| Comparison of carbon sources supporting Fly River aquatic food webs |
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Author: Wetlands Research and Management P/L (Dr A. Storey) Date: September 2005 Sampling was conducted in the Fly River above and below D'Albertis Junction in September/October 2003 to compare the contribution of algal carbon to the aquatic food webs at each location. The study was designed to test the hypothesis that mine impacts had reduced the contribution of algal carbon to the aquatic food web, with the result that riverine food webs downstream of the mine were now more dependent on riparian (rainforest) inputs. Sampling involved the collection of many primary sources (algae and terrestrial plants) and primary and higher consumers (prawns, aquatic insects and fish) at each site. Stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon were then determined in the laboratory to determine sources of carbon (energy) supporting the riverine aquatic food webs at each site.
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