Abstract
A majority of the global natural water systems display the characteristic of ephemeral inflow. Ephemeral systems are extremely critical to biotic community composition and structure. Vegetation and sediment are integral elements of water bodies. Vegetation has major effects on productivity and biogeochemical cycles in fresh water. Most macrophytes are rooted, and constitute a living link between sediment and the overlying water. Sediment as a net nutrient source has become a common contaminant of water bodies on a global scale. Suspended sediments can increase the turbidity in the water column which results in reduced light availability for photosynthesis by submerged plants. In addition to the chemical and nutrient properties of sediments, sediments act as a sink for nutrients and trace metals that are transported to water bodies.
The highly variable hydrologic regime of ephemeral systems, via its regulation of soil properties, especially nutrient and moisture availability, is the key factor influencing both the structural and functional features of vegetation communities.
Most studies in Australian freshwater ecosystems have been conducted on rivers with permanent and seasonal flow regimes, seasonal wetlands and the effect of altered flow regimes on these systems. It seems like few studies have systematically described inland ephemeral wetlands and little consideration has been put on the interactions between vegetation and sediment and phosphorus dynamics within inland ephemeral systems, in particular, the impacts of predicted climate change scenarios and ongoing land-use change (e.g. mining, cropping and grazing) on ecosystem processes and conditions have not been fully taken into account. Lake Cowal provides an ideal case study setting. Due to in the absence of any in-depth information about the ecological character of the lake an initial characterisation of the vegetation, water quality, sediment and hydrology has been undertaken to get baseline condition of the study ephemeral lake system.
The highly variable hydrologic regime of ephemeral systems, via its regulation of soil properties, especially nutrient and moisture availability, is the key factor influencing both the structural and functional features of vegetation communities.
Most studies in Australian freshwater ecosystems have been conducted on rivers with permanent and seasonal flow regimes, seasonal wetlands and the effect of altered flow regimes on these systems. It seems like few studies have systematically described inland ephemeral wetlands and little consideration has been put on the interactions between vegetation and sediment and phosphorus dynamics within inland ephemeral systems, in particular, the impacts of predicted climate change scenarios and ongoing land-use change (e.g. mining, cropping and grazing) on ecosystem processes and conditions have not been fully taken into account. Lake Cowal provides an ideal case study setting. Due to in the absence of any in-depth information about the ecological character of the lake an initial characterisation of the vegetation, water quality, sediment and hydrology has been undertaken to get baseline condition of the study ephemeral lake system.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 2014 |