Potential effects of climate change on Australian estuaries and fish utilising estuaries: a review

B.M. Gillanders; T.S. Elsdon; I.A. Halliday; G.P. Jenkins; J.B. Robins; F.J. Valesini

doi:10.1071/MF11047

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Potential effects of climate change on Australian estuaries and fish utilising estuaries: a review

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Potential effects of climate change on Australian estuaries and fish utilising estuaries: a review

B.M. Gillanders, T.S. Elsdon, I.A. Halliday, G.P. Jenkins, J.B. Robins and F.J. Valesini

Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.62(9), pp.1115-1131

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF11047

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Abstract

Estuaries are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because changes in climatic and hydrologic variables that influence freshwater and marine systems will also affect estuaries. We review potential impacts of climate change on Australian estuaries and their fish. Geographic differences are likely because southern Australian climates are predicted to become warmer and drier, whereas northern regions may see increased precipitation. Environmental factors, including salinity gradients, suspended sediment, dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentrations, will be influenced by changing freshwater input and other climate variables. Potential impacts will vary depending on the geomorphology of the estuary and the level of build-up of sand bars across estuarine entrances. Changes to estuarine fish assemblages will depend on associated changes to salinity and estuarine-mouth morphology. Marine migrants may be severely affected by closure of estuarine mouths, depending on whether species 'must' use estuarine habitat and the level of migratory v. resident individuals. Depending on how fish in coastal waters locate estuaries, there may be reduced cues associated with estuarine mouths, particularly in southern Australia, potentially influencing abundance. In summary, climate change is expected to have major consequences for Australian estuaries and associated fish, although the nature of impacts will show significant regional variation.

Details

Title: Potential effects of climate change on Australian estuaries and fish utilising estuaries: a review
Authors/Creators: B.M. Gillanders (Author/Creator) - The University of Adelaide
T.S. Elsdon (Author/Creator) - Sinclair Knight Merz
I.A. Halliday (Author/Creator) - Department of Jobs and Small Business
G.P. Jenkins (Author/Creator) - The University of Melbourne
J.B. Robins (Author/Creator) - Department of Jobs and Small Business
F.J. Valesini (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.62(9), pp.1115-1131
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Identifiers: 991005543700907891
Copyright: © 2011 CSIRO Open Access
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.1182 Coastal Vegetation
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Limnology; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science