Gotowa bibliografia na temat „Coastal wetland (Queensland”

The Great Sandy Region (incorporating Fraser Island and the Cooloola sand-mass), south-east Queensland, contains a significant area of Ramsar-listed coastal wetlands, including the globally important patterned fen complexes. These mires form an elaborate network of pools surrounded by vegetated peat ridges and are the only known subtropical, Southern Hemisphere examples, with wetlands of this type typically located in high northern latitudes. Sedimentological, palynological and charcoal analysis from the Wathumba and Moon Point complexes on Fraser Island indicate two periods of swamp formation (that may contain patterned fens), one commencing at 12 000 years ago (Moon Point) and the other ~4300 years ago (Wathumba). Wetland formation and development is thought to be related to a combination of biological and hydrological processes with the dominant peat-forming rush, Empodisma minus, being an important component of both patterned and non-patterned mires within the region. In contrast to Northern Hemisphere paludifying systems, the patterning appears to initiate at the start of wetland development or as part of an infilling process. The wetlands dominated by E. minus are highly resilient to disturbance, particularly burning and sea level alterations, and appear to form important refuge areas for amphibians, fish and birds (both non-migratory and migratory) over thousands of years.

Great Barrier Reef catchments are under pressure from the effects of climate change, landscape modifications, and hydrology alterations. With the use of remote sensing datasets covering large areas, conventional methods of change detection can expose broad transitions, whereas workflows that excerpt data for time-series trends divulge more subtle transformations of land cover modification. Here, we combine both these approaches to investigate change and trends in a large estuarine region of Central Queensland, Australia, that encompasses a national park and is adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage site. Nine information classes were compiled in a maximum likelihood post classification change analysis in 2004–2017. Mangroves decreased (1146 hectares), as was the case with estuarine wetland (1495 hectares), and saltmarsh grass (1546 hectares). The overall classification accuracies and Kappa coefficient for 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2017 land cover maps were 85%, 88%, 88%, 89%, 81%, and 92%, respectively. The cumulative area of open forest, estuarine wetland, and saltmarsh grass (1628 hectares) was converted to pasture in a thematic change analysis showing the “from–to” change. We generated linear regression relationships to examine trends in pixel values across the time series. Our findings from a trend analysis showed a decreasing trend (p value range = 0.001–0.099) in the vegetation extent of open forest, fringing mangroves, estuarine wetlands, saltmarsh grass, and grazing areas, but this was inconsistent across the study site. Similar to reports from tropical regions elsewhere, saltmarsh grass is poorly represented in the national park. A severe tropical cyclone preceding the capture of the 2017 Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) image was likely the main driver for reduced areas of shoreline and stream vegetation. Our research contributes to the body of knowledge on coastal ecosystem dynamics to enable planning to achieve more effective conservation outcomes.

Marine ecosystems are affected by water pollution originating from coastal catchments. The delivery of water pollutants can be reduced through water pollution abatement as well as water pollution treatment. Hence, sustainable economic development of coastal regions requires balancing of the marginal costs from water pollution abatement and/or treatment and the associated marginal benefits from marine resource appreciation. Water pollution delivery reduction costs are, however, not equal across abatement and treatment options. In this paper, an optimal control approach is developed and applied to explore welfare maximizing rates of water pollution abatement and/or treatment for efficient diffuse source water pollution management in terrestrial-marine systems. For the case of diffuse source dissolved inorganic nitrogen water pollution in the Tully-Murray region, Queensland, Australia, (agricultural) water pollution abatement cost, (wetland) water pollution treatment cost and marine benefit functions are determined to explore welfare maximizing rates of water pollution abatement and/or treatment. Considering partial (wetland) treatment costs and positive water quality improvement benefits, results show that welfare gains can be obtained, primarily, through diffuse source water pollution abatement (improved agricultural management practices) and, to a minor extent, through diffuse source water pollution treatment (wetland restoration).

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) often migrate from marine to fresh water as juveniles. In March 2018a relatively large number of small juveniles (<100mm) were recorded moving through a fishway on a tidal interface barrier in central Queensland, Australia. This is in contrast to the few documented observations of transitional movements, which involved mostly larger juveniles (250–400mm).

Water extraction from the local aquifer and streams for water supply in the Cooloola area of south-eastern Queensland threatens the groundwater flow for an iconic groundwater-dependent ecosystem, the Cooloola Patterned Fens. Water-chemistry samples were collected from within the fens wetland, bores and local streams. The multivariate techniques of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) were used to discriminate aquifer source of water. Water chemistry of the patterned fens complex was associated with perched aquifers atop an underlying peat aquitard, whereas the water chemistry of two nearby creek systems (Searys Creek and Teewah Creek) was more closely associated with the regional aquifer. The present study highlighted the need for better understanding of the hydrogeology of coastal aquifers and the ecosystems dependent on them.

The hydrological conditions and fish fauna occurring in canal developments situated near the mouth of a subtropical estuary in southern Queensland were studied for 15 months from December 1985 to February 1987. In contrast to canal developments situated in bays or the middle reaches of estuaries, these downstream canals did not entrap sediments, and only minimal silt deposition occurred in those canals most isolated from the river. Hydrological conditions within the canals were generally within recommended limits for fish survival, although low oxygen concentrations in bottom water occurred on isolated occasions in the dead-end canals. The ichthyofauna of these canals, as in other canal developments, was dominated by planktivores/microcarnivores of no direct importance to fisheries. These fish guilds occurred in substantially greater numerical proportions in the canals than in undisturbed wetland areas. Well-flushed canals constructed in nontidal sandy areas are likely to have minimal impact on existing fish communities and could increase the area of available fish habitat. Extra keywords: canal design, hydrology, oxygen content, estuarine fisheries, coastal development.

Environmental contextMicrobes play key roles in controlling acidification and metal toxicity in coastal acid-sulfate soils. We characterised the time-dependent metabolic activities of abundant and rare taxa in acidifying tidal wetlands and showed that rare taxa exhibiting higher activity may exert significant influence on iron- and sulfur-cycling. Our findings yield new insights into the drivers and timing of iron- and sulfur-cycling in coastal acid-sulfate systems. AbstractTidal inundation has been trialled as a remediation strategy for coastal acid-sulfate soil (CASS) environments. Microbial community structure and activity are hypothesised to play key roles in this process, but remain poorly understood for long-term (decadal or longer) CASS ecosystems. More detailed understanding of the distribution and timing of microbial activity in CASS ecosystems is necessary to evaluate their real bioremediation potential. In this study, we compared 16S ribosomal DNA (rRNA) and RNA (as copy DNA, cDNA, a proxy for overall enzymatic activity) sequence datasets to characterise and resolve microbial community structure and activity across a tidal cycle in the East Trinity long-term CASS wetland (Queensland, Australia). The timing and extent of activity among abundant (>1 %) and rare (<0.1 %) microbial taxa showed that a larger number of rare members (phylotype) displayed greater overall range in activity than was apparent for more abundant members. Certain taxa from both abundant and rare populations varied rapidly in their 16S rRNA levels in response to tidal cycling. The observation of rRNA accumulation in response to drying and rewetting was used to divide the microbial community structure into ‘early responders’ (within 3 h of dry-down or wet-up) and ‘delayed responders’ (3+ h after wet-up). Response patterns were phylogenetically constrained across supra- to subtidal zones across all tidal stages. Microbial iron- and sulfur-cycling networks included these rare but active taxa, illustrating their spatiotemporal complexity, which should be considered for an accurate assessment of bioremediation efficiency, and specially for validating predictive biogeochemical models of long-term CASS ecosystems.

Coastal wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that are highly susceptible to change due to natural and human factors. The study area, located within the Native Dog Creek sub-catchment of the Logan River - which drains into Moreton Bay, south east Queensland - holds a detailed history of environmental change spanning most of the Holocene epoch. This history is preserved in the estuarine sedimentary record and is a valuable indicator of natural environmental change. More recently, human-induced changes within the study area have been superimposed on the natural process of environmental change. In order to develop a conceptual bio-geomorphic model of the coastal wetlands of Native Dog Creek, this thesis examined - on an integrated catchment basis - the evolution and connectivity of four coastal wetland community types (Melaleuca, Casuarina, saltmarsh and mangroves). The research consisted of four discrete studies within the study area: a geomorphic investigation that provided a framework for understanding how the wetlands evolved during the Holocene epoch; an acid sulfate soil (ASS) study that surveyed the distribution and concentration of sulfides; a palynological study that examined the natural directions of ecosystem change; and an investigation of the impact of specific human activities on these ecosystems. Detailed stratigraphic modelling found that the Logan River system (and its Native Dog Creek sub-catchment) has evolved from an infilling estuary since the peak of the Holocene transgression 6500 years before present. Recognition of the major controls that influenced geomorphic coastal development during the Holocene, provided important insights into the distribution and genesis of estuarine pyritic sediments which strongly influence the soils within the study area. In general, the estuarine central basin and fluvial delta sediments posed the greatest risk to the environment from acidification if disturbed. The major focus of the ASS study was to survey the distribution of ASS and to identify other areas most vulnerable to acidification. A predictive approach that combined chemical and stratigraphic analysis was used. Results showed that these areas are intrinsically related to their environment of deposition. The study found, for example, that the alternation of excessively wet and dry conditions - combined with high organic carbon levels and variations in microtopography - provided ideal conditions for the re-formation of pyrite in the stream channel within the Melaleuca wetlands. The palaeo-environmental study reconstructed the evolution of Holocene coastal wetland vegetation during the marine transgression and subsequent shoreline progradation. Pollen records from the four representative wetland communities (previously mentioned) were examined. The results found the mid-late Holocene vegetation history was controlled by the development of geomorphic features that have affected freshwater input, drainage and salinity. In response to the progradation of the shoreline after sea level stabilised, changes in fossil pollen from mangroves and saltmarsh taxa during the early-mid Holocene, to freshwater taxa during the late Holocene, are estimated to have taken 800 years. Thus, pollen analysis when used in combination with stratigraphic modelling, provided an important point of reference for rates of natural ecological change in response to evolutionary changes to the physical environment. The wetlands within the study area have suffered varying degrees of disturbance since European settlement in the 1820s. The most significant changes occurred during early European settlement, when vast areas of coastal lowlands were cleared for timber, sheep and cattle grazing and for agricultural purposes. A second period of change occurred from 1989 to 1995, when the Melaleuca community suffered dieback in response to hydrological modifications to Native Dog Creek for the development of a golf course. Results indicate that human-induced changes over the past 170 years have occurred at a rate far beyond the ability of the natural ecosystem to adapt or move to a more ecologically sustainable state, at least in the short-term. Hence the current environment is experiencing degradation through both decline in health and loss of indigenous species. The development of a conceptual bio-geomorphic model was based on the integration of results from all four studies, in an effort to provide a holistic understanding of the coastal wetland environment and of the impact of human-induced changes upon that environment. If these vulnerable ecosystems are to be maintained, successful and sustainable coastal management strategies must rely on a sound scientific understanding of the response of a coastal ecosystem to both human and environmental changes.

change due to natural and human factors. The study area, located within the Native Dog Creek sub-catchment of the Logan River - which drains into Moreton Bay, south east Queensland - holds a detailed history of environmental change spanning most of the Holocene epoch. This history is preserved in the estuarine sedimentary record and is a valuable indicator of natural environmental change. More recently, human-induced changes within the study area have been superimposed on the natural process of environmental change. In order to develop a conceptual bio-geomorphic model of the coastal wetlands of Native Dog Creek, this thesis examined - on an integrated catchment basis - the evolution and connectivity of four coastal wetland community types (Melaleuca, Casuarina, saltmarsh and mangroves). The research consisted of four discrete studies within the study area: a geomorphic investigation that provided a framework for understanding how the wetlands evolved during the Holocene epoch; an acid sulfate soil (ASS) study that surveyed the distribution and concentration of sulfides; a palynological study that examined the natural directions of ecosystem change; and an investigation of the impact of specific human activities on these ecosystems. Detailed stratigraphic modelling found that the Logan River system (and its Native Dog Creek sub-catchment) has evolved from an infilling estuary since the peak of the Holocene transgression 6500 years before present. Recognition of the major controls that influenced geomorphic coastal development during the Holocene, provided important insights into the distribution and genesis of estuarine pyritic sediments which strongly influence the soils within the study area. In general, the estuarine central basin and fluvial delta sediments posed the greatest risk to the environment from acidification if disturbed. The major focus of the ASS study was to survey the distribution of ASS and to identify other areas most vulnerable to acidification. A predictive approach that combined chemical and stratigraphic analysis was used. Results showed that these areas are intrinsically related to their environment of deposition. The study found, for example, that the alternation of excessively wet and dry conditions - combined with high organic carbon levels and variations in microtopography - provided ideal conditions for the re-formation of pyrite in the stream channel within the Melaleuca wetlands. The palaeo-environmental study reconstructed the evolution of Holocene coastal wetland vegetation during the marine transgression and subsequent shoreline progradation. Pollen records from the four representative wetland communities (previously mentioned) were examined. The results found the mid-late Holocene vegetation history was controlled by the development of geomorphic features that have affected freshwater input, drainage and salinity. In response to the progradation of the shoreline after sea level stabilised, changes in fossil pollen from mangroves and saltmarsh taxa during the early-mid Holocene, to freshwater taxa during the late Holocene, are estimated to have taken 800 years. Thus, pollen analysis when used in combination with stratigraphic modelling, provided an important point of reference for rates of natural ecological change in response to evolutionary changes to the physical environment. The wetlands within the study area have suffered varying degrees of disturbance since European settlement in the 1820s. The most significant changes occurred during early European settlement, when vast areas of coastal lowlands were cleared for timber, sheep and cattle grazing and for agricultural purposes. A second period of change occurred from 1989 to 1995, when the Melaleuca community suffered dieback in response to hydrological modifications to Native Dog Creek for the development of a golf course. Results indicate that human-induced changes over the past 170 years have occurred at a rate far beyond the ability of the natural ecosystem to adapt or move to a more ecologically sustainable state, at least in the short-term. Hence the current environment is experiencing degradation through both decline in health and loss of indigenous species. The development of a conceptual bio-geomorphic model was based on the integration of results from all four studies, in an effort to provide a holistic understanding of the coastal wetland environment and of the impact of human-induced changes upon that environment. If these vulnerable ecosystems are to be maintained, successful and sustainable coastal management strategies must rely on a sound scientific understanding of the response of a coastal ecosystem to both human and environmental changes.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Australian School of Environmental Studies
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Coastal wetlands are globally important ecosystems, valued for their provision of habitat, storm mitigation, water quality improvement, and carbon sequestration. Coastal wetlands are also one of the ecosystems most likely to be impacted by projected changes in climate, particularly changes associated with sea level rise, altered rainfall patterns, and changes to storm patterns and severity. Coastal freshwater wetlands (CFWs) are amongst the most understudied group of coastal wetlands and are characterised by freshwater dominated hydrology but can also experience periods of salinity associated with their proximity to the coast (i.e. as the result of storm surge and spring high tides). CFWs commonly occur as the most landward of coastal wetlands and many adjoin urban development, exposing them to anthropogenic impacts (nutrient enrichment, clearing, hydrology alteration). This position in the coastal landscape makes CFWs highly susceptible to salinity stress, particularly climate change induced sea level rise. Research investigating CFWs, their ecology, and responses to climate change threats, is greatly lacking, particularly for areas outside the United States of America (USA). This thesis investigates the resilience of CFWs to climate change and aims to address significant knowledge gaps by investigating: 1) the current knowledge of CFW responses to projected climate change globally; 2) the structure and composition of CFW vegetation in southeast Queensland and exploring drivers of vegetation patterns; 3) the role of soil seed banks in vegetation resilience for CFWs in southeast Queensland through contributions to vegetation dynamics; and 4) the regenerative potential and responses of CFW vegetation communities to altered hydrology and salinity regimes simulating sea level rise. To begin, I synthesised the current knowledge of CFW responses to projected changes in climate globally, through a systematic quantitative literature review, with the aim of identifying key knowledge gaps regarding geographic locations and research areas, with particular focus on four key aspects of climate change: sea level rise, altered rainfall, extreme events, increased temperature, and greenhouse gases. In Chapter 2, I reviewed published research on responses of CFWs in observational, experimental, and modelling studies within those four key aspects of climate change. This review identified that, despite the increasing research interest, knowledge of all aspects of climate change is lacking, particularly outside of the USA. Within the USA, while there is a significant body of research exploring the response of CFWs to impacts associated with rising sea levels, changes to rainfall patterns, and extreme events, the impacts of temperature and greenhouse gases remain unknown globally. Importantly, research investigating the response of CFWs to multiple climate drivers was identified as a significant knowledge gap.The research then focused on field and greenhouse studies of CFW vegetation communities in southeast Queensland, Australia to expand the knowledge of CFWs outside of the USA. Chapters 3 and 4 explored patterns in standing and soil seed bank vegetation assemblages and provides a baseline understanding of the structure and composition of these vegetation communities. In addition, I assessed local and regional environmental drivers (i.e. local hydrology, soil salinity, local land uses, projected sea level rise extent) of vegetation patterns and discussed potential changes to these drivers with climate change. To explore the effects of sea level rise on ground in CFWs, I conducted an in-situ hydrology and salinity manipulation experiment at an abandoned sugarcane farm which has a regenerating CFW vegetation community (Chapter 5). CFWs in southeast Queensland are important for their roles in nutrient cycling and habitat provision for endangered fauna species. My assessment of these vegetation communities (Chapter 3) also highlights that CFWs are home to a diverse vegetation assemblage including at least two flora species of national significance, flagging the biodiversity importance of these isolated wetland patches within a developed coastal landscape. Species composition was distinct between vegetation patches and a large proportion of variation between sites was associated with differences in local hydrology and salinity influence. The importance of hydrology and salinity as drivers of vegetation patterns suggests that climate change could dramatically impact the structure and composition of CFWs. The ability of CFWs to be maintained in the landscape under a changing climate is influenced by their regenerative capacity from soil seed banks or other propagule banks. In Chapter 4, I assessed the composition of CFW soil seed banks and explored potential drivers of vegetation patterns. Through this study, I again found that hydrology and salinity were strong drivers of patterns in soil seed bank composition, as well as, local land use which was associated with the proportion of exotic species. Similarity of soil seed banks to standing vegetation was low, suggesting that soil seed banks have a minimal role in maintaining standing vegetation communities in southeast Queensland CFWs. Rather, soil seed banks could provide a mechanism for vegetation change along four possible trajectories depending on the soil seed bank composition and abiotic conditions. Hydrology and salinity are important drivers of CFW vegetation composition identified in this thesis. In Chapter 5, I explored the impacts of altered hydrology and salinity regimes on CFW vegetation communities regenerating on abandoned agricultural land. Change in vegetation composition and structure was assessed in-situ at Yandina Creek Wetlands (YCW) where vegetation has naturally regenerated into communities typical of CFWs in southeast Queensland during 15 years since abandoment of sugarcane production. This regeneration potential is important given the projected constriction of CFWs between migrating seaward Changes were varied in each habitat surveyed, however, reductions in vegetation cover and species richness were observed over time in response to altered conditions in freshwater habitats. Conversely, vegetation cover increased in the saltmarsh, suggesting that this community is tolerant of the altered conditions and may expand within YCW. The changes observed at YCW suggest that widespread change is likely for many CFWs with increasing sea levels, but careful management could aid in maintaining these ecosystems in the coastal landscape. Overall, this thesis significantly furthers the understanding of CFWs and their vegetation patterns outside of the USA, and explores the future of these systems with climate change in southeast Queensland, Australia. The findings of this thesis highlight the importance of hydrology and salinity as drivers of vegetation patterns and indicates that dramatic and potentially rapid change in vegetation structure and composition will occur as a result of climate change. CFWs in southeast Queensland are important and highly variable vegetation communities, where loss of even single wetland patches could result in local species extirpation. It is unlikely that CFWs will remain in the landscape in their current state and continue to provide benefits from ecosystem services without significant management action. Even with such action, widespread loss or modification is likely and continued research is required to understand the full scope of climate change impacts.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environment and Sc
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
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Plants of Subtropical Eastern Australia describes the rich flora of this biogeographically distinct region located on the east coast of Australia, covering the north coast of New South Wales and coastal South-East Queensland. This guide presents a selection of common, threatened and ecologically significant plants found in the region’s major vegetation habitats including rainforest, heathland, grassy forest, wetlands and rock outcrops. More than 500 plants are featured, with photographs and descriptive features enabling the reader to identify these species if encountered. Interesting biological, cultural and historical characteristics of each species are included, along with notes on the plant’s biogeography and a map of its distribution. Suitable for anyone with an interest in plant ecology and botany, Plants of Subtropical Eastern Australia is the definitive guide to this fascinating region of Australia and its unique flora.