Effects of land use change and climate change on biogeochemistry and ecology of inland ephemeral wetlands: Integrating environmental and social perspectives, the case of Lake Cowal in south-eastern Australia

Most of the previous studies about inland freshwater wetlands is focused on tropical areas and the well-watered temperate northern hemisphere. Most studies in Australian freshwater ecosystems have been conducted on permanent and seasonal wetlands. There are few studies that have systematically described inland ephemeral wetlands in Australia. And little consideration has been put on the interactions between vegetation and sediment and phosphorus dynamics within inland ephemeral systems, in particular, taking the consideration of projected climate change and ongoing land-use change on these ecosystems. There are few studies have been documented the local ecological knowledge into inland ephemeral wetland management, although local people have rich and broad knowledge and experience of local environment.