Virtual Poster, Presentation Summary Australian Freshwater Sciences Society Conference 2018

Effects of climate and landscape change on endemic freshwater macrocrustacean persistence in south-western Australia. (#112)

Holly E. Emery-Butcher 1 , Stephen Beatty 1 , Belinda J. Robson 1
  1. Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia

In southwestern Australia the climate has warmed and dried over the past 40 years, shortening hydroperiods in streams and wetlands. Despite the important roles that macrocrustaceans play in freshwater ecosystems, we know little of the life history characteristics of many endemic fauna in the southwestern Australia biodiversity hotspot. This includes limited knowledge of their responses to warming and drying and the life history traits they use to cope with drying. This project seeks to characterise the life history characteristics of some endemic macrocrustaceans (amphipods, isopods, decapods) to predict their responses to drying and extended dry periods.