Basin-scale population dynamics of Golden Perch and Murray Cod: Relating flow to provenance, movement and recruitment in the Murray–Darling Basin

Restoration of riverine connectivity and ecologically relevant aspects of natural flow regimes are fundamental to rehabilitating riverine fish populations. To be effective, however, this requires an understanding of relationships between flow and the key life history processes (e.g. spawning, recruitment and movement) that influence population dynamics. The MDB is a large and complex river system, characterised by a climatically and hydrologically varied riverscape. In such systems, specific regions may act as ‘sources’ and ‘sinks’ for various life stages, and connectivity between regions may be an important determinant of population variability. Consequently, understanding the provenance of early life stages (i.e. location of birth and early growth), and subsequent recruitment and dispersal, is essential for managementand conservation.