Karri Karrak Senior Knowledge Holders Jenny Wallam and Thelma Harris joined by
SWNRM Project Officer – Environment Jane Putland (back) and ECU Research Team Dr Sora Marin-Estrella (second from right)
with PhD students Samantha Spear and Lillyanne Kop.
We’ve partnered with researchers from Edith Cowan University to examine the smallest inhabitants of the important Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands under our current project to better understand its health and develop actions for ongoing restoration and preservation.
Recently our Sustainability & Environment Lead Linda and Project Officer – Environment Jane joined the ECU pilot study team on-site as they collected 15 mud samples from shallow water.
The mud was sieved and then bagged for analysis in the ECU laboratory where the team will be looking to identify populations of tiny macroinvertebrates (aquatic animals without a skeleton) living in the wetland.
These guys provide a vital food source for water birds and other species further up the food chain, revealing clues to the researchers on the wetland’s biodiversity.
This pilot research will inform a future research stage kicking off in December which will examine more deeply the relationships at Vasse-Wonnerup between available food sources and wetland bird species.
All of this valuable research will inform future management actions for the wetland to both restore and preserve its ongoing health.
The mud sampling event provided a great opportunity for Karri Karrak Senior Knowledge Holders Jenny Wallam and Thelma Harris to join the ECU study team and SWNRM to exchange cultural and scientific knowledge, informing the study planning and approach to fieldwork.
Senior Knowledge Holders will be present at all mud sampling fieldwork to provide cultural safety.
Jane (our resident water bird enthusiast) reported large numbers of black-winged stilts feeding in the shallows on the day of the mud sampling visit – one of the bird species the study will focus on.
She said they seemed unperturbed by the sampling team.
This research forms part of our current five-year Ramsar wetland project (Funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by South West NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel) and is the second body of Ramsar Wetland work which aims to further improve condition and reduce threats to ecological character across three Ramsar wetland sites in our South West. You can read about our previous Ramsar work here.
