Rivers and wetlands are regarded as the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Although loss of biodiversity is a serious problem in many freshwater and coastal ecosystems, the consequences of increasing fragmentation of riverine and coastal floodplain habitats are poorly understood.

Research being undertaken at the ARI is examining how biodiversity is structured within and between catchments to predict the impacts of fragmentation caused by altered flow patterns, the construction of barriers such as dams, or increasing urbanisation.

The research will also assist in the identification of regions and parts of catchments that are of high conservation value in terms of biodiversity and endemism.