Project: Conserving Waterbird populations of the CLLMM under climate change
The diverse waterbird community of the CLLMM is a key reason the area was recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The CLLMM is important for migratory shorebirds along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, as well as for non-migratory waterbirds that breed and forage here and is a refuge for during droughts.
The project includes research on bird movement, conservation modelling, and citizen science to manage the CLLMM and surrounding areas, supporting both migratory and non-migratory waterbird populations amid climate change. Led by the University of Adelaide and the project team includes researchers from CSIRO, Flinders University and environmental NGOs including BioR, Birdlife Australia, Nature Glenelg Trust and the SA Shorebirds Foundation.
The project will provide critical information to conserve waterbirds in the region, including
Identifying key habitats for waterbirds, understanding how environmental changes affect their movements, helping with conservation planning and water management strategies
Estimating the benefits of predator control and vehicle access restrictions
Providing conservation recommendations for specific waterbird species based on detailed research and models.
It is also of cultural importance
To restore and adapt cultural practices related to waterbirds in the region
First Nations believe in the living body - the interconnectedness of land (Ruwe), water (Ma:rnmani), people (Palak), animals, and plants (Nga:tar) and that disruptions to this balance can have far-reaching effects.
Tern
World Migratory Bird Day is 10 May 2025.
Grab your binoculars and camera and get involved in Tom’s project here: Waterbird Conservation | CLLMMRC
University of South Australia
Project: Ocean Beach Ecology and Threats - a Stakeholder Perspective
Timely and appropriate research, this project explores how people understand and feel about protecting beaches and their wildlife.
Ocean beaches are important areas that support a wide variety of life, including shorebirds and cockles, and face both natural changes and many human-related threats.
Threats affecting beaches include vehicles driving on sand, fishing for cockles, invasive animals and plants, pollution, beach erosion, and climate-related rising sea levels.
The project will gain an understanding of the benefits ocean beaches deliver to people and nature, and how different groups may experience conflict when using shared spaces from current human activities and future threats, including climate change.
“It is important to understand why people use the beaches and how their activities affect the environment,” says Craig.
As the project develops, his team will talk with user groups and people in the field, teaching them to use new technology, such as PPGIS, a map-based survey tool to capture key data.
By understanding how people see the value of beaches and can reduce conflicts between using them and protecting nature, local managers can decide where to focus monitoring, plan education efforts, and consider options like closing areas or beaches at certain times.
As the only part of the Murray-Darling Basin directly influenced by sea level rise, the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) region is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Declining river flows, deteriorating water quality, and rising seas pose significant challenges, highlighting the importance of continued, independent research.
The current marine algal bloom (Karenia mikimotoi) affecting the Fleurieu Peninsula and surrounding coastal areas is having real and immediate effects on local communities and the environment. While the CLLMM Research Centre is not investigating this specific bloom as an individual event, our focus remains on building long-term knowledge and understanding to help manage and adapt to these kinds of environmental changes over time.
Our work is deeply collaborative, bringing together community members, First Nations knowledge holders, managing agencies and scientists to shape and deliver research that supports real-world solutions.
This algal bloom is a stark reminder that environmental conditions may be shifting faster than expected, highlighting the urgent need for robust, evidence-based research. Through our work, a range of stakeholders, including community and decision makers, have access to timely, reliable information for informed decision-making and effective response to emerging challenges.
Several of our current projects are helping to address some of the very issues now being highlighted by the algal bloom. These include:
Ecological Response to Climatic Extremes
Ocean Beach Ecology and Threats
Community Adaptation to Worsening Floods and Droughts
Forecasting Impacts of Climate Change on Algal Communities in the Lower Lakes
We will continue to share updates as our research progresses. In the meantime, visit our website to find out more about specific projects.