School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/290

The School teaches an exciting and diverse array of subjects across these two academic areas. Our range of undergraduate teaching programs include majors in Botany, Ecology, Entomology, Environmental Geoscience, Geology, Geophysics, Marine Biology, Spatial Information, and Zoology for the flagship Bachelor of Science (BSc) program.

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Browsing School of Earth and Environmental Sciences by Author "10th International Temperate Reefs Symposium (12 Jan 2014 - 17 Jan 2014 : Perth, W.A.)"

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    A test of metabolic and consumptive responses to local and global perturbations: enhanced resources stimulate herbivores to counter expansion of weedy species
    (CSIRO Publishing, 2016) McSkimming, C.; Russell, B.; Tanner, J.; Connell, S.; 10th International Temperate Reefs Symposium (12 Jan 2014 - 17 Jan 2014 : Perth, W.A.)
    The capacity of natural systems to resist environmental change underpins ecosystem stability, e.g. the persistence of kelp-dominated states which are sometimes displaced by subordinates or weedy species (i.e. algal turfs). Perturbation by resource enhancement at global (e.g. CO2 emissions) through local scales (e.g. nutrient pollution) increases the probability of turf domination, yet these same resources stimulate an increase in per capita consumption of turfs by herbivores. We test whether such resource perturbation can stimulate herbivores to absorb the additional productivity of turfs that cause kelp displacement. We tested the hypotheses that (1) elevated nitrogen (N) and carbon dioxide (CO2) not only stimulate an increase in consumptive rates, but also stimulate an increase in underlying metabolic rates of gastropod herbivores, so that (2) enhanced primary productivity is countered by herbivory. We reveal that elevated nitrogen and CO2 stimulated an elevation in rates of consumption in proportion to an increase in metabolic rate of grazers. Subsequently, grazers consumed proportionately greater cover of turfs to counter turf expansion. Resource enrichment, therefore, can stimulate metabolic and consumptive activity of herbivores to absorb the additional productivity of opportunistic species. Hence, the competitive potential of subordinates to displace community dominants may be checked by the very resources that otherwise drive instability.
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    The 'Great Southern Reef': social, ecological and economic value of Australia's neglected kelp forests
    (CSIRO Publishing, 2016) Bennett, S.; Wernberg, T.; Connell, S.; Hobday, A.; Johnson, C.; Poloczanska, E.; 10th International Temperate Reefs Symposium (12 Jan 2014 - 17 Jan 2014 : Perth, W.A.)
    Kelp forests define >8000 km of temperate coastline across southern Australia, where ~70% of Australians live, work and recreate. Despite this, public and political awareness of the scale and significance of this marine ecosystem is low, and research investment miniscule (<10%), relative to comparable ecosystems. The absence of an identity for Australia’s temperate reefs as an entity has probably contributed to the current lack of appreciation of this system, which is at odds with its profound ecological, social and economic importance. We define the ‘Great Southern Reef’ (GSR) as Australia’s spatially connected temperate reef system. The GSR covers ~71 000 km2 and represents a global biodiversity hotspot across at least nine phyla. GSR-related fishing and tourism generates at least AU$10 billion year–1, and in this context the GSR is a significant natural asset for Australia and globally. Maintaining the health and ecological functioning of the GSR is critical to the continued sustainability of human livelihoods and wellbeing derived from it. By recognising the GSR as an entity we seek to boost awareness, and take steps towards negotiating the difficult challenges the GSR faces in a future of unprecedented coastal population growth and global change.