Reviving Rivers: water bugs, water quality, platypus and natives with Jed Pearson

Take me to the River

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Ever wondered what a platypus eats, how to remember native plant names, or what it takes to bring a river back to life? Today, Siwan sits down with Jed Pearson from the Rivers of Carbon team to answer some of these questions.
Jed has journeyed from Armidale to the ACT and his dedication to conservation through Waterwatch and Rivers of Carbon has only grown as he has learned on and cared for Country. We dive deep into the importance of riparian zones and the various vegetation layers that contribute to a thriving ecosystem, tackling erosion strategies and a case study on the Gudgenby River in the ACT. Jed explains the challenges of planting vegetation for erosion control and the importance of understanding local flora. We also explore plant identification techniques that, despite sometimes frustrating botanical names, help ensure high survival rates for the vegetation planted. This chapter serves as a valuable guide for those looking to mitigate erosion with site-specific approaches and expert consultation.
Lastly, we journey into the fascinating world of macroinvertebrates and their critical role in waterway health. Through the Rivers of Carbon project and Waterwatch program, we underscore the importance of accessible information and citizen science in monitoring water quality. Jed shares how these tiny creatures act as keystone species and indicators, vital to the diets of platypuses and overall ecosystem health. Jed also shares some very amusing ways to remember tricky species names!

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🎙️ Listen to our other episodes: https://arrc.au/podcast/
🌱 Learn more about the Australian River Restoration Centre: arrc.au
Take Me to the River is an Australian River Restoration Centre podcast production, hosted by Dr. Siwan Lovett and produced by Chris Walsh, with support from the rest of the ARRC Team. ✨
We acknowledge and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the country on which we work, learn, and live. We respect and learn from Elders past, present and emerging, valuing their knowledge, insights and connections to the waterways we love and care for. 🖤💛❤️

Chapters

1. Restoring Rivers and Biodiversity (00:00:00)

2. Identifying and Addressing River Erosion (00:12:27)

3. Exploring Macroinvertebrates and Waterway Health (00:21:20)

4. Exploring Water Bugs and Naming Conventions (00:33:09)