RQF Evidence Portfolio
1.
Name of Research Grouping: Aquatic Systems Ecology and Management
2.
Home Panel: Agriculture, veterinary, food and environmental sciences
2.
3.
RFDC Codes:
SEO Codes:
Name of Researchers
1 Prof. Nicholas Klomp
2 Ass. Prof. Robyn Watts
3 Dr. Iain Taylor
4 Dr. Paul Humphries
5 Dr. Andrea Wilson
3008, 100%
7700, 100%
Level
M/F
FTE
ECR
E
D
C
B
B
M
F
M
M
F
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
5.0
No
No
No
No
Yes
RFCD
Code
3008
3008
3008
3008
3008
SEO Code
7700
7700
7700
7700
7700
FOUR BEST OUTPUTS
Prof. Nick I. Klomp
Green, D.G., Klomp, N.I., Rimmington, G. & Sadedin, S. (2006). Complexity in Landscape
Ecology. Springer, Dordrecht.
This 208-page book presents a new perspective on traditional ecology. We employed recent
advances in modelling, artificial life and complexity theory to provide new insights into
patterns and processes in landscapes and ecosystems. The text uses new and existing data to
integrate disparate disciplines to better understand and manage complex landscapes.
Voltier, S.C., Furness, R.W., Bearhop, S., Crane, J.E., Caldow, R.W.G., Catry, P., Ensor, K.,
Hamer, K.C., Hudson, A.V., Kalmbach, E., Klomp, N.I., Pfeiffer, S., Phillips, R.A., Prieto, I.,
Thompson, D.R. (2004). Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities. Nature
427: 72-730. ISI 32.182, 25 citations.
Published in one of the world’s most influential journals, our paper presented the results of a
long-term, multinational study to dramatically illustrate how current fisheries and
management policies adversely affect bird communities. The study has been cited as a classic
example of the complex interactions within ecosystems, and illustrates how ill-informed
policies or practices can have significant effects on the natural environment.
Ratcliffe, N., Catry, P., Hamer, K.C., Furness, R.W. & Klomp, N.I. (2002). The effect of age
and year on the survival of adult breeding Great Skuas Catharacta skua in Shetland. Ibis 144:
384-392. ISI 1.206, 11 citations.
Published in one of the world’s leading ornithology journals, this paper is another example of
the extent of my international collaborations, here with British and Spanish researchers. This
paper provided data and new explanations of the factors that influence survival of long-lived
animals.
1
Weerheim, M.S, Klomp, N.I., Brunsting, A.M.H. & Komdeur, J. (2003). Population size,
breeding habitat and nest-site distribution of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) on Montague
Island, New South Wales. Wildlife Research 30: 151-157. ISI 0.993, 0 citations.
This study documents the habitat factors affecting the population of penguins on Montague
Island—one of the world’s largest Little Penguin colonies, but previously poorly documented.
This international collaboration between the CSU and staff and students from Wageningen
University (Netherlands) examined the effects of current management practices on seabirds
breeding on the island, drawing on historical and current data to establish the baseline and
methodology against which all future studies can be compared.
Ass. Prof. Robyn J. Watts
Watts, R.J. & Johnson, M.S. 2004. Estuaries, lagoons and enclosed embayments: habitats
that enhance population subdivision in inshore fishes. Marine and Freshwater Research
55(7): 641-651. ISI 1.44, 8 citations.
In this paper my colleague and I analysed data from published papers to identify
circumstances under which genetic differences among populations can develop in aquatic
ecosystems. It was the 7th most downloaded paper on the MFR webpage in 2006. This paper
follows on from several highly cited papers in internationally refereed journals where we
examine factors affecting biodiversity, dispersal and gene flow in aquatic environments. (eg.
Watts et al. 1990, Marine Biology 105, 145-152, 73 citations). This body of research has been
cited by eminent authors in several review papers and has implications for managing fish
stocks, designing aquatic reserves and conservation.
Ryder D.S., Watts R.J., Nye E., & Burns, A. 2006. Can flow velocity regulate epixylic
biofilm structure in a regulated floodplain river? Marine and Freshwater Research 57(1): 2936. ISI 1.44, 2 citations.
This paper presents results from an ARC project that developed ecological indicators for
assessing environmental flows. It highlights the effects of flow regime, specifically water
velocity, on river ecosystems. This research has underpinned recent changes to dam
management practices, including several studies of cyclic flow releases from Dartmouth Dam
by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (Watts et al. 2005; http://www.csu.edu.au/
research/jcentre/reports/jcec_report97.pdf, Watts et al. 2006 http://www.csu.edu.au/research/
ilws/archive05/ILWSreports06.htm,). This research has been presented at three international
conferences (Riverine Landscapes Sweden, TISORS Scotland, Riversymposium Brisbane)
and has influenced dam management practices by demonstrating that improved river health
can be achieved without increasing environmental water allocations.
Watts, R. J. & Ryder, D.S. 2001. Developing biological indicators for the assessment of
environmental flows. Australian Journal of Water Resources, 5(1): 119-122. SIS N/A, 2
citations
This paper addresses the issue that there is poor river health downstream of dams and that
appropriate indicators are required to assess the impacts of environmental flows. Published in
a special issue focussing on environmental flows, this paper summarises findings from several
multidisciplinary research projects. The indicators developed by these projects have been
used to assess flow releases from Dartmouth Dam by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission
(eg. Watts et al. 2006’ http://www.csu.edu.au/research/ilws/archive05/ILWSreports06.htm).
This research has been presented at three international conferences (International Society for
Limnology Melbourne, Riverine Landscapes Sweden, TISORS Scotland) and was featured
during National Science Week in 2004 (http://news.csu.edu.au/director/features/science).
2
Watts R.J. & Wilson, A.L. 2004. Triage: Appropriate for prioritising community funded
river restoration projects, but not for advancing the science of river restoration. Ecological
Management and Restoration, 5: 73-75. (This journal is in an emerging field and is not yet
listed on the ISI database).
This paper discusses the issue of how to best prioritise river restoration projects and is an
output of a project undertaken in collaboration with CSIRO and funded by a nationally
competitive grant from Land and Water Australia. We collaborated with catchment
management agencies in SA, Victoria, and NSW to trial the assessment techniques
(Wilkinson et al. 2004, 2005a, 2005b http://www.clw.csiro.au/publications/technical2004/
tr37-04.pdf, http://www.clw.csiro.au/publications/consultancy/2005/ Goulburn Broken
riparian.pdf; http://www.clw.csiro.au/publications/consultancy/2005/Mount Lofty Ranges
riparian.pdf) and the results were used by one of the CMAs to implement river restoration
programs costing in excess of $1M for fencing and replanting of riparian zones. This research
was presented at the international Riverine Landscapes conference in Sweden.
Dr. Iain R. Taylor
Richardson, A.J., Taylor, I.R. & Growns, J.E. 2001. The foraging ecology of egrets in rice
fields in southern New South Wales, Australia. Waterbirds. 24: 255-264. ISI: 0.5; 9 citations.
Funded by a Natural Heritage Fund grant to Taylor, this was the first quantitative
investigation in an on-going debate on the ecological adequacy of rice fields as a substitute
for natural wetlands in Australia. The paper led directly to two research contracts to Taylor
from Murrumbidgee Irrigation, which demonstrated conclusively that rice fields are not an
adequate substitute and that environmental flows are needed to maintain natural wetland
biodiversity. Five journal publications will be produced from this work and Taylor has been
invited to contribute a chapter to a book on the international role of rice fields in biodiversity
conservation.
Taylor, I.R. & Grant, M. C. 2004. Long-term trends in the abundance of breeding Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus in relation to land-use change on upland farmland in southern Scotland.
Bird Study 51: 133-142. ISI: 0.99; 2 citations.
The study concerned a waterbird whose populations have declined seriously. Its importance
lies in its long-term nature, covering 25 years, enabling a direct quantitative linking of
population change to specific aspects of land-use change. The study exemplifies some of the
international links that have been established between the aquatic group and overseas
researchers. Taylor conducted the research up to 1993 when he moved to Australia but it was
deemed important enough for its continuation by Dr. Grant, senior researcher in the Royal
Society of the Protection of Birds, UK to 2004. The research link continues with studies of
other species.
Taylor, I.R. & Roe, E. L. 2004. Feeding ecology of Little Terns Sterna albifrons sinensis in
south-eastern Australia and the effects of pilchard mass mortality on breeding success and
population size. Marine and Freshwater Research 55: 1-10. ISI: 1.48; 2 citations.
This paper involves a species that at the time of the study was listed as endangered in
Australia and investigated the effects of a human introduced disease of pilchard on the
survival of the species. It is the only study of the species in Australia and provided essential
information for its conservation, being used by the Department of Sustainability and
Environment, Victoria. The findings have also been incorporated into a set of international
rules and recommendations by Birdlife International, the recognised international authority, to
define limits around seabird nesting areas that should be protected.
3
Hamilton, A.J., Robinson, W., Taylor, I.R. & Wilson, B. 2005. The ecology of sewage
treatment gradients in relation to their use by waterbirds. Hydrobiologia 534: 91-108. ISI:
0.56; 1 citation.
The effect of nutrient enrichment from human sources on biodiversity is a constant problem
in aquatic ecosystems. Previously, there was no quantification of the direct links between
chemical concentrations and the densities of higher vertebrates. This study made use of a
gradient in nutrient concentrations in a series of ponds at a sewage treatment facility to
quantify all steps in the process, including the numerical effects on selected waterbird species.
It is the first study in Australia to do so and the first to demonstrate a direct link between the
chemicals and numbers of higher organisms.
Dr. Paul Humphries
Humphries, P., Cook, R.A., Richardson, A.M. and Serafini, L.G. 2006. Creating a
disturbance: manipulating slackwaters in a lowland river. River Research and Applications,
22: 525-542. ISI: 1.645; 0 citations.
This paper represents an important step forward in our understanding of riverine habitat and
its management and is published in a leading international aquatic journal. It is one of the
few riverine experiments investigating the manipulation of habitat in situ. Our results have
major significance for the sustainability of fish populations in lowland rivers and are already
contributing to the management of lowland rivers through state conservation agencies (e.g.
DSE, Victoria) and catchment management authorities (e.g. Goulburn-Broken CMA)
implementing works to provide flow refuge for young fish.
Humphries, P. (2005). Spawning time and early life history of Murray cod, Maccullochella
peelii peelii, in an Australian river. Environmental Biology of Fishes 72: 393-407.
ISI:
0.934; 5 citations.
This paper was one of the first dealing with the early life history of the iconic Murray cod.
Despite much work over an extended period of time, knowledge of this species’ early life
history is still in its infancy. Although the paper has only been out for a short time, it is
generating much interest from Australian researchers, since the results about spawning time
and drifting behaviour have profound implications for river management and conservation of
Murray cod.
King, A.J., Humphries, P. and Lake, P.S. (2003). Use of floodplain environments during
high and low flow conditions by larval and juvenile fish. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Sciences 69: 773-786. ISI: 1.882; 19 citations.
This paper represents the first study to sample inundated floodplains for fish in the MurrayDarling Basin in a rigorous way, and is published in one of the top international aquatic
journals. Despite conjecture, no studies had directly investigated whether fish used the
floodplain and for what purpose. Our conceptual model on breeding and floodplain usage by
fish showed that for many species, use of the floodplain for breeding does not make sense.
This work has been taken up by managers and other Australian scientists (12 citations). The
conceptual model is also being taken up by overseas workers (7 citations), as being relevant
to temperate floodplain river systems generally.
Humphries, P., Serafini, L.G. and King, A.J. (2002). River regulation and fish larvae:
changes in space and time. Freshwater Biology 47: 1307-1331. ISI: 2.502; 22 citations.
This paper, published in a leading international journal (6th of 79 in marine and freshwater
biology), was important in showing that fish spawned every year, despite large inter-annual
4
variation in flow. This contradicted much of the current thinking and has huge implications
for river management. The paper points to recruitment as being the major reason for
declining fish populations, not spawning. Its impact is seen by the number of citations, 6 of
which are from international researchers.
Dr. Andrea Wilson. Early career researcher
Wilson A, Jansen A, Curtis A and Robertson A (2006) Measuring riparian condition: a
comparison of assessments by landholders and scientists. Ecological Management &
Restoration, 7(2): 123-129. (This journal is in an emerging field and is not yet listed on the
ISI database).
This publication detailed research work that was instrumental in the development of RARC, a
rapid assessment technique for measuring riparian condition in south-eastern Australia
(www.rivers.gov.au/acrobat/techupdate4.pdf). The RARC tool has been widely adopted by
industry, natural resource managers, landholders and scientists (e.g. Land, Water & Wool
program, www.rivers.gov.au/lww/rarc.htm). Workshops to provide practical demonstrations
and training in its application have been held by Land & Water Australia throughout southern
Australia. RARC has formed the basis of new assessment tools tailored for use in riparian
condition assessments for Tasmania, South Australia and northern Australia (e.g. TRARC).
Wilson AL, Ryder DS, Watts RJ and Stevens MM. (2005) Stable isotope analysis of aquatic
invertebrate communities in irrigated rice fields cultivated under different management
regimes. Aquatic Ecology, 39: 189-200. ISI 0.898, 0 citations.
The research underpinning this publication has been disseminated to both agricultural and
ecological audiences at local, national and international workshops and conferences (e.g.
British Ecological Society, International Congress of Entomology, Societas Internationalis
Limnologiae). This work formed an important component of rice field biodiversity studies in
the research programs of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production.
The Context Statement
History and research objectives
Australia’s rivers, floodplain wetlands, estuaries and marine near-shore ecosystems are
ecologically interconnected and all have been adversely affected by the processes of
agricultural development, river regulation and recurring drought. Problems of conflicting
demand for water and consequent ecosystem dysfunction are likely to be exacerbated in the
future by long term climate change. The objectives of the research group are to improve our
understanding of the basic ecological functioning of these aquatic systems and to work with
various end-users to improve the management of our aquatic resources for the benefit of all
who value and rely on these resources. The work of our group is particularly targeted at
understanding the ecological impacts of river flows, the effects of river regulation, and ways
of ameliorating adverse effects. The aquatic group was started in 1994 and has grown steadily
in size and influence since, within the former Johnstone Research Centre and current Institute
of Land, Water and Society (ILWS) of CSU. The commitment of the University to the future
of aquatic research and our group is reflected in the recent appointment of Professor Max
Finlayson, an eminent international aquatic ecologist as a Strategic Professor and Director of
ILWS. The strength of the group will be increased to seven in the coming months by the
addition of Prof. Finlayson and Dr. Skye Wassens. Group members have expertise in water
regimes and flows, plant productivity, invertebrate, fish, amphibian and waterbird
populations.
5
Main achievements
In 2001-2006 the group produced 51 peer reviewed publications (33.6 DEST points), and
attracted $1,646,272 of research funding, including $387,252 in nationally competitive grants.
Among the publications was a paper in Nature (N. Klomp). Group members initiated 26
separate funded research projects and produced 22 research reports for various clients. Group
members have served on 15 advisory committees and panels concerned with wetland
management. All group members act as referees for international journals.
Group members were principal supervisors for 9 postgraduate degree completions. Three of
these graduates are now university lecturers, two are postdoctoral fellows and four are
employed in research organisations or river management agencies. Our research activities
were linked to postgraduate training through the establishment by the group of a Postgraduate
Certificate in River Restoration and Management in 2004 at CSU, supported by a nationally
competitive grant from Land and Water Australia. This provides high level training in aspects
of water management required by a variety of end-users.
The international standing of the researchers in the group and the quality of the research
undertaken by the group has been recognised in several ways. Robyn Watts and Andrea
Wilson were members of a team that won the 2001 CSU Vice Chancellors Award for Team
Research into river and floodplain ecology. Several members of the group have given invited
presentations at international conferences, e.g. Iain Taylor received 5 invitations to present at
overseas international wetland conferences. Robyn Watts and Iain Taylor contributed to a
national conference on wetland management and the proceedings were edited by Iain Taylor.
Collaboration
There is extensive collaboration and cross linkages both within the group and between the
group and other researchers and a wide range of end-users. This takes the form of funded and
unfunded research projects, consultancies and other advisory positions, the supervision of
postgraduate research projects, and the organisation of research meetings and conferences.
Group members and their postgraduate students meet regularly both informally and formally
to discuss our research activities and obtain group feedback on our work. Many of the group’s
funded research projects have involved at least two members of the group. For example,
Robyn Watts and Andrea Wilson have collaborated on four recent research projects. All
members of the group contribute as supervisors and co-supervisors of the pool of
postgraduate students.
It is especially valuable that members of the group are able to collaborate with other academic
staff within the Institute of Land, Water and Society of CSU. This gives added strength and
dimension to the group, enabling a holistic approach to the management of aquatic resources
and better guarantees for the future sustainability of the group. Thus, within CSU, aquatic
ecology group members have collaborated with social scientists, hydrologists,
geomorphologists and spatial scientists who have specialist interests in natural resource
management. Examples of collaboration of this nature have been between Robyn Watts and
Alan Curtis and between Nick Klomp and David Roshier.
All members of the group have collaborated with researchers external to the university. We
have undertaken projects with researchers at La Trobe Univeristy, Monash University,
Murray-Darling Research Centre, University of New England, CSIRO Land and Water, the
University of Tasmania and the University of Western Australia.
Funded collaborative projects with agencies and end-users outside CSU have involved the
Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre,
Department of Sustainability and Environment, Murrumbidgee CMA, Sunraysia CMA,
6
Murrumbidgee Irrigation, NSW Dept of Environment and Climate Change (formerly Parks
and Wildlife), NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee, Land and Water Australia and
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust. It is important to stress the nature of these
collaborations: group members discuss and identify specific management requirements and
design research projects with these end-users, and most importantly, are active with them in
the implementation stage either as incorporation into policy or into on-ground works. This is
exemplified by the very large number of research reports (22) written for these end-users.
There is an international aspect to some of our collaborative research as the group has links
with several international organisations. Paul Humphries has established international
research links with colleagues at the University of Vienna and the Texas A & M University.
Iain Taylor has co-authored a journal publication and initiated new research collaboration
with members of the research branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the
UK. Several of his projects have involved Wetlands International and the Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds, UK. Robyn Watts has links with civil engineers and ecologists from
the Japan Water Resources Environment Technology Centre and hosted a visit by a
delegation from this organisation in 2006. Iain Taylor is also involved in exploratory
discussions with the president of Wetlands International on the provision of wetland training
programs in Asia.
DEST Reported Research Income for the Group
Type
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
TOTAL
91,944
89,969
158,755
32,871
13,713
0
387,252
Category
1
303,956
170,885
291,083
218,202 78,737
104,249
1,167,113
Category
2
909
20,388
27,200
0
5,455
5,455
59,407
Category
3
0
0
0
0
0
32,500
32,500
Category
4
396,809
281,242
477,038
251,073 99,904
142,204
1,646,272
TOTAL
The totals to 2004 include grants awarded to Dr. P. Humphries when he was an employee of
Monash University, prior to his move to CSU
Individually Earned DEST Publication Points
Journal
Articles
Book
Chapters
Books
Refereed
Conference
Publications
TOTAL
2001
2.25
2002
1.5
2003
4.24
2004
5.73
2005
4.33
2006
3.25
TOTAL
21.30
0
2.34
0
0.5
0.33
0
3.17
0
1.0
0
0
0
1.0
0
1.33
0
1.0
1.25
3.53
1.25
7.86
3.25
3.85
5.24
7.56
5.66
8.03
33.58
7
Research Higher Degree Students
Total No of
students
supervised.
No of
students
graduating
2001
7
2002
7
2003
9
2004
3
2005
4
2006
5
TOTAL
35
1
1
4
0
0
3
9
Impact Statement
Catchment management
The ecological and economic inter-dependence of river catchments, estuaries and near shore
ecosystems is well known. Our group’s research has had an impact in the management of all
of these components. However, the impact of our research activities defined in terms of our
engagement with end-users, the take up of research results and the benefits to society as a
whole can be best illustrated by our collaborative work with various agencies and other endusers within the Murrumbidgee, Murray and other river catchments in New South Wales and
northern Victoria. These catchments are places where people work, earn a living and meet
their recreational needs as well as being areas within which Australia has to meet its national
and international responsibilities in environmental management and conservation. Water is
an essential resource in all of these aspects of human endeavour. The work of our group has
been particularly targeted at understanding the ecological aspects of river flows, the effects of
river regulation and ways to ameliorate adverse effects.
Our group has very close working relations with agencies and organisations that are
responsible for managing all aspects of aquatic resources within their catchments. This
includes the Murrumbidgee, Murray, Sunraysia and Goulburn-Broken Catchment
Management Authorities, Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Land and Water Australia, NSW
Department of Primary Industries, Statewater Corporation, Murray-Darling Basin
Commission, Natural Heritage Trust, NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee, Department of
Environment and Climate Change, NSW, and Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust.
Although we have had funded research projects with all of these organisations, the
engagement has not simply been in the undertaking of funded research. Our group members
discuss and identify specific management and knowledge requirements with these end-users,
design research projects together, and most importantly, have been active with them in the
implementation stage. We have researched and developed evidence-based management
strategies on river flows, indicators of river health, the conservation of native fish, amphibian
and waterbird populations and river restoration practices. We have produced 22 research
reports on these aspects, specifically for these end-users.
In the area of wetland management for biodiversity conservation our engagement with
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust, which operates within the Murrumbidgee
Catchment, has been especially productive. One of the group (Taylor) is a Board Member of
the Trust and has provided ecological advice and undertaken targeted joint research with Mr.
M. Schultz, President of the Trust, over a period of 10 years. Improved management of
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps based directly on our research findings resulted in their
successful nomination in 2001as a Ramsar site, that is, a wetland complex of international
conservation importance. The requirement to produce an effective management plan for the
8
wetlands as part of the Ramsar nomination process was possible only as a result of our
research. There are several novel aspects to the management of the site: it is normal for there
to be community consultation in the management of conservation areas but in this case
members of the local community through the Board of the Trust are actually responsible for
all aspects of management. Controlled livestock grazing is used successfully as a
management tool, apparently the first instance of this in Australia. The site won the New
South Wales inland tourist destination award for 2007 based on its wildlife values.
Fivebough Swamp is now used as a model of wetland management in New South Wales and
has been presented as an Australian case study of river flows and river basin management to
the international Ramsar Convention in Switzerland.
Capacity building for catchment management
The aquatic ecology group has a strong emphasis on using our knowledge and expertise to
build capacity for better management of river catchments, estuaries and near shore
ecosystems. One of the main limitations in the implementation of evidence-based
management of aquatic resources within Australia and elsewhere is the shortage of suitably
trained managers. Our group has been especially active in the use of our research results and
experience gained through the research in the area of capacity building for improved river and
wetland management both within Australia and overseas. A substantial number of
postgraduate research students have been supervised and a Postgraduate Certificate in River
Restoration and Management, which provides much needed training within Australia, was
introduced at CSU by Robyn Watts and Andrea Wilson. This was supported by a nationally
competitive grant from Land and Water Australia. A specialist subject in wetland and
waterbird management was also introduced into a Postgraduate Diploma course in
Ornithology at CSU by Iain Taylor in 2005. The emphasis in these courses is on a
quantitative, evidence-based approach and our research feeds directly into the courses by the
use of our specific case studies.
Our group has been active in capacity building with management agencies throughout eastern
Australia, acting as a catalyst to encourage the exchange of knowledge and ideas on wetland
management among professional managers. For example, in 2006 Iain Taylor in
collaboration with Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust and Murrumbidgee Catchment
Management Authority, organised and edited the proceedings of a national conference on
wetland management in production landscapes, which was attended by 150 delegates from
agencies across south east Australia. Other examples are several field days and workshops
organised by Robyn Watts and Andrea Wilson to engage the community in river
management, and a sampling protocol for the assessment of algal responses to environmental
flows developed for NSW DECC as part of an ARC funded project by Robyn Watts.
There is also an international aspect to our capacity building: in 2003 Iain Taylor was invited
to attend a workshop in India organised by Wetlands International on capacity building for
wetland management in Asia. This will be developed further with Max Finlayson, President
of Wetlands International, when he joins the aquatic group later in 2007. One of our group’s
aims is to become a centre for aquatic ecosystem management capacity building for the
Australia-Asia-Pacific region.
9
Contacts for reference



Dr. Brendan Edgar, Program Coordinator, National Rivers Consortium, Land and Water
Australia, GPO Box 2182, Canberra, ACT 2601. Email: brendon.edgar@lwa.gov.au
Mr. M. C. Schultz, Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands Trust, PO Box, 357, Leeton, NSW
2705. Email: trust@fivebough.org.au
Brian Lawrence, Manager, River Murray Water Quality Monitoring Program, MDBC,
GPO Box 409, Canberra, ACT 2601. Email: brian.lawrence@mdbc.gov.au
Research Grouping’s quality and impact
Quality = 4
Impact = B
10