State and trends of ecological processes

Coasts (2016)

State and trends of ecological processes

Connectivity

This component has changed from 2011.

Connectivity is being reported on in Coasts as well as Marine environment.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Connectivity—spatial/physical disjunctions

Connectivity—biological, migration, flyways

Connectivity—recruitment, settlement

Connectivity—genome structures, genetic adaptation

Data poor, but believed to be worsening due to habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic change to mechanisms of dispersal. Connectivity increased for those species that can use ships and other vessels as a vector.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Very limited

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not comparable

Connectivity

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

This assessment summary is the result of consultation with three or more independent subject-matter experts. Each expert was asked to provide scores for the state and trend of the topic, the confidence in their scores, and supporting information to explain their reasoning. Consensus scores were determined after considering responses from all experts in the light of supporting information, and in conjunction with other data sources where they were available.

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Connectivity—biological, migration, flyways

South-east in poor condition and continues to decline

Year(s):

2011

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Connectivity—genome structures, genetic adaptation

Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Connectivity—recruitment, settlement

Variable across the regions, improving in some and declining in others

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Connectivity—spatial/physical disjunctions

South-east has been significantly affected

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Nesting, roosting and nursing sites

This component has changed from 2011.

It has been moved from Marine environment to Coasts.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Under increasing threat from a range of human activities and climate-related pressures.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Nesting, roosting and nursing sites

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Trophic structures and relationships

This component has changed from 2011.

Trophic structures and relationships has been assessed in both Marine environment and Coasts.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Modified by overharvesting and nutrient enrichment. Improving where fishing activity and urban/agricultural inputs are well managed.

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Trophic structures and relationships

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

South-west and north-west are in poor condition, substantially affected by historical and ongoing fishing

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Filter feeding

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

It has been moved from Marine environment to Coasts

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Data poor, baseline and current condition are largely unquantified but are believed to be stable.

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Filter feeding

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Condition poor in the south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Microbial processes and nutrient cycling

This component has changed from 2011.

'Microbial processes' has been assessed in both Marine environment and Coasts.
It has been expanded to include nutrient cycling for Coasts.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Data poor. Sensitive to human impacts, particularly nutrient and contaminant inputs. May be useful indicators for biomonitoring.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Very limited

Confidence (in trend):

Very limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Microbial processes and nutrient cycling

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Biodiversity: Ecological processes

Assessment Summary Key

Grades

Very good

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have had no or only minor impacts on habitats, species/taxa groups, physical, biogeochemical, biological or ecological processes.

Good

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have had some significant impacts on habitats, species/taxa groups, physical, biogeochemical, biological or ecological processes, but effects are not persistent or substantial on overall habitats, species/taxa groups or processes.

Poor

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have caused substantial changes to habitats, species/taxa groups, physical, biogeochemical, biological or ecological processes, resulting in persistent and substantial effects on habitats, species groups or processes.

Very poor

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have caused widespread changes to habitats, species or processes resulting in loss of habitat, species/taxa groups and ecosystem functioning.

Recent Trends

Improving
Stable
Deteriorating
Unclear

Confidence

Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment

Comparability

Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
Not previously assessed

Clark GF, Johnston EL (2016). Coasts: State and trends of ecological processes . In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary/coasts/state-and-trends-ecological-processes, DOI 10.4226/94/58b659bdc758b

The assessment summaries in State of the Environment reporting provide snapshots of key information, and focus on identifying areas for continued or more concentrated attention on strengthening environmental systems to cope with pressures in the future. Assessment summaries are provided for state and trend, pressures and management responses in each of the themes. The summary text in the assessment tables should be read in conjunction with the explanatory text in each section of the theme chapters.

The authors have indicated the strength of the evidence for assessments with a ‘level of confidence’. If adequate high-quality data were available or consensus was high, confidence is indicated as high. If there were only limited data or consensus to determine grades, confidence is indicated as low. Where data are insufficient to attempt scores, this is also indicated, and the component remains on the list to remind readers that it is still an important aspect of the Australian environment, and that more information is needed to improve our understanding and capacity to respond to environmental challenges.

State and trends of ecological processes