Recruitment of long-lived floodplain vegetation: Mesocosm study experimental design

Abstract

One way to investigate seedling establishment under controlled (or partially controlled) conditions isthrough mesocosm studies. Mesocosm studies provide a powerful means of quantifying causalrelationships in a controlled environment. This study will focus on the responses of seedlings to asequence of flooding and drying treatments. Work will be undertaken withinexperimental/laboratory set-ups, so there will be no specific work undertaken at MDB (Murray–Darling Basin) EWKR research sites.Four woody floodplain species, River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.), Black Box(Eucalyptus largiflorens F.Muell.) and Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah Blakely & Jacobs), and onenative floodplain shrub species, Tangled Lignum (Duma florulenta Meissner), were identified as thekey target species (Burns & Gawne 2014). Seedling-specific literature reviews were undertaken toassess and collate existing information about the recruitment of seedlings of the four key species(Durant et al. 2016). The information collated from the literature review, as well as expertdiscussions and input through workshops, teleconferences and emails, forms the basis of thisexperimental design.The experiment will focus on addressing the primary question:‘What is the relationship between flow parameters such as duration, frequency and interflood-dryperiod (sequential, cumulative events) and establishment?’