STATS Flashcards
utility value (ecosystems in general)
- importance of ecosystem management and protection -
The ecological services of the world’s ecosystems were estimated to be US$140 trillion (Costanza, 2014)
Economic/utility value of GBR (3 statistics)
- importance of ecosystem management and protection -
2017 Deloitte Access Economics calculated that the economic value of the GBR was worth $56 billion and that the reef contributed more than $6.4 billion annually to economic activity in Queensland
“each acre of reef provides $995,000 in services each year”- Dr Costanza
“$7 billion each year to our economy, while also supporting the livelihoods of around 70,000 people”- Professor Lesley
Hughes who is an ecologist and climate councillor
Popularity of coastal living (perhaps when talking about why coastal dunes are so one of the most affected ecosystems)
NSW’s coastal region currently supports 76% of the population within 50km of the coast with Blacksmiths having a population of 1181 (2021 Census).
Bitou bush extent (current & 1990)
Bitou bush is an invasive monoculture species currently inhabiting 46% of NSW’s coastline, where it covered 90% of the Blacksmiths dunal zone in 1990 (Mr Nigel McDonnell).
Protection of coastal dunes for humans
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)
Blacksmiths temperature - perhaps when also talking about climate or rate of sand drying
Summer temperature average around 23°C and the Winter average around 12°C
When talking about ocean acidification
and then explanation for the stat
The GBR has experienced a pH drop from 8.2 to 8.1 which has had drastic effects.
With a lower pH, coral polyps find it difficult to form their protective limestone skeletons = presents issues with the continuity of the reef.
Run-off GBR
GBR receives run-off from 42 catchments which drain 420,000 square km of Queensland’s coast
COTS breeding
and explanation of stat
A single female laying up to 50 million eggs per year
Causes wide-scale damage to the GBR
Coral reef deaths (2016 bleaching)
In the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef, AIMS recorded an average (median) loss of 67 percent of coral cover on a large sample of 60 reefs.
Coral specific temperature
Grow best between temperatures of 23-29°C, a slight increase can cause significant coral mortality
Coral reef climate change
The GBR’s sea surface temperatures have warmed by about 0.8°C since 1910
Length it takes for coral to recover from COTS (result of anthropogenic)
12-15 years
Intrinsic value of GBR
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.
Heritage value GBR
WHS 1981, rich marine history dating back 3.5 billion years ago when the first reefs emerged (GBR Library)
