CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research

Environmental changes, whether at a local scale (e.g. land-cover changes, pollution, hydromorphological modifications and invasive species introduction) or on a global scale (e.g. climate change), have led to the decline of many aquatic species and the weakening of ecosystem function. Additionally, the escalation in human activities, including water extraction, flow regulation, pollution and habitat fragmentation, has exerted significant pressure on both surface and subsurface freshwater resources. Such alterations have profoundly disrupted the delivery of ecosystem services, thereby affecting human wellbeing. Conservation efforts and restoration initiatives are crucial for improving biodiversity, ecological integrity, and ensuring the availability of clean water and other vital ecosystem services. This collection highlights the latest developments in these fields, as discussed at the 6th International Symposium on Water Pollution and Treatment (ISWPT 2023, 14–15 October 2023, Bangkok, Thailand). The articles herein primarily concentrate on the sustainable enhancement of freshwater ecological system monitoring and assessment methods, the identification of indicator species, and the preservation of ecosystem services.

Collection Editor: Yong Xiao

Last Updated: 02 Jul 2024

MF23166Monitoring tropical freshwater fish with underwater videography and deep learning

Andrew Jansen

, Steve van Bodegraven, Andrew Esparon, Varma Gadhiraju, Samantha Walker, Constanza Buccella, Kris Bock, David Loewensteiner, Thomas J. Mooney, Andrew J. Harford

, Renee E. Bartolo and Chris L. Humphrey

Illustration depicting monitoring tropical freshwater fish with underwater magnification and deep learning.

Tropical freshwater fish assemblages monitored in Kakadu National Park were measured using underwater videography, and counted by trained human observers and artificial intelligence (AI). Over 3 years of monitoring, both AI and trained human observers detected the same changes in overall fish assemblage composition. However, AI consistenly underestimated the abundance of small-growing schooling fish. Image credit: Andrew Jansen.

This article belongs to the collection Ecological Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems: New Trends and Future Challenges.

MF24003An adaptive weighted-average Kriging method applied to monitoring of freshwater ecosystems

Qilu Liu

, Jingfang Shen and Yaohui Li

Freshwater-quality prediction is crucial for monitoring pollution risks and assessing changes in freshwater ecosystems. Whereas Kriging is a precise interpolation method for predicting freshwater quality, selecting key parameters, regression functions and correlation functions remains challenging. Therefore, this study proposed an adaptive weighted-average Kriging (AWAK) method that outperforms traditional Kriging in predicting pH and dissolved oxygen, reducing prediction errors significantly. Overall, AWAK improved freshwater-quality prediction and provided an effective approach in freshwater-ecology research.

This article belongs to the collection Ecological Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems.

MF23179Early warning and monitoring of the safety risk of coastal nuclear power plant cold source under the stress from Phaeocystis globosa blooms

Jialin Ni

, Hongyi Chen, Li Dai, Jianda Ji, Jing Lin and Tao Yu

In this study, a multifactor and multilayer comprehensive early risk-warning method was established to improve the timeliness and accuracy of risk warning for nuclear power plant operation under the stress of Phaeocystis globosa blooms.

This article belongs to the collection Ecological Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems.

MF23151Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of seawater quality of Larimichthys Crocea mariculture areas in Zhoushan, China

Jianwei Yu, Shun Wu and Yu Zhang

The seawater quality in the Dongji Island yellow croaker aquaculture area in Zhoushan, China, was assessed by the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. Seawater quality was better in 2019 than in 2020, with overall water quality classified as Class I in both years. However, there were variations in water quality among individual months in 2020. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method can be used in other regions to assess and manage seawater quality in aquaculture areas effectively.

This article belongs to the collection Ecological Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems.

MF23211Incentive for farmers to save water by confirming the rights to agricultural water in the Yellow River Basin

Lili Rong, Xin Cheng

and Chenghao Xu

On the basis of research data from nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin, this study explored the incentives of water-rights confirmation in agriculture and its transmission mechanism for water conservation among farmers. The research findings indicated that water-rights confirmation in agriculture influences farmers’ willingness to conserve water and the amount of investment in water conservation.

This article belongs to the collection Ecological Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems: New Trends and Future Challenges.

MF23242Spatio-temporal variations of habitat quality in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay, based on LUCC and simulation

Yu He

and Wanzheng Ai

Land use–cover change affects habitat quality and sustainable growth. This study predicted 2030 land-use scenarios with the PLUS model and assessed habitat quality from 2010 to 2030 with InVEST in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay. Limiting construction, protecting farmland and expanding green spaces are essential for improving habitat quality. Findings have provided insights for sustainable growth.

This article belongs to the collection Ecological Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems: New Trends and Future Challenges.