Using photographs to document environmental change: the effects of dams on the riparian environment of the lower Ord River

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Start ◽  
T. Handasyde
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Aquatic Communities ◽  
Tree Component ◽  
Woodland Communities ◽  
Large Floods ◽  
Allocation Plans

A series of photographs, mostly taken between 1952 and 1990 at three sites on the lower Ord River, Kimberley Region, Western Australia, was used to demonstrate that photographs can be used to describe environmental change in situations where there are no documented records. This study examined changes to riparian vegetation caused by the construction of two dams. The study has important implications for development of water allocation plans. In the post-dam era, relative hydrological stability brought about by curtailment of large floods and provision of perpetual flow in a once-seasonal river has allowed extensive development of emergent aquatic and fringing woodland communities throughout the study reach. The emergent aquatic communities and most of their component species were previously absent but the tree component of fringing woodland communities comprises species that were present before the dams were constructed, albeit in isolated, sheltered pockets. Limitations to the use of photographs included absence of any images through the first 50 years of pastoral use of the area, limited number of sites that attracted photographers and limits to the discernible detail (e.g. identity of species, even most trees, in landscape images).

Effects of salinisation on riparian plant communities in experimental catchments on the Collie River, Western Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 667 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Lymbery ◽  
R. G. Doupé ◽  
N. E. Pettit
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Perennial Herb ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Riparian Plant Communities ◽  
Riparian Plant

Although the salinisation of streams has long been recognised as one of Western Australia's most serious environmental and resource problems, there is very little published information on the effects of salinisation on riparian flora and fauna. We studied riparian vegetation in three experimental catchments on the Collie River in Western Australia. The catchments are situated within a 5-km area of state forest and are geologically and botanically similar, but differ in the extent of clearing, groundwater levels and stream salinity. In each catchment, transects were taken perpendicular to the direction of streamflow, and 4-m2 quadrats taken along each transect. Within each quadrat, soil salinity was measured, all plants were identified to species level and percentage cover estimated. The catchments differed significantly in soil salinity, with salinity being greatest in the most extensively cleared catchment and increasing towards the floor of the valley. Plant-species richness, species diversity and species composition were significantly related to soil salinity, both among catchments and among quadrats within the most extensively cleared catchment. Plant-species richness and diversity decreased with increasing soil salinity, an effect that may be partly due to a decline in perennial herb and shrub species. This may have an impact on other components of the riparian ecosystem.

scholarly journals Identifying and Assessing Robust Water Allocation Plans for Deltas Under Climate Change

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (14) ◽  
pp. 5421-5435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Yan ◽  
Saskia E. Werners ◽  
He Qing Huang ◽  
Fulco Ludwig
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Allocation Plans

scholarly journals A joint-probabilistic programming method for water resources optimal allocation under uncertainty: a case study in the Beiyun River, China

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-409
Author(s):  
Xueping Gao ◽  
Yinzhu Liu ◽  
Bowen Sun
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Joint Probability ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Copula Functions ◽  
Local Water ◽  
Allocation Plans

Abstract In recent years, the lower reaches of the Beiyun River have suffered from growing water resource shortages due to the reduction of upstream water resource and drying up of the stream channel. More reasonable and scientifically based water allocation plans should be developed and implemented; however, uncertainties exist regarding the determination of water supply availability and spillage of extra water. To assess and manage regional water shortage, the combined effects of multiple water supply sources as well as the joint probability of typical events should be considered. The joint probability of water supply, considering upstream and local water supplies, was estimated through the copula functions. A multi-objective optimization model was then developed and solved by improved genetic algorithms to plan water resources allocation within a multi-source environment containing multiple competitive users. The framework is demonstrated, and represents a range of different water supply scenarios in terms of different probabilities of occurrence and constraint violations. The results showed that water allocation was greatly influenced by uncertainties, especially in upstream-local water supply. In addition, violating water-allocation constraint posed an extra uncertainty. This study facilitates the proposition of adaption allocation plans for uncertain environments, aiming to balance the shortage, economy, and reliability.

Aerially deployed baits in the northern rangelands of Western Australia are available to wild dogs

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm S. Kennedy ◽  
Ken Rose ◽  
Gary Martin
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Remote Locations ◽  
Tussock Grassland ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Wild Dog ◽  
Wild Dogs

Context Aerial baiting using fixed-wing aircraft is an effective method of bait delivery for wild-dog control in remote locations. However, aerial baiting may result in loss of baits to positions that are inaccessible to wild dogs. Attempts, by landholders, to address such bait loss through compensatory baiting may increase baiting costs and potential risks to non-target species. Aims To assess bait drift under standard baiting conditions. To assess the availability of aerially deployed baits to wild dogs across several commonly baited landforms in the northern rangelands of Western Australia. Methods We determined drift characteristics of baits deployed under standard fixed-wing baiting conditions. We then determined the availability of aerially deployed baits by deploying baits with embedded radio-transmitters across four commonly baited landforms (riparian vegetation, tussock grassland, gorges and breakaways). We then visually assessed the availability of relocated baits (as ‘high’, ‘moderate’ or ‘low’). Key results Under standard fixed-wing baiting conditions, on average, baits fell 100.9 m forward, and 8.3 m laterally, from the point-of-release. Across all landforms, most baits (91.8%) were highly available, with a further 7.0% falling into the moderate category and 1.2% in the low category. There were significant differences in bait availability among landforms, with the proportion of moderate-low availability baits greatest in gorges and lowest on tussock grassland. Conclusions Within the northern rangelands of Western Australia, bait wastage owing to deployment in inaccessible locations is minimal. Implications Compensatory baiting for lost baits is unnecessary and increases costs to land managers.

Biodiversity and management of riparian vegetation in Western Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 239-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.N. Hancock ◽  
P.G. Ladd ◽  
R.H. Froend
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Riparian Vegetation

scholarly journals The economic and social impacts of environmental change on fishing towns and coastal communities: a historical case study of Geraldton, Western Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 1437-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tull ◽  
S. J. Metcalf ◽  
H. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Coastal Communities ◽  
Fishing Industry ◽  
Ecological Vulnerability

Abstract For decades, many Australian coastal communities have been changing, in varying degrees, from traditional “fishing towns” to “mining”, “tourism”, or “retirement” towns. However, environmental changes, such as climate change, have increased the vulnerability of these communities and their capacity to continue to successfully adapt is unknown. A framework for the assessment of socio-ecological vulnerability is used to provide information on the response to change in Geraldton, Western Australia. Geraldton has traditionally been a port and fishing town and has recently become a hub for the expanding mining industry. An innovative historical assessment of adaptive capacity using sustainable livelihoods analysis with indicators of social, economic, human, financial, physical, and natural capital is used to calculate socio-ecological vulnerability over time. The framework integrates adaptive capacity with environmental change, resource dependence, and the socio-economic importance of the fished species during four census years: 1921, 1954, 1981, and 2011. The earlier years are characterized by high adaptive capacity and low socio-ecological vulnerability in keeping with strong economic growth and low unemployment rates following the First and Second World Wars. The years 1981 and 2011 showed markedly higher socio-ecological vulnerability and lower adaptive capacities. This result was due to progressively greater exposure to climate change and the high socio-economic importance of fished species, as well as relatively poor physical, social, and natural capital. With continuing environmental and economic change, the fishing industry and the broader Geraldton population is likely to become increasingly vulnerable. Proactive rather than passive adaptation may speed the recovery and reduce a decline in the fishing industry and local economies. The paper briefly discusses potential adaptation in Geraldton which may be useful as a guideline for other coastal communities.

Land use change causes environmental homogeneity and low beta-diversity in Heteroptera of streams

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Dias-Silva ◽  
Leandro Schlemmer Brasil ◽  
Geysa Kelly Oliveira Veloso ◽  
Helena Soares Ramos Cabette ◽  
Leandro Juen
Keyword(s):  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Aquatic Communities ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Environmental Variations ◽  
Environmental Integrity ◽  
Physical Changes ◽  
Topic Understanding ◽  
Better Than

Although species distribution pattern is a widely discussed topic, understanding the mechanisms that drive it in time and space is still one of the central goals of ecology. Moreover, it is of the most importance to discuss the maintenance of this biodiversity and the services it provides. Therefore, our aim is to test the following hypotheses: 1) Preserved environments have higher beta-diversity than environments with lower preservation values, since beta-diversity is determined by environmental variations between habitats; 2) Beta-diversity will be better than species richness to detect changes in community regarding environmental integrity gradients. This will occur because richness is not sensitive to changes in composition and this might mask results when sensitive species are lost and generalist species are introduced into the altered environments. In order to test these hypotheses, 20 points were sampled in five streams of the Brazilian Cerrado with different integrity conditions. Environmental change did not affect Heteroptera richness; however, it affected the beta-diversity of the group as a whole and of Nepomorpha, also negatively affecting both Gerromorpha beta-diversity and richness. Moreover, there was difference in variation of Gerromorpha composition in altered and degraded sites, but there was no effect on Nepomorpha. These results show that Gerromorpha is more sensitive to physical changes in streams caused by the loss of environmental integrity. Therefore, environmental changes with no regard to riparian vegetation boundaries causes shifts in stream conditions and changes aquatic communities, which places at risk the ecosystems services provided by these communities.

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