Biodiversity in a changing world

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University of Canberra research finds a simple way to protect the ecosystems of our waterways.

For many of the plant and animal species living in Australia's rivers and lakes, a two-degree increase in air temperature would be fatal

But a University of Canberra research team has found a simple way to help our water systems cope with the kind of warming that could be expected with climate change.

Led by Professor Ross Thompson in the Institute for Applied Ecology, the team is investigating how restoration of native vegetation would affect the water yields, biodiversity and carbon storage of the Goulburn Broken River system in Victoria.

As Professor Thompson reports, the University of Canberra team has already made important discoveries.

"One of our most exciting recent results has been that replanting trees along sections of streams can cool the water sufficiently to offset the sort of warming we expect under climate change."

This is a real-world solution to a very real environmental issue.

"This tells us that we can realistically start managing ecosystems to cope with a changing climate. It has taken a lot of data and some complex modelling, but we now know that a relatively short length of replanted stream bank – only two kilometres – can reduce stream temperatures by almost two degrees."

"UC has a commitment to research that has an impact in the real world"

The research team includes ecologists, economists and soil scientists, illustrating the scope of the team's work and the collaborative nature of research at the University of Canberra.

Professor Thompson is an ARC Future Fellow who works primarily on freshwater, but collaborates widely with other researchers across multiple disciplines. This makes it possible to study whole ecosystems and develop a better understanding of freshwater and terrestrial systems and their management.

"Working with policy makers and managers is a big part of our team's research," he explains. "We are enjoying the challenge of carrying out excellent research relevant to real-world problems."

As Professor Thompson says: "Our research program at UC is about more than just describing problems – it is about identifying solutions."