Seasonal changes in water quality and macrophytes and the impact of cattle on tropical floodplain waterholes
N. E. Pettit A F , T. D. Jardine B , S. K. Hamilton C , V. Sinnamon D , D. Valdez B , P. M. Davies A , M. M. Douglas E and S. E. Bunn B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, The University of Western Australia, Albany, WA 6332, Australia.
B Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
C Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA.
D Kowanyama Aboriginal Land and Natural Resource Management Office, Kowanyama, Qld 4871, Australia.
E Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: neil.pettit@uwa.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 63(9) 788-800 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12114
Submitted: 26 April 2012 Accepted: 26 July 2012 Published: 8 October 2012
Abstract
The present study indicates the critical role of hydrologic connectivity in floodplain waterholes in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia. These waterbodies provide dry-season refugia for plants and animals, are a hotspot of productivity, and are a critical part in the subsistence economy of many remote Aboriginal communities. We examined seasonal changes in water quality and aquatic plant cover of floodplain waterholes, and related changes to variation of waterhole depth and visitation by livestock. The waterholes showed declining water quality through the dry season, which was exacerbated by more frequent cattle usage as conditions became progressively drier, which also increased turbidity and nutrient concentrations. Aquatic macrophyte biomass was highest in the early dry season, and declined as the dry season progressed. Remaining macrophytes were flushed out by the first wet-season flows, although they quickly re-establish later during the wet season. Waterholes of greater depth were more resistant to the effects of cattle disturbance, and seasonal flushing of the waterholes with wet-season flooding homogenised the water quality and increased plant cover of previously disparate waterholes. Therefore, maintaining high levels of connectivity between the river and its floodplain is vital for the persistence of these waterholes.
Additional keywords : aquatic plants, connectivity, flooding, lacustrine, resilience, riparian, riverine, seasonal waterbodies, water quality.
References
Anderson, M. J., Gorley, R. N., and Clarke, K. R. (2008). ‘PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER: Guide 25 to Software and Statistical Methods.’ (PRIMER-E: Plymouth, UK.)APHA (1998). ‘Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.’ (American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation: Washington, DC.)
Armour, C., Duff, D., and Elmore, W. (1994). The effects of livestock grazing on western riparian and stream ecosystem. Fisheries 19, 9–12.
| The effects of livestock grazing on western riparian and stream ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bowman, D. M. J. S., and McDonough, L. (1991). Feral pig (Sus scrofa) rooting in a monsoon forest–wetland transition, northern Australia. Wildlife Research 18, 761–765.
| Feral pig (Sus scrofa) rooting in a monsoon forest–wetland transition, northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Breukers, C. P. M., van Dam, E. M., and Sjoerdtje, A. (1997). Lake Volkerak-Zoom: a lake shifting from the clear to the turbid state. Hydrobiologia 342/343, 367–376.
| Lake Volkerak-Zoom: a lake shifting from the clear to the turbid state.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bunn, S. E., Davies, P. M., and Winning, M. (2003). Sources of organic carbon supporting the food web of an arid zone floodplain river. Freshwater Biology 48, 619–635.
| Sources of organic carbon supporting the food web of an arid zone floodplain river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bunn, S. E., Balcombe, S. R., Davies, P. M., Fellows, C. S., and McKenzie-Smith, F. J. (2006). Aquatic productivity and food webs of desert river ecosystems. In ‘Changeable, Changed, Changing: the Ecology of Desert Rivers’. (Ed. R. Kingsford.) pp. 76–99. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Caley, P. (1997). Movements, activity patterns and habitat use of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in a tropical habitat. Wildlife Research 24, 77–87.
| Movements, activity patterns and habitat use of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in a tropical habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carignan, R., and Neiff, J. (1992). Nutrient dynamics in the floodplain ponds of the Parana River (Argentina) dominated by water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes. Biogeochemistry 17, 85–121.
| Nutrient dynamics in the floodplain ponds of the Parana River (Argentina) dominated by water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhtV2itrk%3D&md5=9a2ce989cbc8f4b85bbdc33c52496ed8CAS |
Clarke, K. R., and Gorley, R. N. (2006). ‘PRIMER v6: User Manual/tutorial.’ (Primer-E: Plymouth, UK.)
Colloff, M. J., and Baldwin, D. S. (2010). Resilience of floodplain ecosystems in a semi-arid environment. The Rangeland Journal 32, 305–314.
Cresswell, R., Petheram, C., Harrington, G., Buetikoffer, H., Hodgen, M., and Davies, P. (2009). Water resources in northern Australia. In ‘Northern Australia Land and Water Science Review’. (Ed. P. Stone.) pp. 1–40. Final report to the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce, CSIRO, Canberra.
CSIRO (2009). Water in northern Australia. Summary of reports to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project, CSIRO, Canberra.
Davies, P. M. (2010). Climate change implications for river restoration in global biodiversity hotspots. Restoration Ecology 18, 261–268.
| Climate change implications for river restoration in global biodiversity hotspots.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davies, P. M., Bunn, S. E., and Hamilton, S. K. (2008). Primary production in tropical streams and rivers. In ‘Tropical Stream Ecology’. Chapter 2. (Ed. D. Dudgeon.) pp. 23–42. (Elsevier: London.)
Davis, J., Sim, L., and Chambers, J. (2010). Multiple stressors and regime shifts in shallow aquatic ecosystems in antipodean landscapes. Freshwater Biology 55, 5–18.
| Multiple stressors and regime shifts in shallow aquatic ecosystems in antipodean landscapes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Douglas, M. M., Bunn, S. E., and Davies, P. M. (2005). River and wetland food webs in Australia’s wet–dry tropics: general principles and implications for management. Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 329–342.
| River and wetland food webs in Australia’s wet–dry tropics: general principles and implications for management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Doupé, R. G., Mitchell, J., Knott, M. J., Davis, A. M., and Lymbery, A. J. (2010). Efficacy of exclusion fencing to protect ephemeral floodplain lagoon habitats from feral pigs (Sus scrofa). Wetlands Ecology and Management 18, 69–78.
| Efficacy of exclusion fencing to protect ephemeral floodplain lagoon habitats from feral pigs (Sus scrofa).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
EPA (2005). Wetland mapping and classification methodology – overall framework –A method to provide baseline mapping and classification for wetlands in Queensland, Version 1.2. Queensland Government, Brisbane.
Finlayson, C. M. (2005). Plant ecology of Australia’s tropical floodplain wetlands: a review. Annals of Botany 96, 541–555.
| Plant ecology of Australia’s tropical floodplain wetlands: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2MvotVehtQ%3D%3D&md5=2eafc1feda5d9f7dfca1ee984f8915efCAS |
Finlayson, C. M., Bellio, M. G., and Lowry, J. B. (2005). A conceptual basis for the wise use of wetlands in northern Australia – linking information needs, integrated analyses, drivers of change and human well-being. Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 269–277.
| A conceptual basis for the wise use of wetlands in northern Australia – linking information needs, integrated analyses, drivers of change and human well-being.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Finlayson, C. M., Lowry, J., Bellio, M. G., Nou, S., Pidgeon, R., Walden, D., Humphrey, C., and Fox, G. (2006). Biodiversity of the wetlands of the Kakadu region, northern Australia. Aquatic Sciences 68, 374–399.
| Biodiversity of the wetlands of the Kakadu region, northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fordham, D. A., Georges, A., and Brook, B. W. (2008). Indigenous harvest, exotic pig predation and local persistence of a long-lived vertebrate: managing a tropical freshwater turtle for sustainability and conservation. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 52–62.
| Indigenous harvest, exotic pig predation and local persistence of a long-lived vertebrate: managing a tropical freshwater turtle for sustainability and conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Forman, R. T. T., and Godron, M. (1981). Patches and structural components for a landscape ecology. Bioscience 31, 733–739.
| Patches and structural components for a landscape ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gallardo, B., Gascon, S., Gonzalez-Sanchis, M., Cabezas, A., and Comin, F. A. (2009). Modelling the response of floodplain aquatic assemblages across the lateral hydrological connectivity gradient. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 924–935.
| Modelling the response of floodplain aquatic assemblages across the lateral hydrological connectivity gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gunderson, L. H., and Holling, C. S. (Eds) (2002). ‘Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems.’ (Island Press: Washington DC.)
Holling, C. S., and Gunderson, L. H. (2002). Resilience and adaptive cycles. In ‘Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems’. (Eds L. H. Gunderson and C. S. Holling.) pp. 293–313. (Island Press: Washington, DC.)
Jackson, S., Storrs, M., and Morrison, J. (2005). Recognition of Aboriginal rights, interests and values in river research and management: perspectives from northern Australia. Ecological Management & Restoration 6, 105–110.
| Recognition of Aboriginal rights, interests and values in river research and management: perspectives from northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
James, C. D., Landsberg, J., and Morton, S. R. (1999). Provision of watering points in the Australian arid zone: a review of effects on biota. Journal of Arid Environments 41, 87–121.
| Provision of watering points in the Australian arid zone: a review of effects on biota.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jardine, T. D., Pusey, B. J., Hamilton, S. K., Pettit, N. E., Davies, P. M., Douglas, M. M., Sinnamon, V., Halliday, I. A., and Bunn, S. E. (2012). Fish mediate high food web connectivity in the lower reaches of a tropical floodplain river. Oecologia 168, 829–838.
| Fish mediate high food web connectivity in the lower reaches of a tropical floodplain river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Junk, W. J. (1997). Structure and function of the large central Amazonian River floodplains: synthesis and discussion. In ‘The Central Amazon Basin: Ecology of a Pulsing Basin’. (Ed. W. J. Junk.) pp. 455–473. (Springer: Berlin.)
Junk, W. J., and Furch, K. (1993). A general review of tropical South American floodplains. Wetlands Ecology and Management 2, 231–238.
| A general review of tropical South American floodplains.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kennard, M. J. (2010). Northern Australia trial of the draft High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems (HCVAE) Framework. Final report to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the National Water Commission, Charles Darwin University, Darwin.
Kennard, M. J., Pusey, B. J., Olden, J. D., Mackay, S. J., Stein, J. L., and Marsh, N. (2010). Classification of natural flow regimes in Australia to support environmental flow management. Freshwater Biology 55, 171–193.
| Classification of natural flow regimes in Australia to support environmental flow management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Legendre, P., and Anderson, M. J. (1999). Distance-based redundancy analysis: testing multispecies responses in multifactorial ecological experiments. Ecological Monographs 69, 1–24.
| Distance-based redundancy analysis: testing multispecies responses in multifactorial ecological experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Leigh, C., and Sheldon, F. (2009). Hydrological connectivity drives patterns of macroinvertebrate biodiversity in floodplain rivers of the Australian wet/dry tropics. Freshwater Biology 54, 549–571.
| Hydrological connectivity drives patterns of macroinvertebrate biodiversity in floodplain rivers of the Australian wet/dry tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lewis, W. M., Hamilton, S. K., Lasi, M. A., Rodriguez, M., and Saunders, J. F. (2000). Ecological determinism on the Orinoco Floodplain. Bioscience 50, 681–692.
| Ecological determinism on the Orinoco Floodplain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loverde-Oliveira, S. M., Huszar, V. L. M., Mazzeo, N., and Scheffer, M. (2009). Hydrology-driven regime shifts in a shallow tropical lake. Ecosystems 12, 807–819.
| Hydrology-driven regime shifts in a shallow tropical lake.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mitchell, D. S., and Rogers, K. H. (1985). Seasonality/aseasonality of aquatic macrophytes in southern hemisphere inland waters. Hydrobiologia 125, 137–150.
| Seasonality/aseasonality of aquatic macrophytes in southern hemisphere inland waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mitchell River Watershed Management Group (2001). ‘Mitchell River Watershed Management Plan.’ (Department of Natural Resources: Mareeba, Qld.)
Naiman, R. J., Latterell, J. J., Pettit, N. E., and Olden, J. D. (2008). Flow variability and the biophysical vitality of river systems. Comptes Rendus Geoscience 340, 629–643.
| Flow variability and the biophysical vitality of river systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neiff, J. J., Casco, S. L., and de Neiff, A. P. (2008). Response of Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae) to water level fluctuations in two lakes with different connectivity in the Parana River floodplain. International Journal of Tropical Biology 56, 613–623.
Opperman, J. J., Luster, R., McKenney, B. A., Roberts, M., and Meadows, A. W. (2010). Ecologically functional floodplains: connectivity, flow regime and scale. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 46, 211–226.
| Ecologically functional floodplains: connectivity, flow regime and scale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pettit, N. E., Bayliss, P., Davies, P. M., Hamilton, S. K., Warfe, D. M., Bunn, S. E., and Douglas, M. M. (2011a). Seasonal contrasts in carbon resources and ecological processes on a tropical floodplain. Freshwater Biology 56, 1047–1064.
| Seasonal contrasts in carbon resources and ecological processes on a tropical floodplain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pettit, N. E., Townsend, S. A., Dixon, I. H., and Wilson, D. (2011b). Plant communities of aquatic and riverine habitats. In ‘Aquatic Biodiversity in Northern Australia’. Chapter 4. (Ed. B. J. Pusey.) pp. 37–50. (Charles Darwin University Press: Darwin.)
Rolon, A. S., Lacerda, T., Maltchik, L., and Guadagnin, D. L. (2008). Influence of area, habitat and water chemistry on richness and composition of macrophyte assemblages in southern Brazilian wetlands. Journal of Vegetation Science 19, 221–228.
| Influence of area, habitat and water chemistry on richness and composition of macrophyte assemblages in southern Brazilian wetlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roozen, F. C. J. M., Peeters, E. T. H. M., Roijackers, R., Wyngaert, I. V. D., Wolters, H., de Coninck, H., Ibelings, B. W., Buijse, A. D., and Scheffer, M. (2008). Fast response of lake plankton and nutrients to river inundations on floodplain lakes. River Research and Applications 24, 388–406.
| Fast response of lake plankton and nutrients to river inundations on floodplain lakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scheffer, M., and Carpenter, S. R. (2003). Catastrophic regime shifts in ecosystems: linking theory to observation. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 18, 648–656.
| Catastrophic regime shifts in ecosystems: linking theory to observation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scheffer, M., and Jeppesen, E. (2007). Regime shifts in shallow lakes. Ecosystems 10, 1–3.
| Regime shifts in shallow lakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scheffer, M., and van Nes, E. H. (2007). Shallow lakes theory revisited: various alternative regimes driven by climate, nutrients, depth and lake size. Hydrobiologia 584, 455–466.
| Shallow lakes theory revisited: various alternative regimes driven by climate, nutrients, depth and lake size.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXlsVequr0%3D&md5=df5e98792ca9a17d1b39c19db67e23f6CAS |
Scheffer, M., Carpenter, S. R., Foley, J. A., Folke, C., and Walker, B. (2001). Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems. Nature 413, 591–596.
| Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnsleht7c%3D&md5=f19341ae37d054f498a702ad70da68d1CAS |
Scheffer, M., Szabo, S., Gragnani, A., van Nes, E. H., Rinaldi, S., Kautsky, N., Norberg, J., Roijackers, R. M. M., and Franken, R. J. M. (2003). Floating plant dominance as a stable state. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 100, 4040–4045.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXivFSqurg%3D&md5=a22bac1bf818c037ac42814c86a0d230CAS |
Sheldon, F., and Fellows, C. S. (2010). Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and temporal variability and the role of flow. Marine and Freshwater Research 61, 864–874.
| Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and temporal variability and the role of flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtVansL7L&md5=f47f27eca2286bb190d4225f22522fa4CAS |
Sheldon, F., Bunn, S. E., Hughes, J. M., Arthington, A. H., Balcombe, S. R., and Fellows, C. S. (2010). Dryland river waterholes: ecological roles and threats to aquatic refugia in arid landscapes. Marine and Freshwater Research 61, 885–895.
| Dryland river waterholes: ecological roles and threats to aquatic refugia in arid landscapes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtVansL%2FK&md5=0d0e7543a000967b3f905656a218e4a8CAS |
Thomaz, S. M., Bini, L. M., and Bozelli, R. L. (2007). Floods increase similarity among aquatic habitats in river-floodplain systems. Hydrobiologia 579, 1–13.
| Floods increase similarity among aquatic habitats in river-floodplain systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thrash, I. (2000). Determinants of the extent of indigenous large herbivore impact on herbaceous vegetation at watering points in the north-eastern Lowveld, South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 44, 61–72.
| Determinants of the extent of indigenous large herbivore impact on herbaceous vegetation at watering points in the north-eastern Lowveld, South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tockner, K., Pusch, M., Borchardt, D., and Lorang, M. S. (2010). Multiple stressors in coupled river-floodplain ecosystems. Freshwater Biology 55, 135–151.
| Multiple stressors in coupled river-floodplain ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Geest, G. J., Coops, H., Scheffer, M., and van Nes, E. H. (2007). Long transients near the ghost of a stable state in eutrophic shallow lakes with fluctuating water levels. Ecosystems 10, 36–46.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXlslCmsLk%3D&md5=76911e7ee8b6b1b0f99295e928b6628cCAS |
Vörösmarty, C. J., McIntyre, P. B., Gessner, M. O., Dudgeon, D., Prusevich, A., Green, P., Glidden, S., Bunn, S. E., Sullivan, C. A., Reidy Liermann, C., and Davies, P. M. (2010). Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity. Nature 467, 555–561.
| Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, B., and Salt, D. (2006). ‘Resilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and People in a Changing World.’ (Island Press: Washington, DC.)
Ward, D. P., Hamilton, S. K., Jardine, T. D., Pettit, N. E., Tews, E. K., Olley, J. M., and Bunn, S. E. (2012). Assessing the seasonal dynamics of floodplain inundation, turbidity and aquatic vegetation in the Australian wet–dry tropics using optical remote sensing. Ecohydrology , .
| Assessing the seasonal dynamics of floodplain inundation, turbidity and aquatic vegetation in the Australian wet–dry tropics using optical remote sensing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warfe, D. M., Pettit, N. E., Davies, P. M., Pusey, B. J., Hamilton, S. K., Kennard, M. J., Townsend, S. A., Bayliss, P., Ward, D. P., Douglas, M. M., Burford, M. A., Finn, M., Bunn, S. E., and Halliday, I. A. (2011). The ‘wet–dry’ in the wet–dry tropics drives ecosystem structure and function of northern Australian rivers. Freshwater Biology 56, 2169–2195.
| The ‘wet–dry’ in the wet–dry tropics drives ecosystem structure and function of northern Australian rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Welcomme, R. L. (1985). ‘River Fisheries.’ FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 262. (FAO: Rome.)
