Investigating the distribution and tolerances of macroinvertebrate taxa over 30 years in the River Murray

The River Murray Biological Monitoring Program is of international significance. The macroinvertebrate data collected during the past 33 years (1980–2012) from the River Murray covers a period of major climatic, hydrological, water quality and consumptive use change.

It is rare to have a consistently sampled data set spanning such a long period with major variations in the climate.

This report:

• analyses data collected for the period 1980 to 2012
• identifies the drivers of the macroinvertebrate community
• suggests how this information could be used to inform the Basin Plan and its implementation.