Thursday, March 18, 2021

Spikey saltmarsh sampled

University of Newcastle PHD student, Rushna, conducting fieldwork along the Georges River, looking for the spikey weed called Juncus acutus

Recently, Georges Riverkeeper assisted University of Newcastle PHD student, Rushna, to conduct fieldwork along the Georges River. We were on the hunt for Juncus acutus, a spikey, invasive, saltmarsh plant. As part of his PHD, Rushna intends to investigate how effective these plants are accumulating metals from surrounding sediment compared to native species. The findings will also be a useful addition to other observations of metal contamination throughout the estuary. Further research during Rushna’s PHD will investigate how these metals will be transported up the food chain, with plans to sample migratory shorebird feathers for metal accumulation later on.

Members

There are many different stakeholders and landowners in the Georges River Catchment who all have a responsibility to manage their land in a way that ensures there is a minimal impact on the river and its ecosystems.

Partners

Best practice environmental management for a liveable urban river.

Georges Riverkeeper acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Georges River, the Kamegal, Bedigal, Cabrogal, Cannemegal, Gweagal and Norongerral people of the Eora, Dharug and Dharawal nations and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future.