OIL rigs and artificial reefs are often given a bad rap for their environmental impact but they may be playing a vital role in feeding one of Australia’s largest sea creatures, still recovering from centuries of hunting by humans, new research led by Deakin scientists has found. Researchers from Deakin’s Centre for Integrative Ecology within …. more
Landcare / Ecology
Blue carbon – the unsung hero
DEAKIN University scientists have completed Victoria’s first ever stocktake of blue carbon hot spots, revealing millions of tonnes of stored carbon, which they say is at risk of being returned to the atmosphere unless conserved. The stocktake of more than 100 blue carbon sites across more than 2,000km of Victorian coastline, including its major estuaries, …. more
Helping turtles survive against a deadly enemy
The Broad Shelled Turtle. Photo courtesy of NCCAMA. THE North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) is continuing efforts to protect freshwater turtles by implementing and trialling a targeted fox-shooting program in the Gunbower Forest area. North Central CMA Gunbower Key Asset Protection Project Manager Adrian Martins said turtle numbers across the northern …. more
Long-term water monitoring programme for Murray Darling Basin
Backwaters of the River Murray. Photographer: Greg Rinder. A NEW five year monitoring plan for the Murray-Darling Basin announced on Wednesday, November 12, by the Commonwealth Government will provide unprecedented knowledge into the effectiveness of environmental watering. “Localised teams of experts from Australia’s leading regional universities and research institutions will undertake projects in key areas of Commonwealth environmental …. more
Windbreaks and ground cover the key to beneficial wasps on farms
A shelterbelt with significant ground cover. Farms with windbreaks with significant areas of ground cover vegetation have been shown to attract wasps that are beneficial to agricultural pest control, according to a new study from the University of Melbourne PhD candidate Ian Smith said while researchers have known that shelterbelts or windbreaks provide wind reduction, …. more
Murtho salt scheme reduces River Murray salinity
Closeup of water outlet at salt interception scheme, Buronga NSW. Photo: MDBA. A SALT interception scheme designed to stop about 36,000 tonnes of salt from entering the River Murray has been launched in South Australia. The $30 million scheme will intercept highly saline groundwater and prevent it from entering the River Murray and floodplain, bringing down salinity …. more