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https://theconversation.com/when-a-1-in-100-year-flood-washed-through-the-coorong-it-made-the-vital-microbiome-of-this-lagoon-healthier-252633>
"You might know South Australia’s iconic Coorong from the famous Australian
children’s book,
Storm Boy, set around this coastal lagoon.
This internationally important wetland is sacred to the Ngarrindjeri people and
a haven for migratory birds. The lagoon is the final stop for the Murray
River’s waters before they reach the sea. Tens of thousands of migratory
waterbirds visit annually. Pelicans, plovers, terns and ibises nest, while
orange-bellied parrots visit and Murray Cod swim. But there are other important
inhabitants – trillions of microscopic organisms.
You might not give much thought to the sedimentary microbes of a lagoon. But
these tiny microbes in the mud are vital to river ecosystems, quietly cycling
nutrients and supporting the food web. Healthy microbes make for a healthy
Coorong – and this unassuming lagoon is a key indicator for the health of the
entire Murray-Darling Basin.
For decades, the Coorong has been in poor health. Low water flows have
concentrated salt and an excess of nutrients. But in 2022, torrential rains on
the east coast turned into a once-in-a-century flood, which swept down the
Murray into the Coorong.
In our new research, we took the pulse of the Coorong’s microbiome after this
huge flood and found the surging fresh water corrected microbial imbalances.
The numbers of methane producing microbes fell while beneficial nutrient-eating
bacteria grew. Populations of plants, animals and invertebrates boomed.
We can’t just wait for irregular floods – we have to find ways to ensure enough
water is left in the river to cleanse the Coorong naturally."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
