Journal article
The 10 Australian ecosystems most vulnerable to tipping points
Biological Conservation, Vol.144(5), pp.1472-1480
2011
Abstract
We identify the 10 major terrestrial and marine ecosystems in Australia most vulnerable to tipping points, in which modest environmental changes can cause disproportionately large changes in ecosystem properties. To accomplish this we independently surveyed the coauthors of this paper to produce a list of candidate ecosystems, and then refined this list during a 2-day workshop. The list includes (1) elevationally restricted mountain ecosystems, (2) tropical savannas, (3) coastal floodplains and wetlands, (4) coral reefs, (5) drier rainforests, (6) wetlands and floodplains in the Murray-Darling Basin, (7) the Mediterranean ecosystems of southwestern Australia, (8) offshore islands, (9) temperate eucalypt forests, and (10) salt marshes and mangroves. Some of these ecosystems are vulnerable to widespread phase-changes that could fundamentally alter ecosystem properties such as habitat structure, species composition, fire regimes, or carbon storage. Others appear susceptible to major changes across only part of their geographic range, whereas yet others are susceptible to a large-scale decline of key biotic components, such as small mammals or stream-dwelling amphibians. For each ecosystem we consider the intrinsic features and external drivers that render it susceptible to tipping points, and identify subtypes of the ecosystem that we deem to be especially vulnerable.
Details
- Title
- The 10 Australian ecosystems most vulnerable to tipping points
- Authors/Creators
- W.F. Laurance (Author/Creator) - James Cook UniversityB. Dell (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS.M. Turton (Author/Creator) - James Cook UniversityM.J. Lawes (Author/Creator) - Charles Darwin UniversityL.B. Hutley (Author/Creator) - Charles Darwin UniversityH. McCallum (Author/Creator) - Griffith UniversityP. Dale (Author/Creator) - Griffith UniversityM. Bird (Author/Creator) - James Cook UniversityG. Hardy (Author/Creator)G. Prideaux (Author/Creator) - Flinders UniversityB. Gawne (Author/Creator) - La Trobe UniversityC.R. McMahon (Author/Creator)R. Yu (Author/Creator)J-M Hero (Author/Creator) - Griffith UniversityL. Schwarzkopf (Author/Creator) - James Cook UniversityA. Krockenberger (Author/Creator) - James Cook UniversityM. Douglas (Author/Creator) - Charles Darwin UniversityE. Silvester (Author/Creator) - La Trobe UniversityM. Mahony (Author/Creator) - University of Newcastle AustraliaK. Vella (Author/Creator) - Griffith UniversityU. Saikia (Author/Creator) - Flinders UniversityC-H Wahren (Author/Creator) - La Trobe UniversityZ. Xu (Author/Creator) - Griffith UniversityB. Smith (Author/Creator) - James Cook UniversityC. Cocklin (Author/Creator) - James Cook University
- Publication Details
- Biological Conservation, Vol.144(5), pp.1472-1480
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Identifiers
- 991005540850907891
- Copyright
- Elsevier BV
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.40 Forestry
- 3.40.838 Rangeland Dynamics
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Ecology
- Environmental Sciences
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