Land and Water Link
December 2004
 Looking
for adventure
Are you on the lookout for a new experience? Willing
to rough it a little, and travel to remote places? Perhaps you like the
thought of making a contribution to the environment? Imagine if, in the
process you could also meet new people, learn new skills and (best of
all) do some real science to support conservation… Sounds good?
Then read on.
Earthwatch expeditions offer all this and more, as CSIRO
researcher Dr Frederieke Kroon will attest. Dr Kroon is the principal
investigator on a CSIRO Earthwatch project that will ultimately help to
restore our tropical rivers. As well as enjoying the experience, she can
guarantee that you will be contributing to important and meaningful environmental
research.
Dr Kroon heads the Queensland Tropical Fish Ecology project
examining how the restoration of the riparian zone (the stream bank) affects
stream ecology around the Douglas Shire of Northern Queensland. The Shire,
situated between tropical rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef, is a
crucial link in the biodiversity of the region.
‘In the past a lot of trees were cleared around
coastal rivers, and unfortunately this has affected the quality of the
water that flows into the ocean,’ says Dr Kroon. ‘The clearing
has taken a toll on local stream ecology, and then downstream it has further
impacts on the coastal coral reefs. There have been efforts to restore
the natural vegetation around the rivers, but we haven’t yet assessed
whether this is having a positive effect.
‘This is frontier research that is helping us to
understand how changes in land use can improve water quality and ecosystem
health in tropical coastal river systems.’
The Earthwatch Institute is a non-profit organisation
that aims to engage people from across the world in scientific field research,
to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable future.
‘It’s not a holiday or a tour,’ says
Dr Kroon. ‘It can be hard work, involving long days in the field.
But the expeditions are positive experiences for everybody. The volunteers
I’ve worked with are such dedicated and enthusiastic people.’
On Dr Kroon’s expeditions, volunteers collect data
on the condition of streams that are undisturbed, or cleared, to contrast
against streams that have been restored, in order to find out whether
restoration has really worked.
 Dr
Kroon describes the work: ‘We collect fish, invertebrate and plant
samples and relate their abundance to the riparian condition of the streams.
We measure water temperature and nutrient concentrations, and evaluate
whether they are affected by the condition of the riparian zone. We also
collect different food types – like leaves, algae, plant litter
and detritus in the streams – to see whether restoring riparian
vegetation improves the food supply for other species such as fish.
‘One exciting aspect of this work is that not a
great deal is currently known about the species that we’re working
with. For example, on just one trip we found three species of fish that
had not been recorded previously in those rivers!
‘Volunteers come from all over the world,’
says Dr Kroon. ‘Many people are keen to develop new skills and knowledge
that they can then apply to their own communities.
‘The process is two-way,’ she adds. ‘Volunteers
learn from us and we learn from them. It’s not often that scientists
have the chance to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and
experiences. I really value the input that our volunteers have had in
the project. Together we are developing a powerful evaluation tool to
allow us to understand the relationships between the riparian zone and
stream ecology.’
So, next time you’re keen for a little adventure,
consider signing up for a CSIRO Earthwatch expedition. You can do your
part towards global sustainability – and (as Dr Kroon says) have
a good time while you’re at it.
See you in the field!
Further information:
www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/kroon.html
CSIRO contact:
Dr Frederieke Kroon
Ph +61-7-3214 2770
By Leanne Dempsey
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