Assessing risks to groundwater dependent wetland ecosystems in a drying climate: an approach to facilitate adaptation to climate change

Document Type

Book

Publisher

National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility

Faculty

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School

School of Natural Sciences / Centre for Ecosystem Management

RAS ID

16900

Comments

Sommer, B. , McGuinness, S., Froend, R. H., & Horwitz, P. (2013). Assessing risks to groundwater dependent wetland ecosystems in a drying climate: An approach to facilitate adaptation to climate change. Gold Coast, Australia: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. Original book available here

Abstract

Groundwater dependent wetland ecosystems on the Gnangara Groundwater System (GGS) have been under threat from a drying climate, and compounding stressors such as groundwater abstraction and other landuses, for over three decades. The management of these ecosystems depends on the ability to predict responses and assess risks posed by projected climate and landuse scenarios. Prediction for adaptation and adaptive management requires an approach that enables resource managers to adapt their conservation strategies to minimise the impacts from other – controllable - stressors to these ecosystems. The aim of this research was to develop a methodology for predicting risks to groundwater dependent wetland ecosystems in a drying climate. The methodology applies specifically to data-rich situations where the objectives are to (1) facilitate adaptation to climate change and climate change-related factors, and (2) to define risk in terms of ecosystem function. We have demonstrated the approach on a case study from the GGS where aquatic macroinvertebrates and littoral/supra-littoral vegetation were used as surrogates for wetland ecosystem function. Because the focus of this research was prediction and risk assessment, the analytical steps of the methodology are presented within the context of a risk assessment framework

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