Recruitment of a critically endangered sawfish into a riverine nursery depends on natural flow regimes

K.O. Lear; A.C. Gleiss; J.M. Whitty; T. Fazeldean; J.R. Albert; N. Green; B.C. Ebner; D.C. Thorburn; S.J. Beatty; D.L. Morgan

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-53511-9

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Recruitment of a critically endangered sawfish into a riverine nursery depends on natural flow regimes

Journal article

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Recruitment of a critically endangered sawfish into a riverine nursery depends on natural flow regimes

K.O. Lear, A.C. Gleiss, J.M. Whitty, T. Fazeldean, J.R. Albert, N. Green, B.C. Ebner, D.C. Thorburn, S.J. Beatty and D.L. Morgan

Scientific Reports, Vol.9, Article number: 17071

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-53511-9

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Abstract

The freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis) was recently listed as the most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) animal. The Fitzroy River in the remote Kimberley region of north-western Australia represents a significant stronghold for the species, which uses the freshwater reaches of the river as a nursery. There is also mounting pressure to develop the water resources of the region for agriculture that may substantially affect life history dynamics of sawfish in this system. However, the relationship between hydrology and population dynamics of freshwater sawfish was unknown. We used standardized catch data collected over 17 years to determine how wet season volume influences recruitment of freshwater sawfish into their riverine nursery. Negligible recruitment occurred in years with few days of high flood levels (above 98th percentile of cease-to-flow stage height), and relatively high recruitment occurred in years with 14 or more days of high flood levels. This relationship is indicative of a distinct boom-or-bust cycle, whereby freshwater sawfish rely almost entirely on the few years with large wet season floods, and the brief periods of highest water levels within these years, to replenish juvenile populations in the Fitzroy River nursery. This has direct implications for sustainable water resource management for the Fitzroy River basin in order to preserve one of the last known intact nursery habitats for this globally threatened species.

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Title: Recruitment of a critically endangered sawfish into a riverine nursery depends on natural flow regimes
Authors/Creators: K.O. Lear (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A.C. Gleiss (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J.M. Whitty (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
T. Fazeldean (Author/Creator) - Tharawal Aboriginal
J.R. Albert (Author/Creator) - Tharawal Aboriginal
N. Green (Author/Creator) - Tharawal Aboriginal
B.C. Ebner (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
D.C. Thorburn (Author/Creator) - Pacific Environment
S.J. Beatty (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
D.L. Morgan (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Scientific Reports, Vol.9, Article number: 17071
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005542206507891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; Harry Butler Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.62 Freshwater Fish Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science