Australian Freshwater Ecology

Andrew J. Boulton, University of New England, Armidale, AustraliaMargaret A. Brock, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, AustraliaBelinda J. Robson, Murdoch University, Murdoch, AustraliaDarren S. Ryder, University of New England, Armidale, AustraliaJane M. Chambers, Murdoch University, Murdoch, AustraliaJenny A. Davis, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia

“This excellent volume is certain to inspire a new generation of freshwater ecologists, in Australia and beyond, to go out and learn more about these incredibly diverse and vulnerable environments.”  (Freshwater Biology, 2 June 2015)

• About this book, xi About the companion website, xiiPART I: PROCESSES IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, 11 Australian waters: diverse, variable and valuable, 31.1 The challenge for aquatic ecologists, 31.2 Defi ning some common terms, 61.3 Australian inland waters: their diversity and distribution, 61.4 The water regime: ‘where, when and to what extent water is present’, 71.4.1 Water budgets, scale issues and human influences on water regimes, 71.4.2 Components of the water regime, 81.4.3 Water regime variability, 91.5 Linkages in aquatic ecosystems: from molecular bonds to global exchanges, 111.5.1 Wonderful water and its molecular linkages, 111.5.2 Linkages at the catchment scale, 121.5.3 Linkages at the global scale: the hydrological cycle, 131.5.4 Continental linkages and surface waters in Australia, 151.5.5 Continental linkages and groundwaters in Australia, 191.6 The structure of this book, 202 Physical processes in standing waters, 212.1 Depth and physical processes, 212.2 Let there be light ..., 212.2.1 Light reaching the water surface, 212.2.2 Light below the water surface, 222.2.3 Seeing through water: Secchi discs and quantum sensors, 242.3 The euphotic zone, 242.4 Light and life, 252.5 Temperature and stratification, 252.5.1 Causes of stratifi cation, 262.6 Using circulation patterns to classify standing waters, 272.7 Ecological implications of the different types of stratifi cation and mixing, 292.8 Deep versus shallow standing waters: depth matters, 312.8.1 How deep standing waters form, 322.8.2 How shallow standing waters form, 322.9 Synthesis, 353 Chemical processes in standing waters, 373.1 ‘There’s a certain chemistry ...’, 373.2 Dissolved gases, 373.2.1 Oxygen, 383.2.2 Carbon dioxide, 413.2.3 Hydrogen, 423.2.4 Methane, 433.3 Sources of ions, 453.4 Ionic composition of Australian standing waters, 453.5 Conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids, 453.6 Ionic composition and trophic state, 473.6.1 Some common anions, 473.6.2 Some common cations, 483.7 Redox reactions and redox potential, 503.8 Redox reactions and some common metals, 513.9 Nutrients, nutrient limitation and ecological stoichiometry, 523.9.1 Phosphorus, 533.9.2 Nitrogen, 553.9.3 Carbon, 583.10 Water regime, drying and water chemistry, 603.10.1 What happens to water chemistry during a wetting-drying cycle?, 603.11 Synthesis, 624 Biological processes in standing waters, 634.1 Biological players on a physical and chemical stage, 634.2 Major ecological zones and habitats, 644.3 Blurred boundaries and mobile assemblages, 664.4 Trophic groups and sources of energy, 664.5 Producers, 694.5.1 An ecological classification of producers, 724.5.2 Microscopic aquatic plants, 724.5.3 Macroscopic aquatic plants, 744.5.4 Plants living in water: benefits and constraints, 764.5.5 Alternative states: changes in plant dominance in shallow waterbodies, 774.6 Consumers, 804.6.1 Decomposers: the importance of microbes and fungi, 804.6.2 Invertebrate detritivores, 814.6.3 Invertebrate herbivores, 824.6.4 Invertebrate carnivores, 834.6.5 Vertebrate herbivores, 844.6.6 Vertebrate carnivores, 854.6.7 Predation and trophic cascades, 864.6.8 Trophic cascades and biomanipulation, 874.6.9 How vertebrates use waterbodies: linkages and subsidies, 874.7 Biological processes in temporary standing waters, 904.8 Biological processes in saline standing waters, 944.9 Synthesis, 955 Physical processes in running waters, 975.1 Flow and the diversity of running waters, 975.2 Scale, ecological hierarchies and networks, 975.3 A hierarchical classification of physical features, 995.3.1 Physical features and channel flows, 1015.4 Hydrology and stream flow, 1035.4.1 Measuring discharge, 1035.4.2 Measuring current velocity, 1045.5 Hydrographs, catchment characteristics and groundwater interactions, 1065.6 Flow variability and its implications, 1085.7 The physical process of transport, 1105.7.1 The sources of sediment, 1115.7.2 Sediment particle size and distribution, 1125.7.3 Current velocity, erosion and transport, 1135.7.4 Sediment dynamics and channel form, 1145.7.5 Floodplain sedimentation and billabong formation, 1155.8 River profi les and longitudinal changes in physical features, 1185.9 Synthesis, 1196 Chemical processes in running waters, 1206.1 The complex web of factors, 1206.2 Dissolved gases, 1206.3 Ionic composition of Australian rivers, 1236.4 Sources of ions, 1246.5 Nutrients and nutrient spiralling, 1266.5.1 Transport and retention of nutrients, 1286.6 Carbon and organic matter, 1296.6.1 Dissolved organic matter in rivers, 1306.6.2 Solute processes: dissolved substances in running waters, 1326.7 Longitudinal changes in chemical features, 1336.8 Synthesis, 1357 Biological processes in running waters, 1367.1 Factors affecting biological processes at various scales, 1367.2 Zones and habitats: parallels and contrasts with standing waters, 1367.3 Living with flow, 1387.4 Sources of energy in running waters, 1427.4.1 Producers, 1427.4.2 The distribution of different life-forms of producers, 1437.4.3 Open-water producers in large rivers, 1467.4.4 Classifying consumers in running waters, 1467.4.5 Invertebrate herbivores, 1477.4.6 Invertebrate carnivores, 1497.4.7 Vertebrate herbivores, 1507.4.8 Vertebrate carnivores, 1517.4.9 Decomposers, 1547.4.10 Functional feeding groups, 1577.5 The fate of a dead eucalypt leaf that falls into a stream ..., 1587.6 Conceptual models of running-water ecosystems, 1607.7 The role of disturbance, 1637.7.1 Post-disturbance recolonization processes, 1647.7.2 Recolonization, dispersal and biogeography in Australian running waters, 1687.7.3 Setting the biogeographic scene: ancient rocks, variable climates, 1707.7.4 Some biogeographic patterns in Australian inland waters, 1707.8 Synthesis, 1738 Groundwater processes and management, 1748.1 Out of sight, out of mind?, 1748.2 An integrated definition of groundwaters, 1748.3 Physical processes in groundwaters, 1768.3.1 Groundwater discharge, permeability, porosity and Darcy’s Law, 1788.3.2 Physical processes between groundwaters and surface waters, 1808.3.3 Groundwater temperature, 1838.4 Chemical processes in groundwaters, 1848.4.1 Principal chemical processes in groundwater, 1848.4.2 Chemical processes along gradients of dissolved oxygen, 1868.5 Biological processes in groundwaters, 1878.5.1 Groundwater microbiology, 1888.5.2 Buried treasures in Australia: groundwater invertebrates and fishes, 1908.5.3 Biodiversity and ecology of Australian groundwater fauna, 1918.5.4 Physical, chemical and biological drivers of groundwater ecological processes, 1938.5.5 Groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs), 1958.6 Management issues in Australian groundwaters, 1978.7 Ecosystem services and conservation of Australian groundwaters, 2018.8 Synthesis, 202PART II: MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, 2059 Management issues: water regime, 2079.1 ‘When the well is dry ...’, 2079.2 Changes to water regimes by humans in Australia: a brief history, 2079.2.1 Changing water regime, changing processes, 2109.3 Diverse impoundments with diverse effects, 2119.3.1 Impoundments as ecological barriers, 2149.3.2 Impoundments and estuaries, 2159.4 Ecological effects of water extraction, 2169.4.1 Ecological effects of drainage and irrigation, 2189.4.2 Ecological effects of inter-basin transfers, 2199.4.3 Ecological effects of urbanization, 2209.5 Water regimes and environmental watering, 2219.5.1 Environmental watering: ecological objectives and outcomes, 2239.5.2 Environmental watering: risks and tactics, 2259.6 ‘Breaking down the barriers’: fishways and dam removal, 2269.7 Synthesis, 22710 Management issues: physical features, 22910.1 Changing physical features, changing processes, 22910.2 Human activities and the physical environment, 23010.2.1 Human changes to catchments, 23010.2.2 Human changes to basins and channels, 23210.3 Sedimentation: a physical process with negative fallout, 23510.3.1 Human activities and sedimentation, 23610.3.2 Ecological effects of sedimentation, 23810.3.3 Management of sedimentation, 23910.4 Physical processes and land-water interfaces, 24110.4.1 Ecological roles of fringing and riparian zones, 24110.4.2 Threats to land-water interfaces, 24310.4.3 Management of land-water interfaces, 24510.5 Recovering natural physical complexity, 24810.6 Synthesis, 24911 Management issues: water quality, 25011.1 What is water quality?, 25011.2 Managing water quality, 25011.3 Eutrophication, 25311.3.1 Natural and anthropogenic eutrophication, 25311.3.2 Drivers, stressors and processes of eutrophication, 25311.3.3 Ecological impacts and effects on ecosystem services, 25611.3.4 Management of eutrophication, 25811.4 Salinization, 25911.4.1 Natural and anthropogenic salinization, 25911.4.2 Drivers, stressors and processes of salinization, 25911.4.3 Ecological impacts and effects on ecosystem services, 26111.4.4 Management of salinization, 26211.5 Acidifi cation, 26411.5.1 Natural and anthropogenic acidifi cation, 26411.5.2 Drivers, stressors and processes of acidification, 26411.5.3 Ecological impacts and effects on ecosystem services, 26711.5.4 Management of acidification, 26811.6 Pollution, 26911.6.1 Drivers, stressors and processes of pollution, 26911.6.2 Ecological impacts and effects on ecosystem services, 27111.6.3 Management of pollution, 27311.7 Water quality guidelines, 27411.8 Monitoring and assessing water quality, 27511.8.1 Condition monitoring, 27511.8.2 Detecting environmental impacts, 27711.9 Multiple stressors and models of ecosystem change, 27711.10 Synthesis, 27912 Management issues: biodiversity conservation and climate change, 28112.1 What is biodiversity and why does it need conservation?, 28112.1.1 Setting priorities in biodiversity conservation, 28112.2 Aquatic landscapes: networks and mosaics of habitats, 28312.3 Protected areas for conserving freshwater communities, 28412.4 Having good connections: dispersal and connectivity in conservation, 28612.5 Protecting refuges to conserve aquatic communities, 28712.6 Conserving aquatic species and populations, 28812.6.1 The special challenge of conserving species with complex life histories, 28812.6.2 The spatial extent of populations and metapopulations, 28912.6.3 What are ‘Evolutionarily Significant Units’?, 28912.6.4 Hidden biodiversity: cryptic species, 29012.6.5 Endemic species and relictual faunas, 29012.7 Threatened communities and species, 29112.8 In the wrong place: ‘exotic aquatics’ and invasive species, 29312.8.1 Invasive predators and competitors, 29412.8.2 Domestic and hybridizing invasive aquatic species, 29412.8.3 Invasive ‘ecosystem engineers’, 29712.8.4 Potential effects of climate change on aquatic invasive species, 29812.9 Climate change and Australian aquatic ecosystems, 29912.9.1 Effects of increased water temperature, 30012.9.2 Effects of changes to the hydrological cycle and water regimes, 30012.9.3 Effects of sea-level rise, 30112.9.4 Effects of changes to atmospheric conditions, 30212.9.5 Effects of reduced snow cover and alpine warming, 30212.9.6 How do these climatic changes affect freshwater species and ecosystems?, 30212.9.7 Planned adaptation to climate change in aquatic ecosystems, 30512.10 Synthesis, 30713 Integrating ecology and management: a synthesis, 30813.1 The ‘big picture’: integrating ecology and management, 30813.2 The ‘bigger picture’: integrating social, economic and political goals, 30913.3 Strategic adaptive management in aquatic ecology, 31113.4 Resolving conflicts in freshwater management: a role for aquatic ecologists?, 31313.5 Future challenges and opportunities: where to from here?, 31513.6 Synthesis, 319References, 321Index, 347