Collier, Catherine, Van Dijk, Kor-Jent, Erftemeijer, Paul, Foster, Nicole, Hipsey, Matt, O'Loughlin, Emma, Ticli, Kat, and Waycott, Michelle (2017) Optimising Coorong Ruppia habitat: strategies to improve habitat conditions for Ruppia tuberosa in the Coorong (South Australia) based on literature review, manipulative experiments and predictive modelling. Report. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

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Abstract

[Extract] Ruppia tuberosa is the dominant aquatic plant supporting water birds in the Coorong, a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Historical changes to the hydrology of the Coorong and the ‘Millennium drought’ led to hypersalinity (>200 g/L) and low water levels that exceeded the tolerance of R. tuberosa. As a result R. tuberosa was not observed in the south lagoon during the drought. The seed banks had become depleted from reduced water levels caused by over extraction and the prolonged drought and when flows from the Murray-Darling Basin led to higher water levels in the Coorong in 2011, Ruppia tuberosa populations were restricted and recovery was slow. Translocation facilitated recovery at some sites; however, elevated water levels in the Coorong saw an increase in the occurrence of filamentous green algae blooms which are interfering with the recovery of R. tuberosa. The Optimising Coorong Ruppia habitat project was formed to 1. synthesise existing Ruppia knowledge; 2. undertake experiments testing filamentous green algae growth requirements; 3. assess the pools of nutrients in the sediments and primary limiting nutrients for plant growth; 4. model management scenarios; and 5. develop management recommendations to optimise the Coorong for R. tuberosa (Figure 1).

Item ID:	93693
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Related URLs:	https://www.environment.sa.gov.au
Additional Information:	Please cite this report as: Collier, C., van Dijk, K.-J., Erftemeijer, P., Foster, N., Hipsey, M., O'Loughlin, E., Ticli, K., Waycott, M., 2017, Optimising Coorong Ruppia habitat: Strategies to improve habitat conditions for Ruppia tuberosa in the Coorong (South Australia) based on literature review, manipulative experiments and predictive modelling. In: Waycott, M. (Ed.), Reports to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DEWNR). The University of Adelaide, School of Biological Sciences, Adelaide, South Australia, p. 169 pp.
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2026 23:30
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3108 Plant biology > 310801 Phycology (incl. marine grasses) @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180501 Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems @ 50% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180201 Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems @ 50%
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