Watery places: Stories of environmental and community renewal

Not only is water essential to life, it also has the ability to heal; connecting ecosystems with community for mutual renewal. Here we focus on three regional centres in Victoria, Australia, where water systems have been severely impacted, causing vulnerability to environmental health and social fabric. Each case study shows fractured communities finding a connection to place through the vitality-not just the amenity-of water. The Black Saturday wildfires of 2009 left the community of Marysville devastated. The waterways also suffered from severely degraded water quality. Whereas people may choose to walk away, fish cannot. The first case study involves a partnership between state government authorities and community to move a threatened population of Barred Galaxias to safer waters, return them to their home two years later, rehabilitate habitat, and grow advocacy. This is a story of entwined ecological and community renewal. Maryborough, once a bustling regional centre, suffered from the double impact of economic downturn and the Millennial Drought (2000-2010). The drinking water quality decreased so significantly, that one of Victoria’s most disadvantaged communities no longer trusted what came out of the tap. An examination of this breakdown in trust enabled the local water authority to explore ways to rebuild confidence and reconnect people to town water. The Morwell River has been significantly modified by the coal mines and power stations of the Latrobe Valley. The closure of the Hazelwood Power Station in 2017 now provides an opportunity to give this river back to the community. This final study looks at the potential of ‘rewilding’ the Morwell River to return environmental and cultural heritage, and develop economic, social and educational outcomes. © The Author(s) 2020

Transport pathways shape the biogeography of alien freshwater fishes in Australia

Aim: Changing preferences regarding which species humans have transported to new regions can have major consequences for the potential distribution of alien taxa, but the mechanisms shaping these patterns are poorly understood. We assessed the extent to which changes in human preferences for transporting and introducing alien freshwater fishes have altered their biogeography.Location: Australia.Methods: We compiled an up‐to‐date database of alien freshwater fishes established in drainages in Australia before and after the number of established alien fish species doubled (pre‐1970 and post‐1970, respectively). Using metacommunity models, we analysed the influence of species traits and drainage features on the distribution of alien fishes that established pre‐ and post‐1970.Results:Alien fishes in Australia were introduced via four main transport pathways: acclimatization, aquaculture, biocontrol and ornamental trade. The relative importance of each pathway changed substantially between the two periods, accompanied by changes in the distribution of alien fishes and the variables predicting their distribution. Pre‐1970, most species (64%) were introduced by acclimatization societies for purposes such as angling and biocontrol, and these fish have established in inland drainages more heavily impacted by human activities. In contrast, most of the post‐1970 introductions (69%) were ornamental fishes, with most species established in small, north‐eastern, tropical and subtropical coastal drainages.Main conclusions: Substantial changes in introduction preferences and transport pathways over time have altered both the patterns and underlying processes shaping the biogeography of alien fishes in Australia. Our findings highlight the need for caution when using historical data to infer potential future distributions of alien species. The continuing spread of alien species means traditional biogeographical units may no longer be identifiable in the foreseeable future