Dr Sally Hladyz: providing freshwater ecological knowledge to better manage lowland rivers

Dr Sally Hladyz’s primary research areas include riverine food webs and ecosystem functioning.

• 4 May 2009 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Current activities
• Background 
• Academic qualifications
• Professional activities

Current activities

Dr Hladyz’s current research involves the use of stable isotopes (d13C, d15N) to trace organic matter pathways through aquatic ecosystems.

More specifically she seeks to investigate the influence of changing river flow on biological interactions between rivers and floodplains in order to contribute to our understanding of interactions in Australian lowland river systems.

In addition she will investigate changes in food webs of lowland riverine and floodplain habitats at various flow stages, including base flow and flooding.

Her research topics of special interest include:

• riparian Influences on ecosystem functioning
• riparian and stream linkages
• invasive plant impacts
• riverine food webs.

Background

Dr Hladyz’s doctoral research focused on examining and interpreting community patterns and ecosystem processes such as decomposition, primary production and herbivory, in both freshwaters and terrestrial riparian zones. 

In addition she has integrated large-scale survey data with field experiments, laboratory trials and statistical modelling to examine the underlying drivers of ecosystem functioning and the influence of riparian vegetation.

Academic qualifications

Dr Hladyz has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Monash University, Australia in 2001. Her Honours thesis was titled 'Invasion of the riparian zone by basket willow (Salix x rubens Schrank): impacts on leaf litter decomposition'
• Doctor of Philosophy from University College, Cork, Ireland in 2006. Her Doctorate thesis was titled 'Riparian influences on stream ecosystem functioning.'

Professional activities

Dr Hladyz is a member of the:

• Australian Society of Limnology
• British Ecological Society.

Find out more about CSIRO Land and Water.