

State and trends of ecological processes
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.
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.
Connectivity—biological, migration, flyways
South-east in poor condition and continues to decline
Connectivity—genome structures, genetic adaptation
Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess
Connectivity—recruitment, settlement
Variable across the regions, improving in some and declining in others
Connectivity—spatial/physical disjunctions
South-east has been significantly affected
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.
Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess
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.
South-west and north-west are in poor condition, substantially affected by historical and ongoing fishing
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.
Condition poor in the south-east
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.
Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess
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
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Improving
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Stable
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Deteriorating
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Unclear
Confidence
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Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
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Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
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Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
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Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
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Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment
Comparability
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Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
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Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
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Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
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Not previously assessed
Comments
Nil.