Northern Territory. Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment. Conservation and Natural Resources,
CSIRO. Land and Water,
Australia. Department of the Environment and Heritage. Environmental Flows Initiative,
Collection
E-Publications,
E-Books,
PublicationNT,
37/2002,
Date
2002-01,
Location
Daly River,
Abstract
This project focuses on the major riverine plant, Vallisneria nana R.Br., beds of which are a keystone habitat. Macrophytes play a role in providing food, breeding sites and refuge for animals, and in the cycling of nutrients, metals and carbon. They slow currents, trap organic matter, sediments and nutrients, reduce turbidity, stabilise banks, increase shade and reduce water temperatures. Vallisneria species were once considerably abundant in the regulated inland rivers of south-eastern Australia. Their loss is attributed to adverse changes in water quality and flow. The loss of V. nana would cause a cascade of adverse changes across the food web. The overall project objective was to make recommendations about the environmental conditions needed to sustain V. nana and its functional role in the Daly River.,
Notes
Made available by via Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT),
A report to Environment Australia, Canberra Project No. 23087 funded by the Environmental Flows Initative,
Table of contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Hydrology -- 3. Distribution and Habitat Correlates of V.nana -- 4. Physical & Chemical Character of the River and Springs -- 5. Plant Ecology -- 6. Fauna Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Communities -- 7. Fauna II Distribution of Selected Aquatic Vertebrates -- 8. Daly River Ecosystem Productivity -- 9. Effects of Reduced Flow on V.nana -- 10. Monitoring -- 11. Recommendations -- 12. References,