5.8: Biodiversity and HCVAE. Bioregionalisation conservation priorities and predictive models of aquatic biodiversity

Leader:

Jane Hughes

Abstract

<p>Biodiversity is a feature of aquatic ecosystems that is often valued by different members of the community.  To effectively manage aquatic biodiversity, we need to know where the areas of high biodiversity are.  It is also useful to know what causes some areas to have high biodiversity and others not.  This project aims to answer these questions and so define biologically unique regions (bioregions) within northern Australia, based on patterns of aquatic biodiversity.</p>

Outcomes

The findings from this research will help decision-makers better predict the impacts of water resource development on freshwater animals. For example if river flows are made unfavourable to a species in a particular catchment what does this mean in terms of the survival of the species as a whole? This can then lead to the development of strategies and policies for environmentally sustainable economic and social development of northern Australia.

The project will provide tools that will help identify networks of protected areas that can represent the full variety of species or ecosystems in northern river systems. This will assist Governments and conservation agencies to create a more resilient parks and reserve system and help set aquatic restoration and conservation targets and objectives.

Where is the research happening?

This is a broad scale project and will cover as many catchments as possible across northern Australia. For example, information on freshwater fish diversity will be available for almost all major catchments from the Kimberley to Cape York Peninsula.

Who's involved

The project is led by Professor Jane Hughes from Griffith University and includes researchers from Griffith University, the University of Canberra and James Cook University.