How do Water Regime and Grazing Alter the Reproductive Capacity of Aquatic Plants?
Dr Margaret A. Brock
Botany, Rural Science and Natural Resources,
University of New England
Environment Australia, 2000
4. Recommendations on Policies and/or Principles for Future Effective Management of Wetlands
Wetland management policy and principles need to be guided by sound science. Some of the principles for aquatic plant management under different water regimes could be guided by the following:
- Fluctuations of water level create a variety of habitats for a species-rich aquatic biota.
- Keeping water levels stable, either more permanently flooded or dry can decrease habitats for biota.
- Fluctuations of water level that are too fast do not allow time for aquatic plants to germinate establish and reproduce.
- Wetland edges (banks) that are too steep do not provide space for a species rich community of amphibious plants.
- Maintaining a mosaic of habitat types within a wetland and among wetland types within a landscape will encourage species-rich sustainable wetlands for all components of the biota.
- The time from germination (hatching) to reproduction and conditions for reproduction for species could be a cue to the timing for delivery of water to wetlands.
- Sustainable wetlands can be developed by the development of a sustainable seed and egg bank in the sediment of a wetland.
- Developing sustainable wetland seed banks under appropriate water regimes may be a cue to rehabilitation of wetlands
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window