Dive into the future of aquatic discovery with the unveiling of the Adelaide River catchment survey!
In a thrilling collaboration between Water Resources, the Flora and Fauna team, and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), we’ve just wrapped up an extraordinary aquatic biodiversity survey of the Adelaide River catchment. Over an extensive 17 days, our intrepid team explored 18 dynamic sites, unveiling groundbreaking insights into the region’s aquatic wonders!
Our adventure took us through vibrant river channels, sweeping riffles, serene floodplain lagoons and the bustling freshwater tidal zone. We even threw the drone up and captured stunning aerial imagery of the catchment.
Armed with state-of-the-art tools and techniques, a boat and our backpack electrofishing equipment we left no stone unturned when conducting the survey to ensure a holistic picture of the aquatic life.
Electrofishing, a technique which involves safely passing an electrical current through water, allowed us to temporarily stun fish for detailed examination, analysis and collected cutting-edge eDNA samples from each site, expanding the Territory’s pioneering eDNA database.
Now prepare to be wowed by our discoveries with nearly 50 fish species, 3 intriguing turtle species, and several captivating decapod crustaceans with some of the sites boasting over 20 fish species. The highlights include the Warrior catfish Hemiarius dicoctes from the tidal freshwater zone, a rare find of the Small-eyed sleeper Prionobutis microps which was far upstream from usual haunts in the tidal freshwater and sightings of the Primitive archerfish Toxotes lorentzi at multiple locations.
Our findings emphasise the crucial need for connectivity between tidal, freshwater, and floodplain habitats with key migratory species like Barramundi Lates calcarifer, Tarpon Megalops cyprinoides and Cherabin Macrobrachium spinipes traversing these diverse environments, showcasing the complexity of their ecosystems.
This treasure trove of data is set to revolutionise water management in the Adelaide River catchment. With these insights, we’re paving the way for a sustainable future and ensuring our water resources thrive.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to explore and protect our extraordinary aquatic world!
