Project Title
The interactive effects of salinity and water regime on two ecologically signficant wetland plant species
Supervisors
- Dr Jenny Read
- Dr Kay Morris
- Dr Paul Boon
Abstract
The artificial homogenisation of naturally fluctuating water regimes and secondary salinisation are major contributing factors
to the loss of plant biodiversity in wetlands worldwide. However, the interactive effects of these processes on plant
species remains poorly quantified. When predicting wetland community dominance patterns, it is necessary to explore the relative
performances of different life history stages of dominant species under different hydrologic and salinity regimes for accurate
prediction of future community composition. This project aims to predict the response of two ecologically significant
native wetland plant species, the emergent swamp paperbark ( Melaleuca ericifolia) and the submerged aquatic eel grass
( Vallisneria americana) to a number of hydrologic scenarios. A combination of field studies, laboratory experiments
and mesocosm manipulations shall be utilised to investigate how different life stages of both species respond to the interactive
effects of salinity and water regime. Results will indicate mechanisms of species’ persistence during unfavourable
environmental conditions, and guide managers on how to promote the persistence of multiple species with contrasting water regime
requirements and salinity tolerances over time
See also
Wetland Ecology
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Publications
- Salter, J., Morris, K., Bailey, P.C.E. and Boon, P.I. (2007). Interactive effects of salinity and water depth on the growth of Melaleuca ericifolia Sm. (Swamp paperbark) seedlings. Aquatic Botany 86, 213-222.
Conference Papers
Presentations
- “The recovery of two wetland plants with contrasting growth forms; V. americana and M. ericifolia, following adverse water regimes under saline and fresh conditions”. Australian Centre for Biodiversity Workshop, Monash University Clayton, November 2005
- “The effect of long-term flooding on reproductive allocation and growth of the Swamp paperbark, Melaleuca ericifolia” - Poster at the LWA annual Postgraduate workshop, Australian National University, Canberra July 2004
- “The effect of long-term flooding on reproductive allocation and growth of the Swamp paperbark, Melaleuca ericifolia” – Oral presentation at Ecological Society of Australia conference, Adelaide University, December 2004
- “Not drowning, waving: How Melaleuca ericifolia responds to long-term inundation and implications for persistence” - Poster at the Australian Society of Limnology conference, Adelaide Univeristy, Adelaide December 2004
- “The interactive effects of salinity and water regime on the performance of Melaleuca ericofolia, the swamp paperbark”- Oral presentation at the Ecological Society of Australia conference in Armidale and at the Australian Society of Limnology conference in Warrnambool December 2003.
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