Floodplain inundation: a wetland springs to life
In the Macquarie Marshes floods are associated with massive waterbird breeding events and a proliferation of wetland plants. When we looked beneath the surface we also found remarkable productivity in the food webs that underpin waterbird communities. Densities of microinvertebrates were world renowned (10-20,000/litre) after an environmental allocation inundated floodplain along Gum Cowal and Bora Creeks in 2005. Nutrient levels pulsed and microbial activity was higher than we had previously observed in the constant creeks. Macroinvertebrate diversity was greater in floodplain habitats and along temporary creeks than observed in constant creeks. Our findings show that multiple levels of the food web thrive after floods to support waterbird breeding events. Our ongoing research is exploring the food web links between invertebrates, waterbirds, fish and plants after flooding.