List of Titles

The status of wetlands and the predicted effects of global climate change : The situation in Australia

- Finlayson, C. Max, Davis, J. A., Gell, Peter, Kingsford, Richard, Parton, Kevin

Authors: Finlayson, C. Max , Davis, J. A. , Gell, Peter , Kingsford, Richard , Parton, Kevin
Date: 2011
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Aquatic Sciences Vol.75, no.1 (2013), p.73-93
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Description: The condition of many wetlands across Australia has deteriorated due to increased water regulation and the expansion and intensification of agriculture and increased urban and industrial expansion. Despite this situation, a comprehensive overview of the distribution and condition of wetlands across Australia is not available. Regional analyses exist and several exemplary mapping and monitoring exercises have been maintained to complement the more general information sets. It is expected that global climate change will exacerbate the pressures on inland wetlands, while sea level rises will adversely affect coastal wetlands. It is also expected that the exacerbation of these pressures will increase the potential for near-irreversible changes in the ecological state of some wetlands. Concerted institutional responses to such pressures have in the past proven difficult to sustain, although there is some evidence that a more balanced approach to water use and agriculture is being developed with the provision of increasing funds to purchase water for environmental flows being one example. We identify examples from around Australia that illustrate the impacts on wetlands of long-term climate change from palaeoecological records (south-eastern Australia); water allocation (Murray-Darling Basin); dryland salinisation (south-western Australia); and coastal salinisation (northern Australia). These are provided to illustrate both the extent of change in wetlands and the complexity of differentiating the specific effects of climate change. An appraisal of the main policy responses by government to climate change is provided as a basis for further considering the opportunities for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Â© 2011 Springer Basel AG.

Tracking a century of change in trophic structure and dynamics in a floodplain wetland: Integrating palaeoecological and palaeoisotopic evidence

- Kattel, Giri, Gell, Peter, Perga, Marie-Elodie, Jeppesen, Erik, Grundell, Rosie, Weller, Sandra, Zawadzki, Atun, Barry, Linda

Authors: Kattel, Giri , Gell, Peter , Perga, Marie-Elodie , Jeppesen, Erik , Grundell, Rosie , Weller, Sandra , Zawadzki, Atun , Barry, Linda
Date: 2015
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Freshwater Biology Vol. 60, no. 4 (2015), p. 711-723
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Description: The palaeoecological assessment, and the use of stable isotopes of carbon in subfossils of herbivores and omnivores, represents a novel approach to understand transitions in past food-web structure and the dynamics of lake ecosystems in response to natural perturbations and human impacts. Combined with records of subfossil assemblages of cladocerans and chironomids, it may be possible to decipher whether changes are attributable to external forces or internally derived system shifts. A sediment record taken from the shallow (2.3 m depth) Kings Billabong in the River Murray floodplain (Australia) was analysed to explore changes in trophic dynamics over the past century. The palaeoecological assessment revealed that littoral assemblages of cladocerans and benthic diatoms were gradually replaced by planktonic (planktonic and facultative planktonic) assemblages after river regulation in the 1920s. The stable isotopic composition of carbon (

Understanding change in the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands : Perspectives from a deeper time - Synthesis

- Gell, Peter, Finlayson, C. Max, Davidson, Nick

Authors: Gell, Peter , Finlayson, C. Max , Davidson, Nick
Date: 2016
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Marine and Freshwater Research Vol. 67, no. 6 (2016), p. 869-879
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Description: The Convention for Wetlands was signed in 1971 as part of a global measure to mitigate the loss and degradation of the world's wetlands. Signatory nations nominate wetlands as internationally important and commit to maintaining their 'ecological character'. In many cases the character that has been maintained was that occurring at the time of nomination with scant attention to the variability and change that occurs over longer periods. Palaeoclimate and palaeoecological research now reveals a diverse array of conditions in wetlands in the past and attests that any recently identified condition may be transient. The research further reveals the considerable magnitude and antiquity of the impact of people on wetlands. Hence the site description used by wetland managers would benefit from the provision of a longer-term perspective of change. The changing state of wetlands provides a dilemma for wetland managers. In response, a workshop on understanding change in wetlands was held in Queenscliff, Australia, in November 2013 to draw together perspectives of change from neo- and palaeoecological sources to enable the formulation of new pathways of assessment to better accommodate the dynamic nature of wetlands. A synthesis of the information provided at the workshop is provided in this paper. Journal compilation © CSIRO 2016.

Using long-term data to inform a decision pathway for restoration of ecosystem resilience

- Gillson, Lindsey, Dirk, Cherié, Gell, Peter

Authors: Gillson, Lindsey , Dirk, Cherié , Gell, Peter
Date: 2021
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Anthropocene Vol. 36, no. (2021), p.
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Description: Landscapes change over time in response to multiple interacting drivers, including climate, disturbance, and land-use, which all leave a lasting legacy on ecosystem structure and function. As the dynamic nature of ecosystems is increasingly recognised, long-term data is essential to contextualise recent changes and provide a frame of reference for planning appropriate restoration responses. Knowledge of ecological function and process can underpin management thresholds and decision pathways that consider the history and resilience of ecosystems. This paper reviews and synthesizes literature relevant to process-based approaches to restoration ecology that incorporates a long-term perspective. In doing so, we identify alternative descriptors to frame reference conditions, useful theoretical principles for restoration ecology, and a management decision-support framework based on these principles. Such tools enable exploration of possible future scenarios and adaptation pathways for social-ecological resilience in a no-analogue future. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Using the past to manage the future: the role of palaeoecological and long-term data in ecological restoration

- Manzano, Saul, Julier, Adele. C. M., Dirk, Cherie. J., Razafimanantsoa, Andriantsilavo., Samuels, Ighshaan, Petersen, Hana, Gell, Peter, Hoffman, M. Timm, Gillson, Lindsey

Authors: Manzano, Saul , Julier, Adele. C. M. , Dirk, Cherie. J. , Razafimanantsoa, Andriantsilavo. , Samuels, Ighshaan , Petersen, Hana , Gell, Peter , Hoffman, M. Timm , Gillson, Lindsey
Date: 2020
Type: Text , Journal article , Opinion article
Relation: Restoration Ecology Vol. 28, no. 6 (2020), p. 1335-1342
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Description: Global change in its various expressions has impacted the structure and function of ecosystems worldwide, compromising the provision of fundamental ecosystem services and creating a predicament for the societies that benefit from them. Restoration ecology plays a key role in securing ecological integrity and societal well-being, and hence represents a global priority. However, human perception seldom goes back to the beginning of significant ecosystem degradation, making ecosystem assessment and restoration practices difficult. Long-term data, historical records, and paleoecological information can increase our understanding of ecological responses to natural or anthropogenic impacts and can directly contribute to the understanding and design of effective restoration practices. Here, examples from different ecosystems (drylands, grasslands, shrublands, savannas, forests, coastal environments, and wetlands) brought together from around the world illustrate (1) how to develop appropriate restoration references under the current uncertain global change scenario; (2) how long-term perspectives on drivers of change can help to identify critical ecological elements, thus contributing to defining restoration goals; and (3) how to incorporate information from the past as guidance for present interventions and landscape management. The building of community and the specificity of paleoecological and historical records of ecological change over time will be key in facilitating the translation of long-term information into the living process of ecological restoration practice. © 2020 Society for Ecological Restoration

Watching the tide roll away-reply to Tibby et al (2020)

- Gell, Peter

Authors: Gell, Peter
Date: 2020
Type: Text , Journal article , Review
Relation: Pacific Conservation Biology Vol. 26, no. 4 (2020), p. 338-343
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Description: The published findings on the diatom-inferred condition of a terminal lake in the Murray-Darling Basin were overlooked in favour of a revised unpublished interpretation, without the provision of new evidence or argument, posted on the website of the managing state government. Coauthors of the posted report have responded (Tibby et al. 2020) to the publication (Gell 2020) that outlined the changes made to this interpretation. This reply reaffirms that subtle changes were made to published interpretations and that these were critical in the development of a watering plan for the system. It also illustrates that anecdotal evidence was used selectively but would be a valuable contribution if aligned to known climatic variability. Further, this response corrects the widespread misunderstanding that signatory nations to the Ramsar Convention are obliged to retain listed wetlands in the condition observed at the time of listing. Finally, this response contests the favouring of certain evidence and seeks an approach that reconciles all available evidence, incorporates variability into planning and prepares for future management challenges. © 2020 CSIRO.

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Water quality status of mangrove ecosystem in Bedono, Sayung, Demak, Central Java

- Soeprobowati, Tri, Jumari, Jumari, Hidayat, Jafron, Muhammad, Fuad, Falah, Mirza, Cahyani, Ni, Gell, Peter

Authors: Soeprobowati, Tri , Jumari, Jumari , Hidayat, Jafron , Muhammad, Fuad , Falah, Mirza , Cahyani, Ni , Gell, Peter
Date: 2023
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Pollution Vol. 9, no. 4 (2023), p. 1374-1385
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Description: Mangrove ecosystems have many functions for coastal areas, including ecological, social, and economic services. These functions have a systemic impact on the environment of other coastal ecosystems and human life. The mangrove ecosystem covering an area of 197.92 ha in Bedono, Demak Regency, Central Java was threatened due to the wave abrasion and high tides. Some parts of Bedono Village had become inundated and flooded permanently, zink as part of the ocean. This research was conducted to quantify water pollution in the mangrove ecosystem of Bedono Village using the Storage and Retrieval (STORET) method and the pollution index (PI). The fieldwork was conducted June 2022, by collecting water samples for laboratory analysis tests and in-situ water quality measurement. The parameter of the water quality that exceeded threshold of the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 22 of 2021 are the dissolved oxygen (DO) ranges between 4.39-8.78 mg L-1, BOD ranges between 30-32.4 mg L-1, phosphate ranges between 0.063-0.074 mg L-1, ammonia ranges between 0.148-0.48 mg L-1, Cr ranges between 0.071-0.21 mg L-1, and Pb ranges between 0.071-0.21 mg L-1. Based on the STORET method, the water quality in the mangrove ecosystem was found to be in the category of moderately (-16, for harbor function) – heavily polluted (-80, for tourism and -90, marine biota), whereas based on the PI index it was lightly polluted (1.77-4.12, for harbor function) – moderately polluted (11.06-13.83for tourism, and 9.96-11.85, marine biota). © The Author(s) 2023.

Wetland and terrestial vegetation change since European settlement

- Bickford, Sophie, Gell, Peter, Hancock, Gary

Authors: Bickford, Sophie , Gell, Peter , Hancock, Gary
Date: 2008
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Holocene Vol. 18 , no. 3 (2008), p. 425-436
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Description: Microfossil, sediment and documentary records provide a history of European land use and its impact on the vegetation of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. Two sedimentary cores were analysed for their fossil pollen and charcoal composition. Chronologies were established using a combination of 210Pb, 14C and microfossil markers. Primary and secondary evidence for the spatial expansion of land uses in the region were compiled providing local-, bioregional- and regional-scaled European settlement histories. The settlement and land-use histories of the major vegetation types in the region were different and were closely determined by the nature of the vegetation itself. The sedimentary and microfossil records indicate that wetland and terrestrial vegetation have undergone sequential changes of composition. There is evidence of a decline in fire-sensitive understorey species and the decline is likely due to intensive firing and grazing of scleropyllous woodlands and forests early in European settlement. Early-settlement native forestry practices were intensive, however they did not alter overstorey tree composition. Mid-twentieth-century wholesale vegetation clearance is clearly marked in the pollen record by a decline in Eucalyptus and increase in herbaceous species. Wetland vegetation was highly impacted by European land practices through changes to sediment inputs and hydrological conditions that began prior to catchment clearance, during the phase of intensive firing and grazing. Through the integration of multiscaled, ecosystem-specific historical settlement histories and palaeoecological analysis, correlations between past land uses and biotic responses can be confidently demonstrated.

Wetlands and future change—Implications and opportunities with the Ramsar Convention

- Gell, Peter, Davidson, Nick, Finlayson, C., Herb, Andy, McInnes, Rob, Pittock, Jamie, Pritchard, Dave

Authors: Gell, Peter , Davidson, Nick , Finlayson, C. , Herb, Andy , McInnes, Rob , Pittock, Jamie , Pritchard, Dave
Date: 2023
Type: Text , Book chapter
Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 20 p. 555-561
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Description: In the face of global-scale decline in the extent and state of the world’s wetlands, the Ramsar Convention has mobilised most of the world’s nations to support the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Whilst wetlands continue to be lost and their condition overall continues to decline, the Convention has played a significant part in assisting nations to mitigate pressures and preserve values and ecological assets. The pressures on wetlands will continue, and the Convention could continue its valuable contribution by increasing the awareness of the value of, and risks to wetlands, assisting Contracting Parties to plan for and accommodate change in wetland state, including that driven by climate change, recognising wetlands as socio-ecological systems, and refining the practice of wetland restoration. There remains much opportunity to extend the technical and management capacity that can be catalysed by the Convention to all nations to address the conservation and wise use of wetlands across the globe. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

What’s happening to the world’s wetlands?

- Davidson, Nick, Finlayson, C., McInnes, Rob, Rostron, Chris, Simpson, Matthew, Gell, Peter

Authors: Davidson, Nick , Finlayson, C. , McInnes, Rob , Rostron, Chris , Simpson, Matthew , Gell, Peter
Date: 2023
Type: Text , Book chapter
Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 9 p. 219-235
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Description: Wetlands worldwide are in trouble. Their area and condition have been, and are, in continuing decline. Through drainage and conversion to other land uses, the area of natural wetlands is decreasing, although the extent of losses is uncertain: since 1700 AD loss is likely to be less than 87% but more than 21%-36%. Although more wetlands are currently reported to be in good than poor ecological character state, more are deteriorating than improving in state, and deterioration is becoming increasingly widespread. There continue to be challenges in making quantitative assessments of wetland state and trends in state, including in defining baseline and reference conditions. Longer-term palaeoecological records can help separate change from variation, and inform establishing appropriate baselines for wetland assessment and management. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

When trends intersect : The challenge of protecting freshwater ecosystems under multiple land use and hydrological intensification scenarios

- Davis, Jenny, O'Grady, Anthony, Dale, Allan, Arthington, Angela, Gell, Peter, Driver, Patrick, Bond, Nick, Casanova, Michelle, Finlayson, C. Max, Watts, Robyn, Capon, Samantha, Nagelkerken, Ivan, Tingley, Reid, Fry, Brian, Page, Timothy, Specht, Alison

Authors: Davis, Jenny , O'Grady, Anthony , Dale, Allan , Arthington, Angela , Gell, Peter , Driver, Patrick , Bond, Nick , Casanova, Michelle , Finlayson, C. Max , Watts, Robyn , Capon, Samantha , Nagelkerken, Ivan , Tingley, Reid , Fry, Brian , Page, Timothy , Specht, Alison
Date: 2015
Type: Text , Journal article
Relation: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 534, no. (2015), p. 65-78
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Description: Intensification of the use of natural resources is a world-wide trend driven by the increasing demand for water, food, fibre, minerals and energy. These demands are the result of a rising world population, increasing wealth and greater global focus on economic growth. Land use intensification, together with climate change, is also driving intensification of the global hydrological cycle. Both processes will have major socio-economic and ecological implications for global water availability. In this paper we focus on the implications of land use intensification for the conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems using Australia as an example. We consider this in the light of intensification of the hydrologic cycle due to climate change, and associated hydrological scenarios that include the occurrence of more intense hydrological events (extreme storms, larger floods and longer droughts). We highlight the importance of managing water quality, the value of providing environmental flows within a watershed framework and the critical role that innovative science and adaptive management must play in developing proactive and robust responses to intensification. We also suggest research priorities to support improved systemic governance, including adaptation planning and management to maximise freshwater biodiversity outcomes while supporting the socio-economic objectives driving land use intensification. Further research priorities include: i) determining the relative contributions of surface water and groundwater in supporting freshwater ecosystems; ii) identifying and protecting freshwater biodiversity hotspots and refugia; iii) improving our capacity to model hydro-ecological relationships and predict ecological outcomes from land use intensification and climate change; iv) developing an understanding of long term ecosystem behaviour; and v) exploring systemic approaches to enhancing governance systems, including planning and management systems affecting freshwater outcomes. A major policy challenge will be the integration of land and water management, which increasingly are being considered within different policy frameworks. © Published by Elsevier B.V.

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