Project overview

Freshwater mussels are one of the most at-risk groups of animals in the world, with almost half of all species extinct or threatened. Freshwater mussels are excellent indicators of the environmental health of river systems, particularly water quality. Lokeri (Velesunio ambiguous) is one of 18 species of freshwater mussel in Australia, and it occurs over most of eastern Australia including in the Lower Lakes of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). The consequences of changes to river flows and water quality are the main causes of decline in freshwater mussel populations.

The current project draws on community concern and the significance of Lokeri to Ngarrindjeri culture. Based on anecdotal information, the Lokeri population of the Lower Lakes has not recovered since the Millennium Drought.

The project will garner the interest of landholders, community groups and the Ngarrindjeri community to redress the deficiency in knowledge regarding Lokeri in the Lower Lakes.

This project will involve an initial rapid search of the species in 2024 (possibly using sonar), with the aim of determining if and where the species currently occurs in the Lower Lakes. Following this, the first objective is to determine the status (e.g. age structure, recruitment) of the Lokeri population in the Lower Lakes through quantitative sampling, which will also be a baseline for future monitoring. To achieve this, citizen scientists will work with ecologists to sift through   mud to identify and collect Lokeri at sites revealed during  the initial rapid survey. The second objective is to age and examine growth of collected Lokeri. The growth and ageing data will be incorporated into population modelling to inform management of the lakes, particularly the use of water for the environment.

The project will have strong community and First Nations involvement in planning and execution of field and laboratory work (data collection) and delivery of the objectives. The deep connection between Ngarrindjeri people and Country, including the CLLMM region, means they are heavily invested in projects of this type due to an inherent obligation to care for all plants and animals. It is important to get the perspective of the Ngarrindjeri community during the early stages of the project through workshops and yarning circles. The workshops may also be an opportunity for the wider community, such as members of the River Lakes and Coorong Action Group (RLCAG), to interact with members of the Ngarrindjeri community in their shared objective of understanding Lokeri in the CLLMM region.
 

The citizen-science project is strongly linked to Ngarrindjeri culture and wider community concern, including the RLCAG and numerous landholders in the CLLMM region.

The project will summarise the current status of Lokeri across the CLLMM region. Through climate-growth modelling, the project will also determine implications of future climates for Lokeri across the region, which is of strong cultural and management importance. Information generated by the project through the CLLMM Research Centre will help instigate further research to improve management and decision-making. This project will provide a platform to include community and First Nations in planning for future changes to the region.