Australia State of the Environment Report

Outlook

Report Content

... and their attributes, including species composition, ecosystem functions and resilience, are constantly changing. These changes can ... compromised and identify measures required for continuing ecosystem functioning. Ecosystem restoration Ecosystem restoration ...

Pressures facing aquatic ecosystems

2016

Pressures

Report Content

2016 Biodiversity Pressures In this report, we describe pressures facing biodiversity in general. However, pressures facing aquatic ecosystems are described in detail in the Coasts (coastal and estuarine ecosystems),...

Terrestrial ecosystems and communities

2016

Report Content

... Leadbeater’s possum ( Lindenmayer et al. 2012 ). Ecosystem services One major area of endeavour that has increased in importance and maturity has been the quantification of ecosystem services for NRM . Although the ecosystem services concept has been ...

Freshwater species and ecosystems

2016

Report Content

... drying period. Assessment grade and adequacy of information: Ecosystem health for the Murray–Darling Basin rivers: grade—poor; ... high ecological value , to slightly to moderately disturbed ecosystem value . However, some inland water bodies are considered to have ...

Coastal and marine species and ecosystems

2016

Report Content

... (macroalgae, offshore banks and shoals) ( GBRMPA 2014 ). The ecosystem encompassing ‘Fringing reefs—temperate rocky reefs’ was classed ... to continue to have far-reaching consequences for the Reef ecosystem direct use of the region is a significant economic contributor, and ...

State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health

2016, 2011

Assessment summary

State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health This assessment summary has changed since 2011 This ... marine environment State and trends of indicators of marine ecosystem health: Ecologial processes Year - Any - 2016 2011 State and trends ...

Reducing the impact of feral herbivores is an essential action for management of Australian ecosystems

2016

Key Finding

2016Damage from feral buffalo, camels, cattle, donkeys, goats, horses and pigs is a key pressure on native ecosystems. Introduced herbivores transform ecosystems, thus reducing the resilience of native systems, opening pathways for weed invasion and increasing fire risks.

Box WAT6 Groundwater-dependent ecosystem risk assessment for declining groundwater levels

2016

Inland water

Risks

Case Study

... water quality and/or biotic resources, and the biota in an ecosystem. Using the framework, a risk assessment identifies hazards to ... management approaches. Box WAT6 Groundwater-dependent ecosystem risk assessment for declining groundwater levels Box WAT6 Groundwater-dependent ecosystem risk assessment for declining groundwater levels The National Climate ...

Consideration of groundwater resources and ecosystems has increased and is better informed

2016

Inland water

Key Finding

2016 Groundwater management gained significant attention and impetus during 2011–16, and focus on groundwater-dependent ecosystems has increased. A national suite of collated and standardised groundwater data is available, building on the long-term efforts of states and territories. The...

Box ANT6 Rapid collapse of an alpine ecosystem through dieback

2016

Antarctic environment

Case Study

... until large quantities of seed can be harvested. This rapid ecosystem collapse on Macquarie Island highlights the potential impact of ... elsewhere. Box ANT6 Rapid collapse of an alpine ecosystem through dieback Box ANT6 Rapid collapse of an alpine ecosystem ...

Land-use change, and habitat fragmentation and degradation threaten ecosystems and resilience

2016

Pressures

Report Content

... of remnant vegetation can, in turn, disrupt essential ecosystem processes such as pollination, seed dispersal and regeneration. ...

State and trends of indicators of marine ecosystem health: Ecologial processes

2016

Report Content

... ecological processes are an important component of marine ecosystem function. Together with the status and trends of marine habitats, ... they provide an indication of the health of the marine ecosystem (e.g. Rombouts et al. 2013 ). Ecosystem health affects the ...

State and trends of indicators of marine ecosystem health: Physical, biogeochemical and biological processes

2016

Report Content

Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems are changing, especially where snowfall is replaced by rain

2016

Antarctic environment

Key Finding

2016 Retreating glaciers, higher ambient temperatures and precipitation as rain rather than snow make the terrestrial environment more accessible to plant and microbial communities. A warmer climate and increased availability of liquid water enable the populations of some species to expand...

Continuing population growth in urban and peri-urban areas impacts surrounding natural ecosystems directly and indirectly

2016

Key Finding

2016Urban and peri-urban areas continue to directly encroach into surrounding natural ecosystems and may also cause indirect impacts by acting as a source of invasive species. Native wildlife in urban areas can be viewed as a benefit by residents, but can also be a source of conflict as...

Figure WAT15 Extract of the ecosystem health report card for the Theresa catchment in the Queensland Fitzroy Basin, 2014

2016

Inland water

Map

Figure WAT15 Extract of the ecosystem health report card for the Theresa catchment in the Queensland ... for River Health (n.d.) Figure WAT15 Extract of the ecosystem health report card for the Theresa catchment in the Queensland ...

Figure BIO36 WWF-Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met, and how much area is still required (i.e. the gap between actual area in highly protected areas and the minimum ecosystem r...

2016

Graph

... actual area in highly protected areas and the minimum ecosystem r... (f) WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based ... was set as follows: 15% of the total pre-clearing area of an ecosystem or, if this is less than 1000 ha, then at least 1000 ha. If ...

A new and emerging pressure in the coastal and marine zones is the increasing amount of human litter, which affects coastal and marine ecosystems and food webs...

2016

Pressures

Key Finding

2016A new and emerging pressure in the coastal and marine zones is the increasing amount of human litter, which affects coastal and marine ecosystems and food webs. Approximately three-quarters of the debris found along the Australian coast is plastic.

Anthropogenic ocean warming and ocean acidification, superimposed on natural climate variations, pose risks to Australia’s marine ecosystems and their habitats, communities and species groups

2016

Key Finding

2016Sea surface temperatures are continuing to increase, with surface ocean warming during the 21st century occurring at approximately 7 times the rate observed during the 20th century. The frequency of extreme sea surface temperature events has increased. Rising summer ocean temperatures...

WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met & how much area is still required i.e. the gap between actual area in highly protected areas &..... (by jurisdiction in 2010)

2016

Graph

(a) WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met...

WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met & how much area is still required i.e. the gap between actual area in highly protected areas & .... (by jurisdiction, in 2016)

2016

Graph

(b) WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met...

WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met & how much area is still required i.e. the gap between actual area in highly protected areas & ... (area gaps, by jurisdiction)

2016

Graph

(c) WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met and how much area is still required (area gaps, by jurisdiction) WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial...

WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met & how much area is still required i.e. the gap between actual area in highly protected areas & ...... (by vegetation type, in 2010)

2016

Graph

(d) WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met...

WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met & how much area is still required i.e. the gap between actual area in highly protected areas & ....... (by vegetation type, in 2016)

2016

Graph

(e) WWF Australia’s estimates of how well area-based targets for protection of terrestrial ecosystems have been met...

Figure MAR33 (a) Two Maps of the connectivity of habitats for marine larvae via source–sink pathways

2016

Map

... Download dataset State and trends of indicators of marine ecosystem health: Ecologial processes ...

Providing for a sustainable environment both now and in the future is a national issue requiring leadership and action across all levels of government, business and the community...

2016

Outlook

Key Finding

... The first step is recognising the importance and value of ecosystem services to our economy and society. ...

Figure MAR31 (a) Map showing the locations of the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) 9 National Reference Stations

2016

Map

... Download dataset State and trends of indicators of marine ecosystem health: Physical, biogeochemical and biological processes ...

Climate change will affect Australian regions differently

2016

Atmosphere

Key Finding

2016 Climate change will result in location-specific vulnerabilities. Australia is predicted to experience increased heatwaves, leading to increased bushfire incidence and health problems (heat stress); longer droughts, extending further geographically; flooding from more intense storm...

Resilience of biodiversity 2016

2016