RIEL seminar series
Trophic dynamics of free-flowing tropical rivers
| Presenter | Colton Perna (RIEL at Charles Darwin University) | |
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| Date/Time |
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| Contact person |
Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods
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| Location | Yellow 1, Level 1, Room 33 at CDU Casuarina Campus, and online via Zoom. All times are ACST. | |
| Open to | All International audience, CDU staff and students, Public | |
Colton Perna is a PhD candidate with the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods at Charles Darwin University.
In the seminar ‘Trophic dynamics of free-flowing tropical rivers’, Colton will present key findings from his PhD research exploring how river flows and flooding shape freshwater fish communities. The research examines links between river discharge and the richness of different trophic guilds, and how connections between rivers and wetlands influence food-web structure.
Using essential fatty acids as indicators of food quality, the research reveals how hydrology drives trophic niche breadth, energy pathways and the nutritional foundations that support fish populations. Together, these insights highlight the critical role of flow and floodplain connectivity in sustaining productive and resilient aquatic ecosystems.
Colton holds a Master of Science and has spent more than 20 years surveying fish distribution and abundance across tropical Australia. His work has focused on the factors shaping fish community structure, fish habitat restoration, and water quality. He recently submitted his PhD examining the trophic ecology of tropical floodplain river fish communities.
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