proven?
Doesindicatorwork?
Yes
No YesDoesindicatorperform?
PHASE
2
12
23
Major field trial
• Disturbance Gradient Approach to detecting impact•Define a disturbance gradient
• Objective comparisons - at same sites and times
24
1. Ag. Landuse- % Cleared- % Cropping- % Grazing
Catchment
2. Waterchemistry
3. Flow variables
Both
4. Riparian condition5. In-stream habitat6. Channel condition
Reach
13
25
Field trialresponse to disturbance
Disturbance gradientLow High
Ecol
ogic
al h
ealt
h in
dica
tor
Reference values
26
Disturbance gradientLow High
Ecol
ogic
al h
ealt
h in
dica
tor
14
27
Each indicator assessed• same equipment• same operators• same place• same time• same analysis
ReferenceTest
1
1
Results of major field trial
1 Macroinvertebrates2 Fish 3 Water chemistry4 Metabolism5 Nutrients
2
Standardised analysis protocol
• Allows direct comparison of indicators• Generalised linear modelling approach• Allows partitioning of variance
Disturbance category
App
roxi
mat
e r
2 %
Land
use
%
Chan
nel c
ondi
tion
%
Ripa
rian
con
diti
ons
%
Wat
er c
hem
istr
y %
In-s
trea
m h
abit
at %
Flow
rel
ated
%
% Exotic individuals 87 12 0 14 14 35 12
% Native Species 73 11 13 17 13 17 2
Fish assemblage O/E 50 65 11 12 0 11 31 0N. Armstrong
2
3
18 indices assessed
Macroinvertebrates
Associated primarily with Landuse & Riparian condition
6 indices proposed for inclusion in EHMPRichness (r2 = 58%)PET (r2 = 71%)SIGNAL (r2 = 67%)
x 2 habitats
4
Fish
9 indices assessed
Associated primarily with in-stream habitat3 indices proposed for inclusion in EHMP
% of native species expected (r2 = 73%)Fish assemblage O/E (r2 = 65%)% exotic individuals (r2 = 87%)
3
5
Water Quality
27 indices assessed6
7
8
9
10
MIDDAYMIDNIGHT
DO
(mg/
l)
Associated primarily with Landuse & Channel condition5 indices proposed for inclusion in EHMP
Diel ∆ Temperature (includes max/min) (r2 = 60%)Diel ∆ DO (includes max/min) (r2 = 82%)pH (r2 = 46%); Alkalinity (r2 = 52%)Conductivity (r2 = 60%)
6
Metabolism
5 indices assessed
Associated primarily with water chemistry & riparian condition
3 indices proposed for inclusion in EHMPGPP (r2 = 89%)R24 (r2 = 91%)δ13C (r2 = 92%)
4
7
Nutrient cycling
9 indices assessed Associated primarily with water chemistry
2 indicators proposed for inclusion in EHMPAlgal bioassay (mean r2 = 64%)δ15N - plants (r2 = 79%)
8
Reducing redundancy
• Within indicator types• Between indicator types
• Consider level of training required
5
9
Redundancy within groups
r2 = 0.47
0
500
1000
1500
2000
0 1000 2000 3000GPP cobble
R24
Cob
ble
dr2 = 0.74
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0 0.5 1 1.5FISH O/E
FIS
H R
ichn
ess
c
r2 = 0.59
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 100 200 300 400 500Alkalinity
pH
ar2 = 0.64
20
30
40
50
60
70
20 30 40 50 60 70SIGNAL Edge
SIG
NA
L Po
ol
b
10
-1.7
0.0
1.7
-1.7 0.0 1.7Vector 1
Vec
tor 2
A
FE
D
CB1
19
22
20
18
21 17
1516
1213
14
89
11
2
54
Redundancy between groupsProductivity
15 GPP 16 R24 17 del13C
Nutrients 18 del15N19 Bioassay control20 Bioassay N 21 Bioassay P 22 Bioassay NP
B - LanduseD - Channel conditionF - Habitat
INDICATORSPhysical/chemical
1 Temperature change2 DO change4 Conductivity 5 pH
Invertebrates8 Edge PET 9 Edge Signal11 Edge richness
Fish12 O/E13 Exotics 14 Richness
DISTURBANCESA - Chemistry C - Flow variablesE - Riparian condition
6
11
Reporting ecosystem health
12
FishInvertebrates
Phys/chem
Metabolism
Nutrients
Undisturbed site - Back Creek near Canungra
Disturbed site - Petrie Creek, Nambour
7
13
EHMP Sites
14
8
15