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Citation: Morris, K. (2012) Wetland connectivity: understanding the dispersal of organisms that occur in Victoria’s wetlands. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 225. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria
K. Morris i
March 2012 i
Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research i
Technical Report Series No. 225 i
Kay Morris ii
Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research
123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 ii
March 2012 ii
Contents 1
Acknowledgements 3
Summary 4
1 Overview and objectives 6
2 Landscape connectivity 7
2.1 What is connectivity? 7
2.2 The importance of biological connectivity 7
3 Connectivity of wetland habitats 9
3.1 Introduction 9
3.2 A conceptual model of dispersal 10
4 Measuring dispersal 12
4.1 Mark–recapture studies 12
4.2 Stable isotopes 12
4.3 Genetic markers 13
4.4 Radio-tracking 13
4.5 Radar 14
5 Dispersal of wetland taxa 15
5.1 Amphibians 15
5.1.1 Habitat preferences 15
5.1.2 Movement 16
5.2 Waterbirds 18
5.2.1 Habitat preferences 18
5.2.2 Movement 18
5.3 Freshwater fish 21
5.3.1 Habitat preferences 21
5.3.2 Movement 21
5.4 Aquatic invertebrates 23
5.4.1 Active dispersal in winged invertebrates 23
5.4.2 Passive dispersal of invertebrates 25
5.5 Wetland plants 27
5.5.1 Wind-mediated dispersal 27
5.5.2 Water-mediated dispersal 29
5.5.3 Waterbird-mediated dispersal 31
6 Assessing landscape connectivity 35
6.1 Structural connectivity 35
6.2 Potential connectivity 35
6.2.1 Graph theory 36
6.2.2 Least cost analysis and circuit theory 37
6.2.3 GIS approaches 37
6.3 Conclusion 37
7 References 39
Appendix 1. Description of amphibians recorded in Victoria 51
Appendix 2. Waterbirds recorded in Victoria that are associated with wetlands 52
Appendix 3. Native Victorian fish that occur in wetlands 57
ISSN 1835-3827 (print) 58
ISSN 1835-3835 (online) 58
ISBN 978-1-74287-384-8 (print) 58
ISBN 978-1-74287-385-5 (online) 58