Determining water requirements for Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) floodplain woodlands of high conservation value using drip-irrigation

Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens F. Muell.), is a keystone tree species of lowland semi-arid floodplain ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. E. largiflorens woodlands are of high conservation value and threatened by climate change-induced drought and irrigation water diversions due to their location on upper floodplain areas where flood frequency has declined. Water requirements of E. largiflorens have not been well quantified using empirical data. Accordingly, knowledge gaps exist in relation to volumes of environmental water required to maintain and improve ecological condition for disconnected floodplain woodlands. To further assist conservation and water resource management, we tested the use of drip irrigation to provide a variety of water regimes to experimental plots in order to monitor tree responses. Water was provided via irrigation delivery across four regimes representing known volumes of water, referred to as an environmental water provision, applied over a 22-week period for two Austral summers. Benefits to trees were identified by measuring transpiration and plant water status using sap flow sensors and a Scholander pressure chamber, respectively. Results indicate that volumes of 0.3, 0.4, 0.7 and 0.8 ML increased transpiration and improved plant water status in comparison to a control, with delivery recommended to commence early autumn. Greater volumes (1.4 ML), substantially increased transpiration and improved water status, especially when delivered at a rate of similar to 25 mm week(-1) compared to a monthly 'burst' which broadly represented natural, sporadic summer rainfall in the region. For an environmental watering provision of 25 mm week(-1), similar to 178 ha of E. largiflorens woodland can be watered with a 1 GL environmental water allocation. The study methods presented are relevant worldwide and our results further the collective understanding of the benefits environmental water provides to E. largiflorens.The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the BiodiversityFund of the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural ResourceManagement Board. We thank Riverland West Landcare and RebeccaTurner for their support and assistance; Treasury Wine Estates PtyLtd for provision of environmental water and for establishing andmaintaining the drip irrigation, led by Brendan Turner; Kelly Marsland(MDBA) and Kate Holland (CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide) foradvice on experimental design; Kate Frahn (SARDI) and JodiePritchard (CSIRO) for field assistance; Martin Nolan and Sultan Umoru(CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide) for GIS assistanc

Bringing the margin to the focus: 10 challenges for riparian vegetation science and management

[EN] Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity¿ ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation.COST Action CONVERGES, Grant/Award Number: CA16208; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Grant/Award Number: 2020/03356/CEECIND;PTDC/ASP-SIL/28593/2017;UIDB/00239/2020; CSIC: PTIECOBIODIVRodríguez-González, PM.; Abraham, E.; Aguiar, F.; Andreoli, A.; Bale Entiene, L.; Berisha, N.; Bernez, I.... (2022). Bringing the margin to the focus: 10 challenges for riparian vegetation science and management. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water. 9(5):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.16041149

Bringing the margin to the focus: 10 challenges for riparian vegetation science and management

Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Women advancing research on hydrological processes: Preface

Peer Reviewe

Re-framing the decision context over trade-offs among ecosystem services and wellbeing in a major river basin where water resources are highly contested

Water resources and water-related ecosystem services are vital to social–ecological systems, yet in many parts of the world water as a finite resource is revealed by its unsustainable and inequitable use. Increased threats to water security and supply of ecosystem services arise due to increasing and contested demand and declining supply due to climate change and other stressors. Trade-off decisions need to be made between competing sectors of food production, hydropower generation and environmental needs: the water–food–energy–environment nexus. New approaches are needed to address how water resources and ecosystem service benefits are shared among competing interests. One approach involves changes to decision contexts, shaped by the values, rules and knowledge which decision makers draw upon when considering options. By changing decision contexts, new opportunities become available. Here, we describe Nexus Webs; a knowledge framework designed to promote collaborative exploration of synergies and trade-offs and enable changes in decision contexts for water use. As part of the process of shifting this framework from concept to operation, we apply Nexus Webs to contrasting water use scenarios in the Pangani Basin (Tanzania and Kenya), where water is over-allocated and highly contested. Under each scenario, we detail linkages between different water uses and their effects on assets (ecosystems, biodiversity and built infrastructure), the effects on assets for the supply of ecosystem services and how these affect livelihoods and wellbeing. We outline how Nexus Webs can be developed and used to change the decision context to consider options for more socially inclusive and equitable use of water resources.This research was funded by CSIRO Land and Water through the Water Resources Management (WRM) and Biodiversity and Ecosystems Knowledge and Services (BEKS) programs

Mapping groundwater dependent ecosystem potential in a semi-arid environment using a remote sensing-based multiple-lines-of-evidence approach

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are vulnerable to groundwater regime changes. However, their protection is often hampered by challenges in their identification. Within is presented a remote sensing-based GDE potential mapping approach based on the persistency of relevant vegetation parameters during prolonged dry periods as an indicator of potential ‘consistency’ of water supply (e.g. groundwater). The study uses a novel approach to characterising persistency for selected vegetation parameters based on a normalised difference measure and an adaptation of the coefficient of variation statistic. Aggregation of parameters was facilitated through the analytic hierarchy process providing a structured weighting approach to minimise parameter bias. The approach is demonstrated in the semi-arid Flinders Ranges of South Australia where new groundwater resources are being sought to support local domestic and industry needs. Variations in GDE potential were mapped to better target areas where exploration of groundwater should be avoided. Mapping results indicated a high-level of agreement of 77% with an independent springs dataset, along with an 87% agreement with areas coinciding with known phreatophyte species and depths to groundwater. The index-based mapping approach has potential applicability across landscapes, as it normalises for variations in vegetation cover, minimises technical overheads, and employs continental-wide remote sensing data-products

Using mental-modelling to explore how irrigators in the Murray–Darling Basin make water-use decisions

Study region: Water stress and over-allocation are at the forefront of water management and policy challenges in Australia, especially in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB). Because irrigated agriculture is a major social and economic component of the MDB, farmer decision-making plays a major role in water sustainability in the region. Study focus: This study used a fuzzy cognitive mapping methodology, ‘mental modeling’, to understand the perceived constraints of irrigator water-use decisions in the MDB, for two different types of irrigation: permanent and annual crops. The approach elicits and documents irrigator insights into the complex and networked nature of irrigation water use decisions in relation to farm-based dynamics. New hydrological insights for the region: Results suggest support for greater local and irrigator involvement in water management decisions. Many, if not most, of the irrigators understood the need for, or at least the inevitability of, governmental policies and regulations. However, a lack of accountability, predictability, and transparency has added to the uncertainty in farm-based water decision-making. Irrigators supported the concept of environmental sustainability, although they might not always agree with how the concept is implemented. The mental modelling approach facilitated knowledge sharing among stakeholders and can be used to identify common goals. Future research utilizing the mental modelling approach may encourage co-management and knowledge partnerships between irrigators, water managers and government officials