Research partnership to protect the Coorong

One of Australia's most significant wetlands, the Coorong, at the mouth of the River Murray, is the focus of a new multi–million dollar research partnership that aims to improve the ecological health of the region and protect threatened birds and fish. The CLLAMMecology collaborative research program enables the skills of the wider Australian research community to be applied to the major national challenges targeted by CSIRO's Flagship Program.

Led by Dr Mike Geddes of The University of Adelaide, the CLLAMMecology Research Cluster ultimately aims to evaluate water management options for the region to secure and sustain the health of one of Australia's most significant wetlands.

Addressing the guests at the launch, South Australian Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald said "What this cluster will bring to the table, is the information that we need to make the best possible decisions with the water which we do have available to us."

"It will give us a better understanding of how ecology responds to various water management regimes, which is very important in my role as Minister for the River Murray, and how we make decisions about how we manage water."

CSIRO Research Scientist Dr Sébastien Lamontagne said "This will be the first comprehensive ecological research program ever to have taken place in the Coorong and Lower Lakes region, and largest Australian research project looking at the response of estuarine waterbirds and fish to environmental flows."

With a field component examining the ecological responses observed during planned water regime manipulations, and in particular the release of water from the Lower Lakes barrages to the Murray estuary, the Cluster aims to develop improved models to predict ecological responses to future climate and water management scenarios.

The Cluster will be involved in four key research activities, including documenting the responses of key species to changes in aquatic environments under different management regimes. The study will look at a range of species, including those of conservation value (migratory waders), ecosystem value (aquatic plant) or recreational value (black bream or mulloway) for the region.

Linked to this will be examining the effects of increased water flows and whether these lead to increased productivity in the food-chain. The research will also examine food-webs and explore how energy is transferred through estuarine invertebrates to fish and birds.

CSIRO Sustainable Energy & Environment Group Executive Dr Steve Morton stated that the CLLAMMecology Research Cluster would be particularly important for the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, as the Coorong is symbolic of the challenges we are facing in the Murray River.

"For me as a scientist," he added, "it is also a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate that ecological science can move from describing problems, to systemic analysis and prediction."

CSIRO expertise in hydrology, hydrodynamics, nutrient cycles and socio-economics will help to decipher the relationships between ecosystem drivers and water benefits, while other members of the partnership focus on ecology.
 

"Our partners at The University of Adelaide, Flinders University, South Australian Research & Development Institute (SARDI) and the Department of Environment and Heritage have outstanding ecological skills," he said.

"So it is just common sense that we form a relationship," said Dr Morton "and bring these skills together in a way which maximises the chance that science in a multidisciplinary, challenging environment will have an impact in the world. That's what we want to do with this investment."

The partnership receives A$2.2 million from the CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Fund with partner contributions taking the total investment to A$5.3 million over three years.

Funding for the research was announced recently by The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, under the Flagship Collaboration Fund Cluster funding.

The Collaboration Fund enables the skills of the wider Australian research community to be applied to the major national challenges targeted by CSIRO's Flagship Initiative.


More information: Media release

Contact:

Dr Mike Geddes: 61 8 8303 5934 mike.geddes@adelaide.edu.au

Dr Sebastien Lamontagne: 61 8 8303 8713 Sebastien.Lamontagne@csiro.au
 

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