Reef-to-ridge ecological perspectives of high-energy storm events in northeast Australia

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are the dominant high-energy storm (HES) events affecting marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems in northeast Australia. My study provides the first synthetic analysis of ecological effects of TCs on key ecosystems along a reef-to-ridge gradient in the region. This gradient includes outer and mid-shelf, and nearshore coral reefs, seagrass communities, mangrove forests, and lowland, and upland rain forests. Firstly, I synthesize published research on ecological effects of HES events on natural ecosystems along the reef-to-ridge gradient, with a particular focus on evaluating their ecological resistance and resilience to HES events. Secondly, utilizing two case studies, I compare and contrast the large-scale wind energy effects of two severe tropical cyclones (TC Larry and TC Yasi) on natural ecosystems along their respective reef-to-ridge gradients, with a focus on damage patterns and early stages of recovery for key ecosystems. Finally, I consider the likely effects of climate change on future HES events, and how these may affect the resistance and resilience of ecosystems along the reef-to-ridge gradient. Damage patterns for ecosystems along the reef-to-ridge gradient for both TCs were largely determined by distance from the TC track, side of track, shelf position in the case of reefs, topography in the case of forests, forest type, and forest integrity (contiguous vs. fragmented). Major structural damage to coral reefs and contiguous rain forests after both TCs was patchy, suggesting some degree of larger-scale resistance of these ecosystems to HES events. In the case of littoral forests, small forest remnants, regrowth forests, and riparian forests much lower levels of resistance to high-energy winds were observed, due to patch size and edge effects. Apart from mangroves, most intact ecosystems along the reef-to-ridge gradient have shown early stages of recovery. However, small forests remnants and riparian forests in the agricultural matrix had lower levels of recovery compared with areas of contiguous forest. Anthropogenic climate change may reduce the resistance and resilience of ecosystems along the reef-to-ridge gradient to cope with future HES events, due to increased wind and wave energy, higher storm surges, higher intensity rainfall, and larger river plume events

Surviving the climate crisis: Australian perspectives and solutions

Australian Perspectives and Solutions Stephen M. Turton. Cook, G. (2009) 'Historical perspectives on land use development in northern Australia: with emphasis on the Northern Territory', in P. Stone (ed) Northern Australia Land and ..

Climate change and rainforest tourism in Australia

However, not all use of rainforests as a tourism resource has been sustainable. This book argues that sustainability must be the foundation on which tourism use of this complex but ultimately fragile ecosystem is built upon

Revisiting the multifunctional transition in Australia’s wet Tropics: The climate change crisis

Over recent decades, environmental management has progressed from a tenure-based process, where each tenure is established for a single purpose, to one that considers multiple, often conflicting, uses across multiple tenures at the landscape scale. Stork et al. (2014) considered the history of management, contestation and conservation of humid forested landscapes of Australia’s Wet Tropics and investigated the unfolding expression of new and diverse values attached to the region. Their analysis supported the theory of Nested Adaptive Policy Cycles that change in response to exogenous factors (Gunderson, 1995). They concluded that twenty-first century environmental problems such as climate change and biodiversity loss will lead to further major social transformations and the path generation to increasing complexity will continue

Ecosystem services and integrity trend

Ecosystems are dynamic complexes of plant, animal, and microorganism communities, interacting with the nonliving environment (soils, water, minerals, air) in the form of functional units. These functional units occupy a diverse range of scales in the environment. Ecosystem services may be defined as goods and services from ecosystem structures and functions such as food, fiber, and fuel and climate regulation. These services have also been described as nature’s contributions to people, implying that humans are passive and active recipients of these services but rarely pay for them in any monetary sense. Ecosystem integrity may be defined as the system’s capacity to maintain structure and ecosystem functions using processes and components characteristic for its particular eco-region, i.e., an area where there are similar geographical characteristics, such as geology, vegetation, and climate. Ecosystem services integrity trend refers to changes in ecosystem goods and services, their ecosystem structures and functions, and hence their ability to provide food, fiber, and fuel and regulate climate. Human activities are the main drivers of changes in trends in ecosystem services and hence their integrity trend at different spatial and temporal scales. Social-ecological systems are complex adaptive systems composed of many diverse human and non-human entities that interact; these inherently linked systems adapt to changes in their environment, and their environment changes as a result

Geographies of bushfires in Australia in a changing world

A review of recent research on bushfire hazards and risk by Australian geographers

Expansion of the tropics: revisiting frontiers of geographical knowledge

The tropics are expanding poleward at an alarming rate—with massive implications for societies, economies, and natural environments. This expansion appears to be determined largely by anthropogenic drivers—notably rises in greenhouse gases. Of greatest concern is the poleward shift of the dry sub-tropical zone into highly populated regions that have generally enjoyed a more temperate climate.While the effects of latitudinal shifts of climate zones will be most severe in temperate regions outside the tropics, there will also be significant changes in climate within the tropics—notably unprecedented thermal conditions for hundreds of millions of people, along with projections for more extreme weather events. Australia’s geographical location makes it particularly vulnerable to an expanding tropics. As the tropics expand poleward, more of southern Australia will be influenced by the dry sub-tropical zone and associated reductions in winter rainfall. These drying trends are projected to continue over most southern parts of Australia this century, accompanied by rising temperatures and more hot days. Future rainfall trends for northern Australia remain uncertain, but there is an expected significant increase in the number of hot days, together with more extreme weather events. Future climate change in northern Australia has been ignored by the White Paper for the Development of Northern Australia (2015), bringing into serious question the feasibility and affordability of many of the development policies, plans, and projects promulgated in the White Paper. Even without climate change, the north faces many significant environmental and economic challenges for its future development

Geographies of bushfires in Australia in a changing world

A review of recent research on bushfire hazards and risk by Australian geographers

Australian geography: The next 10 years (and beyond)?

Geography: Shaping Australia's Future (2018) provides a ‘strategic plan’ for geography aligned with the national research priorities, as well other key areas where Australian geographers are addressing environmental and societal challenges. To provide context, we first describe the state of geography in Australian universities. We then articulate ways forward for strengthening Australian geography—both within the discipline and how we interact externally. We describe how geography may better contribute to policy agendas, capitalising on our unique perspectives of space, place and the environment, but also highlight how we might improve these contributions through a more unified approach across human and physical geography. Third, we discuss opportunities for geographers to build the reputation of the discipline and ways to advocate for its importance in the wider academy, school curricula and community. We conclude with some preliminary suggestions on how Australian geographers may better engage and contribute to the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. © 2020 Institute of Australian Geographer

Ecological effects of strong winds on forests

This comprehensive handbook provides a unique resource covering all aspects of forest ecology from a global perspective. It covers both natural and managed forests, from boreal, temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world