Trialling sonar methods for detecting freshwater mussels in the Edward/Kolety-Wakool River system

Nicole McCasker, Paul Humphries, Dion Ievasi, Paul Davies, Robyn Watts

Research output: Book/ReportCommissioned report (public)

Abstract

Freshwater mussels are ecologically and culturally important in rivers and wetlands throughout the Murray-Darling Basin. Mussels are filter-feeders, filtering water to extract their food of microscopic algae, bacteria, fine sediment and nutrients (Figure 1, Vaughn and Hakenkamp 2001). They are also in turn an important food resource for many animals including Murray cod, Rakali (water rats) and water birds. Freshwater mussels have cultural importance to the First Nations peoples of the Murray–Darling Basin, including the Barapa Barapa or Perrepa Perrepa, and Wamba Wamba or Wemba Wemba peoples of the Edward/Kolety-Wakool River system. The extensive shell middens along many rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin are testament to the significance of freshwater mussels to First Nations people for thousands of years. Some of the known names for mussels in the
Wamba Wamba (Wemba Wemba) language include Nangerr (Leah Reynolds, Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre, personal communication), and Pithen (Laura Kirby, North Central CMA, personal communication).
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationCanberra, ACT
PublisherCommonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Commissioning bodyCommonwealth Environmental Water holder, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Number of pages41
Publication statusPublished - 2024

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