- Author Mitchell Heide | Paula Cartwright | Amrit K. Mishra | Antony Squires | Nathan J. Waltham
- Publish date 21 May 2026
- Type Report
- Documents
- Water Security program
Summary
This student paper is an output of the CRCNA Water Security for Northern Australia program – Gilbert catchment node (AT.7.2223014).
The paper by Mitchell Heide et al explores how habitat complexity influences early life-stage freshwater crayfish in tropical river systems. The study found that juvenile and crayling red claw crayfish actively prefer vegetated habitats over sand or gravel, with juveniles showing a particularly strong preference for structurally complex refuges that offer protection from predators and improved foraging opportunities. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining aquatic vegetation in northern Australia’s freshwater ecosystems, where habitat degradation and reduced water quality may threaten recruitment success and long-term population viability of freshwater species.
Projects
Water Security for Northern Australia program: Gilbert River catchment (NQ)
The Gilbert River catchment is one of four focal nodes within the Water Security for Northern Australia (WSNA) program and contains significant environmental, cultural and economic values linked to its river systems, floodplains and permanent waterholes. The catchment supports important ecosystems, tourism and agricultural opportunities, and the project is focused on improving understanding of these interconnected values to support informed and sustainable future development. This project is investigating the ecology, hydrology and cultural significance of the Gilbert River catchment through four integrated research areas. These include aquatic flora and fauna surveys, understanding the persistence and groundwater contribution to permanent waterholes, assessing ecosystem services in proposed development areas, and identifying Indigenous cultural values and opportunities for water-based enterprise development. Research activities include field surveys, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, water chemistry tracing, groundwater analysis and environmental monitoring across the catchment. The project is also working closely with landholders, Traditional Owners and Indigenous ranger groups to support two-way knowledge sharing and strengthen regional water planning. Researchers are examining how future agricultural development and water extraction may affect biodiversity, water quality, cultural values and ecosystem services, while also identifying opportunities for sustainable agricultural and Indigenous-led development within the catchment. By addressing key knowledge gaps and improving baseline environmental and cultural data, the project aims to support future water management, conservation planning and sustainable economic development across the Gilbert River catchment. Node contact: Assoc Prof Nathan Waltham TropWATER email: nathan.waltham@jcu.edu.au Visit TropWater for more information: https://www.tropwater.com/projects/sustainable-water-security-in-northern-australia Background: This Water Security for Northern Australia (WSNA) program is being delivered through a partnership between the CRCNA and the Northern Australia Universities Alliance. The WSNA program will develop and implement a series of research projects which address problematic issues which are constraining sustainable water resource utilisation in four key precincts or focal nodes across Northern Australia. These focal nodes are (Gilbert catchment (QLD), Daly River (NT), Ord River Irrigation Area (WA) and Lower Fitzroy catchment (QLD)). These focal nodes were selected by the CRCNA based on prior assessments and consultation indicating they are likely locations of further water resource development pressure. In order to develop such a series of research projects, it was first required that the relevant stakeholders in each focal node be engaged in a co-design process. The four focal nodes were developed through a 5-month engagement phase and now report to regional stakeholder advisory groups: Co-design phase of the Water Security for Northern Australia.