Name: ________________________________

MANAGING ECOSYSTEMS
Background
The Werribee River starts as a small river in the Wombat State Forest and flows south-east through Ballan
and Bacchus Marsh, where it meets the Lerderderg River. The River continues until its waters are held back
by the Exford Weir creating the Melton Reservoir. The River becomes tidal at the Werribee Park Mansion,
continuing to flow gently to Port Philip Bay. This completes a journey of some 110 kilometres.
Significant flora and fauna species exist within the catchment, however many of the species are threatened
by weed invasion, predation by vermin, pollution and over-grazing. Many of the fauna species that were
once found in the region are now classified as endangered or extinct. Werribee River is one of the few
rivers in Melbourne to contain a population of platypus.
Land use varies along the length of the river. It flows through agricultural land including market gardens,
urban areas, industrial areas, and recreational sites. In the past, Werribee River has been used as a
dumping ground for rubbish and as a source of river sand. Litter traps have been placed over some
stormwater drains that flow into the River.
Aim
Your aim is to:
Determine the health of the Werribee River at several sites
Examine the effects of human influences on the river
Design management strategies to manage and improve the sites
What you will need
Clipboard, Ecolinc worksheet, pencil, Star rating meter
What to do
(a) Conduct habitat surveys at two sites along the Werribee River.
(b) Assess the human impact and determine management strategies to manage the sites.
(c) Conduct water quality tests and biological sampling to assess the health of the river.

PART 1: WERRIBEE RIVER

The amount and type of vegetation along a water body often tells us about the health of the ecosystem and
the species of plants and animals that live in, or near it. Before European settlement, the verge of rivers,
streams and wetlands would have been covered in native grasses, shrubs and trees. Now, this land is used
for housing, recreation and agriculture. These land uses can pose threats to the waterway if theyre not
properly managed.

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1. What is the purpose of a habitat survey?

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2. What can you see, hear or smell that indicates the quality of the Werribee River?
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3. How is the land on either side of the river used? Are there any man-made features such as picnic areas,
roads or car parks? Is there evidence of run-off or stormwater entering the river? Describe your
observations.
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WERRIBEE RIVER HABITAT ASSESSMENT
You will assess the quality of the Werribee Rivers habitat at two different sites to determine whether
management strategies are effective.
4. On the map, indicate the locations of your habitat assessment sites.
Habitat survey sites along Werribee River

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HABITAT RATING RECORD SHEET

Date of survey: _______________

Time: _____am/pm

Name of water body: ____________________

Name of investigators: ____________________________________________________________________

Type of water body (tick a box):
!

Wetland

River

Drain

Creek

Irrigation channel

Estuary

Middle

Low

Position in the catchment (tick a box):

!

Upper

Name of the nearest town: _________________________________________________________________

Showers
!
!

STAR RATING

OVERALL
SCORE

Overcast
!
!

Bank
vegetation

Verge
vegetation

Bank erosion
and stability

Riffles, pools
and bends

SITE

In-stream
cover

Clear/sunny
!
!

Weather now
Past 24 hours
Habitat rating

Type of land
use

Litter present

Rain (heavy)
!
!
Management
strategies
currently in
place

! Paper
! Plastic
! Glass
! Metal
! Food
Other: _______
! Paper
! Plastic
! Glass
! Metal
! Food
Other: _______

5.

Rain (steady)
!
!

What conclusions can you make about the quality of the Werribee River according to the star rating of
each site?

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6.

Human settlement has an impact on nearby rivers. Identify three impacts explaining why they cause
problems and outline one management strategy that could remove or reduce the problem.

Impact problem

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Management strategy

Water
strider

10

Backswimmer

10

Very sensitive

larva

Shrimp

nymph

Snail

larva

mite

nymph

Leech

Tolerant

Amphipod

Sensitive

Water
boatman

Dragonfly
nymph

Cyclops

Water
flea

Seed
shrimp

Mosquito
larva

Worm

Screech
beetle larva

Very Tolerant

Flatworm

Diving beetle
larva

Tolerant

Soldier fly
larva

Diving
beetle

Type of water body: ___________________________

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3. Why are macroinvertebrates useful environmental indicators? ___________________________________________________________________________

4

2. What is the water quality rating? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Add up the pollution sensitivity for the macroinvertebrates present. This is the pollution index. Pollution index = __________________________________

Pollution
Index

Tolerance

Tick when
identified

Animal

Pollution
Index
Name

Tolerance

Tick when
identified

Animal

beetle

Date of test: _______________________

Time of test: ________ a.m./p.m.
Collection method: Kick sample
Sweep sample
Riffle beetle
Riffle
Mayfly
Caddisfly
Water
Damselfly
Name

BIOLOGICAL TESTING Macroinvertebrate sampling

CHEMICAL WATER QUALITY TESTING

1.

Predict.
a. Which water sample will be the highest quality and why? ___________________________________
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b. Which water sample will be the lowest quality and why? ____________________________________
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TESTING

water sample: ____________________________________

Temperature
(C)

Conductivity

pH

(S/cm)

Turbidity
(N.T.U.)

Nitrate
(mg/l)

Phosphate
ppm
(mg/l)

Overall
Rating

Result
Rating
Class Results

Excellent = 5

Good = 4

Fair = 3

Poor = 2

Degraded = 1

2.

Using your results, the rest of the classes and the rating guidelines, rate the quality of each sample and
record in the table above. Copy the overall water quality rating for the other water samples into the
Class Results table.

3.

Which water sample had the

a) Highest Quality? __________________

4.

b. Lowest Quality? ______________________

Was this what you predicted? Explain why or why not.

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CONCLUSION
1.

Comment on the differences/similarities between the water samples.

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2.

What are the sources of nutrients, such as nitrates in waterways?

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3.

What are the effects of increased nutrient levels in waterways?

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4.

Identify the factors that affect water temperature.

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5.

If the water temperature is altered, what are the effects on living organisms?

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6.

Explain how to effectively sample the macroinvertebrates.

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7.

Explain why macroinvertebrates could be used in management plans for the river ecosystem.

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8.

Explain why biological and chemical testing should be conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding
of the wetlands condition.

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