Synopsis:

Across Australia, river and catchment restoration plans target a range of catchment disturbances and in particular, water resource development, land clearance and invasion of exotic pests. Choice of restoration measures requires an understanding of the critical human disturbances in each catchment. However, there is limited information on the relative contribution of these disturbances with which to prioritise restoration efforts. This project will identify the individual and interacting effects of drivers of river conditions for lowland rivers.

This project will adopt an integrated approach drawing on a range of research methods including: (i) systematic synthesis of the literature; (ii) meta-analysis of previous studies relating catchment disturbances to river conditions; and (iii) building mathematical driver-stressor-response models and testing these models using historic information.

A primary outcome of this project so far is a systematic procedure for assembling causal evidence for the impact of human activities on ecosystem condition. We draw from methods developed in epidemiological research, which recognise a limited ability to conduct well-designed experimental studies. This method is broadly applicable across different ecosystem types and human disturbances.

People

Dr Michael Stewardson (Staff)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - University of Melbourne

A/Prof Andrew Western (Staff)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - University of Melbourne

Antonia Gamboa Rocha (Student)

Angus Webb (Collaborator)
School of Social and Environmental Enquiry

Brian Finlayson (Collaborator)
School of Social and Environmental Enquiry

Wayne Stephenson (Collaborator)
School of Social and Environmental Enquiry

Peter Gell (Collaborator)
University of Adelaide