|
Response of diagnostic bioindicators
of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) health to changes in flow
Research Supervisor:
Ms Laurie Chisholm
Funding:
inclusive within the "Assessment of
Environmental Flows for the Murrumbidgee River" project
Duration:
1997-2000
Project Summary:
River red gum forests are an integral part of
the Murrumbidgee River Corridor that have been subjected to numerous and varied natural biotic
and abiotic stressors. Their existence depends on
a particular flooding regime which has been substantially altered due to river regulation.
A combined physiological-remote sensing
methodology is under development to assess manifestations
or markers of stress, related factors and other
indicators of health and vigour of river red gum and develops
a rapid yet cost-effective remote assessment
technique to assess changes in tree health with response
to flow. An airborne video system that utilises
narrow waveband filters will be used to resolve
reflectance-based indicators of health and produce
moisture stress indices, augmented with
chlorophyll fluorescence measurements as part of the
ground-truthing program. It is expected this technique
will provide an effective and efficient approach to
the monitoring of the health of river red gum forests
with respect to changes in flow regimes.
| 
