EAR STATS + QUOTES Flashcards
GBR utility value (3)
- The ecological services of the world’s ecosystems were estimated to be worth US$140 trillion (Costanza, 2014).
- In 2017, Deloitte Access Economics calculated that the economic value of the GBR was $56 billion, and that the reef contributed over $6.4 billion annually to Queensland’s economic activity.
- GBR supports 69,000 full time jobs (GBR Foundation)
GBR intrinsic + heritage values (3)
- In a survey conducted by Deloitte Access Economics, 93% of Australians and 83% of international respondents strongly agreed that the GBR contributes to Australia’s national identity and international standing.
- Classified as a World Heritage site in 1981, the GBR provides a natural landscape of the world through its rich marine history dating back 3.5 billion years ago when the first reefs emerged (GBR Library).
- ASTI groups have inhabited the GBR for 50,000 years (there are over 70 traditional groups)
GBR maintenance of genetic diversity (2)
- In the GBR, there are over 9000 species of marine life, each with their unique genetic links
- The staghorn coral species Acropora millepora has enough genetic variation to adapt to, and survive rising ocean temperatures for at least another century (Dr Bay, AIMS scientist).
GBR Need to allow natural change to proceed
In the GBR, natural change has not been achieved with the Triton shellfish being removed to make decorative household lamps in the 60s, thus resulting in rapid restructuring of the trophic structures. This led to the outbreaks of COTS, alone responsible for 50% of the coral lost over the past 30 years.
Coastal Dunes
Utility Value
(3)
- Coastal dune ecosystems “provide an effective buffer against storms, protecting human infrastructure from damage and potentially saving human lives” (Davide De Battisti and others, 2021, British Ecological Society)
- Highly sought after residential living - QUICK, what are the 2 population statistics Leyi?
- Commodity value of valuable minerals including rutile and zircon (black sand) for example in Blacksmith’s Beach where sand mining occurred in the 1950s due to the abundance of rutile and zircon (as well as the high value of sand)
Coastal Dunes
Intrinsic and Heritage Value
(3)
- In Blacksmiths Beach, the Awabakal tribe has been living on the land for almost 30,000 years where the coastal dunes are a central part to their spirituality and identity (e.g. ‘Moon man’s tears’)
- Belmont Lagoon holds cultural significance to the Awabakal people as a site of celebration/annual corroboree
- Fraser Island (a sand island off the coast of southern QLD) is a protected world heritage site featuring sand dunes of significant heritage value (as a place of Indigenous, archaeological, social and spiritual importance) as a place containing half of the 40 perched dune lakes in the world
5 aspects of ecosystem spatial patterns + dimensions
- Location + latitude
- Altitude
- Size
- Shape
- Continuity
Coastal dunes - location + latitude
Also incl. Blacksmiths
Coastal dunes are found in latitudes of 56 ̊S to around 65 ̊N, on every continent (except Antarctica) along coastline of countries and in intertidal zones (enough sand and adequate wind)
Blacksmiths Beach Dunes is situated on the southern end of the Nine Mile Beach dune system that stretches from Blacksmiths to Redhead, on the Lake Macquarie coastline (latitude of 33° S 132° E from Awabakal Ave to Swansea Belmont Surf Club)
Altitude - coastal dunes
Very low altitude; only about 3m
Size (coastal dunes)
- Generally, dunes range greatly in size from ridges less than 1m in height and width, to massive dune fields that extend inland for many kilometres (Hesp, 2000)
- Blacksmiths dune system extends 10.4km along the NSW east coast and landcare group extends 300m inland
Shape (coastal dunes) incl. Blacksmiths
Coastal dunes are shaped into a series of dunes such as incipient, frontal and hind dunes. Dips between the dunes are called swales.
At Blacksmiths, the dunes are low gradient.
Continuity - coastal dunes
Coastal dunes can be continuous for hundreds of kilometres or have a discontinuous pattern, as while there may be a series of dunes along a coastline, they are not all connected and plants and animals may not be able to move between each system. That makes them more at risk due to change.
BIOPHYS INTERACTIONS CD
Dynamics of weather and climate
Blacksmiths Beach Dunes is mostly moderate, with the Summer temperature average around 23°C and the Winter average around 12°C
BIOPHYS INTERACTIONS CD
Hydrological + geomorphic processes
In periods of severe and unstable weather, large waves created by storms and strong wind strike the beach and foredunes with intense force, eroding the dune through the removal of sand due to its strong backwash (Coastal Processes and Landforms Report)
BIOPHYS INTERACTIONS CD
Adj in response to ntrl stress
Coastal dunes compose a large diversity of uniquely adapted plant species (Greipsson 2002)
N + R of change CD
Climate Change (2)
“Climate change is the most significant impact on coastal dunes” (Nigel McDonnell, Blacksmiths Dune Care Group Leader)
“The frequency and intensity of storms are a direct consequence of climate change, causing more intensive erosive cycles on Blacksmiths” (Nigel McDonnell)
N + R of Change CD
Coastal Development (2)
Rapid coastal development in the last 70 years
NSW’s coastal region currently supports 76% of the population within 50km of the coast with Blacksmiths having a population of 1181 (2021 Census)
N + R of change CD
Introduced Species (4)
Bitou bush has had an impact in the last 30 years
In 2001, Bitou was classified as a ‘weed of national significance’
Bitou bush currently inhabits 46% of NSW’s coastline, where it covered 90% of the Blacksmiths dunal zone in 1990 (Mr Nigel McDonnell)
By 2009, 99% of Bitou bush had been eradicated from Blacksmiths
What to talk about when asked “human impacts”? (CD)
Positive: Management, education
Negative: Coastal development, introduced species, sand mining, recreational use
Human impacts - sand mining on CDs (2)
General sand mining
Blacksmiths stat
Sand mining accounts for ‘85% of worldwide mineral extractions’ (Coastal Care 2019) including dredge mineral mining and bulk sand extraction for rutile and zircon (black sand) - high demand
1950s sand mining on Blacksmiths Beach Dunes = immediate obliteration/vulnerability of dune system by companies like BHP (maximising of utility value of sand)
Contemporary Mngmt - Blacksmiths Beach Dunes includes…
- Exclusion (fencing + development of accessways)
- Action (dune revegetation + restoration)
- Not as effective (dune reconstruction)
- Education of stakeholders
Fencing at Blacksmiths (2)
Fencing erected in Blacksmiths Beach Dunes in 1993
“Fewer wind tunnels in vulnerable areas that destabilise dunes” (Nigel McDonnall)
Action: dune revegetation + restoration (at Blacksmiths) - 5
“Key to success” (Mr Nigel McDonnall)
In 1990, 90% of the NSW coast was infected with Bitou bush with few other species after a failed management attempt to restabilise dunes (Mr Nigel McDonnall)
However, revegetation and restoration led to the “quick establishment of native seedlings” (Nigel McDonnell), thereby increasing biological diversity evident through the eradication of 99% Bitou bush at Blacksmiths by 2009
Process of over 30 years
Achieving intergenerational equity through protecting infrastructure behind the ecosystem and potentially saving human lives (David de Battisti, 2021, British Ecological Society)
Coral Reefs
SPATIAL PATTERNS + DIMENSIONS
Location + latitude
4
Located off the east coast of Northern Queensland
Stretches from PNG’s Fly River in the North, to Fraser Island in the South
It is entirely contained in the Coral Sea and affected by the current flowing from the Pacific Ocean
Absolute Latitude = 8-24°S, Longitude = 147°42’E.
Coral Reefs
SPATIAL PATTERNS + DIMENSIONS
Altitude
The reef is an aquatic and marine ecosystem and cannot gain a higher altitude than the low tide limit. However, as the coral requires sunlight, its growth is limited to a depth of 150m, although 80% of corals grow in shallow waters.
Coral Reefs
SPATIAL PATTERNS + DIMENSIONS
Size
It is the largest reef system in the world, covering an area of 348,000 square kilometres
Coral Reefs
SPATIAL PATTERNS + DIMENSIONS
Shape (2)
The reef forms a long narrow band around 2,300km long from North to South, but only ever reaching up to 300km offshore.
The Great Barrier Reef is actually not a single feature. It is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and over 900 islands.
Coral Reefs
SPATIAL PATTERNS + DIMENSIONS
Continuity (physical + time)
Small isolated sections are often separated (representing a discontinuous nature). They are generally less resilient and more vulnerable due to this small extent and discontinuous nature as species may have trouble moving from one reef to another if one is destroyed.
The current reef structure is around 20,000 thousand years old. GBRMPA believes corals have been present for 600,000 years.
BIOPHYS INTERACTIONS
Coral Reefs
Dynamics of weather + climate
Corals grow best between 20-27 degrees
Cyclone Debbie (2017) caused
- Wind gusts measuring as high as 260km/hr → huge sea swell and storm waves
- Research from the Aus Institute of Marine Science found that more than 95% of corals were destroyed on some reefs in the Whitsundays
BIOPHYS INTERACTIONS
Coral Reefs
Geomorphic processes (3)
2 subsidence events where the lithosphere sinks through settling sediment 4-5 mil years ago. Land subsidence means coral reefs are able to form as coastal topography is shallow (where optimal conditions for coral growth are 12-20m water depth)
Rifting: this is where Earth’s crust is pulled apart, forming underwater ridges/valleys 95mil years ago this caused Townsville/Queensland troughs to join close, which rift basins have determined the shape of the continental shelf and current shape of the GBR (reef does not go beyond the continental shelf impacting water depth)
Continental Drift: has influenced the rate of coral growth in GBR as Australian continental plates drifted into tropical waters 20mil years ago - this movement northwards to warmer water allowed for reef growth
