The landscape context of flooding in the Murray-Darling basin

Here we apply theoretical frameworks to understanding the influence of flooding on the ecology of lowland river floodplain systems in the Murray-Darling Basin. Taking a landscape perspective reveals the vast spatial and temporal variability in flooding. We use iconic taxa of the Murray-Darling Basin-river red gum, waterbirds, and fish-to illustrate three strategies for exploiting variable flooding for breeding: (1) reproduce whenever floods occur, regardless of flood characteristics; (ii) reproduce only during floods that provide suitable conditions; and (iii) ignore floods and associated resources because these are too unreliable. Current policy for environmental watering is caught between maintaining individual, ecologically significant sites and a more integrated approach to the management of the riverine system in toto. Landscape ecology has a central role to play in informing the management strategy for the Murray-Darling system.