BSc (Honours)

Contact details for Miss Alisha Steward alisha.steward@student.griffith.edu.au

Thesis

When the river runs dry: the ecology of dry stream ecosystems

Description

Large sections of the stream network in Australia are often dry. Little is known about the ecology of these dry stream ecosystems; particularly the terrestrial invertebrates that inhabit dry stream beds.  My first task will be to develop conceptual models of dry stream ecosystems, and refine existing aquatic ecosystem models.  I’ll then examine the differences between the invertebrate assemblages that inhabit dry stream beds and the adjacent riparian zone, while considering the spatial and temporal variability of these assemblages. I also plan to investigate the contribution of terrestrial invertebrates to aquatic food webs, and vice versa.

Supervisor

Prof Stuart Bunn
Dr Fran Sheldon
Dr Satish Choy (external)

Research expertise

• Macroinvertebrates as indicators of river health
  

Publications

• Marshall, J.C., Steward, A.L. and B.D. Harch (2006). Taxonomic resolution and quantification of freshwater macroinvertebrate samples from an Australian dryland river: the benefits and costs of using species abundance data. Hydrobiologia 572: 171-194.