Wetland characteristics and waterbird use of wetlands in south-western Australia

Halse, Stuart; Williams, Jamal; Jaensch, RP; Lane, J.A.K.

doi:10.1071/wr9930103

Cited by 42 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Fish species seem to be more tolerant; adult fish species found in Australian freshwater wetlands can survive salinities of between 7 and 13 g TDS/L, even in early life stages; the growth optimum for juveniles is 3-5 g TDS/L (James et al 2003, Nielsen et al 2003. Although water birds are highly motile, breeding is often confined to lesssaline waters, around 15 g TDS/L (Goodsell 1990, Halse et al 1993, Nielsen et al 2003. As early as the 1970s, there was an appreciable reduction in water bird nesting habitat in the South-West Australian Wheat Belt concomitant with widespread salinization.…”

Section: àmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global perspective on wetland salinization: ecological consequences of a growing threat to freshwater wetlands

et al. 2015

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Abstract. Salinization, a widespread threat to the structure and ecological functioning of inland and coastal wetlands, is currently occurring at an unprecedented rate and geographic scale. The causes of salinization are diverse and include alterations to freshwater flows, land-clearance, irrigation, disposal of wastewater effluent, sea level rise, storm surges, and applications of de-icing salts. Climate change and anthropogenic modifications to the hydrologic cycle are expected to further increase the extent and severity of wetland salinization. Salinization alters the fundamental physicochemical nature of the soil-water environment, increasing ionic concentrations and altering chemical equilibria and mineral solubility. Increased concentrations of solutes, especially sulfate, alter the biogeochemical cycling of major elements including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, iron, and silica. The effects of salinization on wetland biogeochemistry typically include decreased inorganic nitrogen removal (with implications for water quality and climate regulation), decreased carbon storage (with implications for climate regulation and wetland accretion), and increased generation of toxic sulfides (with implications for nutrient cycling and the health/functioning of wetland biota). Indeed, increased salt and sulfide concentrations induce physiological stress in wetland biota and ultimately can result in large shifts in wetland communities and their associated ecosystem functions. The productivity and composition of freshwater species assemblages will be highly altered, and there is a high potential for the disruption of existing interspecific interactions. Although there is a wealth of information on how salinization impacts individual ecosystem components, relatively few studies have addressed the complex and often non-linear feedbacks that determine ecosystem-scale responses or considered how wetland salinization will affect landscape-level processes. Although the salinization of wetlands may be unavoidable in many cases, these systems may also prove to be a fertile testing ground for broader ecological theories including (but not limited to): investigations into alternative stable states and tipping points, trophic cascades, disturbance-recovery processes, and the role of historical events and landscape context in driving community response to disturbance.

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Section: àmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global perspective on wetland salinization: ecological consequences of a growing threat to freshwater wetlands

et al. 2015

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“…They also cite Halse et al (1993) who believe that secondary salinity in this region has changed wetland plant communities from those dominated by woody species to those dominated by submerged species, with major consequences for fauna, particularly waterbirds, reliant on emergent plants. Davis et al (2003) provide the case example of Toolibin Lake in the southwest of western Australia, in which permanent inundation over prolonged periods has resulted in the death of wetland tree communities and the prevention of recruitment.…”

Section: Combined Impacts Of Salinity and Changes In Water Regimementioning

confidence: 99%

A review of groundwater–surface water interactions in arid/semi‐arid wetlands and the consequences of salinity for wetland ecology

2008

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In arid/semi-arid environments, where rainfall is seasonal, highly variable and significantly less than the evaporation rate, groundwater discharge can be a major component of the water and salt balance of a wetland, and hence a major determinant of wetland ecology. Under natural conditions, wetlands in arid/semi-arid zones occasionally experience periods of higher salinity as a consequence of the high evaporative conditions and the variability of inflows which provide dilution and flushing of the stored salt. However, due to the impacts of human population pressure and the associated changes in land use, surface water regulation, and water resource depletion, wetlands in arid/semi-arid environments are now often experiencing extended periods of high salinity. This article reviews the current knowledge of the role that groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) interactions play in the ecology of arid/semi-arid wetlands. The key findings of the review are as follows:1. GW-SW interactions in wetlands are highly dynamic, both temporally and spatially. Groundwater that is low in salinity has a beneficial impact on wetland ecology which can be diminished in dry periods when groundwater levels, and hence, inflows to wetlands are reduced or even cease. Conversely, if groundwater is saline, and inflows increase due to raised groundwater levels caused by factors such as land use change and river regulation, then this may have a detrimental impact on the ecology of a wetland and its surrounding areas. 2. GW-SW interactions in wetlands are mostly controlled by factors such as differences in head between the wetland surface water and groundwater, the local geomorphology of the wetland (in particular, the texture and chemistry of the wetland bed and banks), and the wetland and groundwater flow geometry. The GW-SW regime can be broadly classified into three types of flow regimes: (i) recharge-wetland loses surface water to the underlying aquifer; (ii) discharge-wetland gains water from the underlying aquifer; or (iii) flow-through-wetland gains water from the groundwater in some locations and loses it in others. However, it is important to note that individual wetlands may temporally change from one type to another depending on how the surface water levels in the wetland and the underlying groundwater levels change over time in response to climate, land use, and management. 3. The salinity in wetlands of arid/semi-arid environments will vary naturally due to high evaporative conditions, sporadic rainfall, groundwater inflows, and freshening after rains or floods. However, wetlands are often at particular risk of secondary salinity because their generally lower elevation in the landscape exposes them to increased saline groundwater inflows caused by rising water tables. Terminal wetlands are potentially at higher risk than flow-through systems as there is no salt removal mechanism. 4. Secondary salinity can impact on wetland biota through changes in both salinity and water regime, which result from the hydrological and hydrogeo...

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“…These factors vary across the continent at a wide range of temporal and spatial scales and, with abiotic, physical (size, shape and depth) and chemical variables, influence the abundance and diversity of waterbirds (e.g. Kingsford 1992;Halse et al 1993a;Storey et al 1993;Kingsford et al 1997Kingsford et al , 1999a. Biotic factors clearly also affect waterbird populations.…”

Section: Habitatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But most information is based on presence or absence data (see Blakers et al 1984). At the wetland level, distribution of waterbird species also varies (Halse et al 1993a;Kingsford and Porter 1994) and mobile waterbirds may use the same or different wetlands at different times, making investigations of specific distribution difficult.…”

Section: Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Australian waterbirds—products of the continent's ecology

Kingsford

Norman

2002

Emu - Austral Ornithology

113

107

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Abstract. Some aspects of the ecology of 93 waterbird species, found predominantly on freshwater ecosystems, are reviewed. These species, belonging to six major orders -Anseriformes (ducks, geese and Black Swan), Podicipediformes (grebes), Pelecaniformes (Australian Pelican and cormorants), Ciconiiformes (herons, ibis, spoonbills and bitterns), Gruiformes (cranes, rails, crakes and gallinules), and Charadriiformes (waders and terns) -use a wide range of habitats and about half occur throughout the continent. Knowledge of their ecology remains poor for many waterbirds, particularly cryptic and rare species, and is moderate to good for hunted species. Life histories of Australian waterbirds differ from their counterparts elsewhere. Australia's highly variable climate and river-flooding patterns create wetland habitats, the spatial and temporal variability of which strongly influence the ecology of local waterbirds. Many waterbirds respond to newly generated habitats to feed and/or breed and then disperse or die as wetlands dry. Regular movements are not common in most Australian species although some, particularly waders, migrate between Northern Hemisphere breeding grounds and non-breeding habitat in Australia. Breeding of Australian waterbirds coincides with food abundance in the southern spring, the wet season in the tropics and following floods inland. Habitat loss through draining of wetlands, regulation of rivers, diversion of water for irrigation and floodplain development are currently the major threats to waterbirds. Other potentially threatening processes include exotic plants and animals, pollution, climate change and over-harvesting but evidence for the impact of these factors remains poor. Understanding of waterbird, particularly waterfowl, ecology has contributed significantly to the conservation management of wetlands in Australia. Research on single species, studies of movements using satellite technology, further investigation of the effects of hunting, long-term monitoring and large-scale analyses of the availability of wetland habitat should be future research priorities.

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Wetland characteristics and waterbird use of wetlands in south-western Australia

Cited by 42 publications

References 16 publications

A global perspective on wetland salinization: ecological consequences of a growing threat to freshwater wetlands

A global perspective on wetland salinization: ecological consequences of a growing threat to freshwater wetlands

A review of groundwater–surface water interactions in arid/semi‐arid wetlands and the consequences of salinity for wetland ecology

Australian waterbirds—products of the continent's ecology

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