Case Studies
Here are some of the recent projects Freshwater Ecology Consulting staff have been working on.
Mandingalby Yidinji Country Fish Biodiversity surveys
Mandingalby Yidinji (MY) Country is located in the wet tropics south of Cairns. Previous fish surveys of two creeks within MY country identified a number of freshwater fish species that were new records for Australia. One species, the opal cling goby, is now federally listed as critically endangered. Freshwater Ecology Consulting was commissioned to undertake a desktop assessment of freshwater fish communities and to extend the area surveyed within the MY country.
Comet Ridge Coal Project
The Comet Ridge Coal Project is located in central Queensland near the town of Blackwater. Freshwater Ecology Consulting was engaged to complete an aquatic ecology baseline and impact assessment across the tenement. Aquatic habitat and ecosystems were typical of low order ephemeral tributaries in the region, being characterised by low species diversity and dominated by early colonisation species.
Moggill Creek - Creek Health Monitoring Program
The Creek Health Monitoring Program (CHMP) provides baseline information, collected by members of the community, on the aquatic ecosystem health of the Moggill Creek Catchment. Dr Timothy Howell from Freshwater Ecology Consulting designed the sampling protocols and has produced a local fish identification guide (Freshwater fish of Moggill Creek - A field identification guide). The CHMP is an on-going monitoring program and has just completed its fourth year, with 12 sites surveyed across the catchment biannually.
Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion
This major infrastructure development will increase the passenger capacity of the Sunshine Coast Airport and provide access to new domestic and international destinations. Freshwater Ecology Consulting was involved in the aquatic ecology assessment for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Surveys of the Endangered Oxleyan Pygmy Perch
The Oxleyan Pygmy Perch is a federally listed endangered species which has a restricted and patchy distribution in NSW and Queensland. Previously it has been previously recorded from only 20 localities in Queensland. Freshwater Ecology Consulting is working to re-assess the current status of populations in south-east Queensland and identify additional populations so the species can be adequately protected into the future.
Noosa River estuarine fish surveys
Freshwater Ecology Consulting has been surveying the Noosa River estuary and turning up new records of gudgeons and gobies. While most of these species have been found in brackish to salt water they are all capable of surviving in a freshwater environment. One species of mudskipper represents a species extension of about 200km! A paper is currently being prepared documenting these new discoveries.