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Conservation ecology of Tasmanian coastal saltmarshes, southeast Australia - a review
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 07:50 authored by Vishnu PrahaladVishnu Prahalad, James KirkpatrickJames Kirkpatrick, John Aalders, Scott CarverScott Carver, Joanna EllisonJoanna Ellison, Violet Harrison-DayViolet Harrison-Day, Peter McQuillanPeter McQuillan, Brigid MorrisonBrigid Morrison, Alastair RichardsonAlastair Richardson, Woehler, ETemperate Australian saltmarshes, including those in the southern island state of Tasmania, are considered as a threatened ecological community under Australian federal legislation. There is a need to improve our understanding of the ecological components, functional relationships and the key threatening processes of Tasmanian coastal saltmarshes and distil research priorities that could assist recovery actions. A semi-systematic review of the literature on Tasmanian coastal saltmarshes supported by expert local knowledge identified 75 studies from 1947 to 2019. Existing understanding pertains to saltmarsh plants, soils, invertebrates and human impacts with on-going studies currently adding to this knowledge base. Several knowledge gaps remain, and the present review recommends six key priority areas for research: (1) citizen science organised inventory of (initially) saltmarsh birds, plants and human impacts with the potential for expansion of data sets; (2) use of saltmarsh by marine transient species including fish and decapods; (3) use of saltmarsh and interactions with native and introduced mammals; (4) invertebrates and their interactions with predators (e.g. birds, fish) and prey (e.g. insects, plants, detritus); (5) historic saltmarsh loss and priority areas for conservation; (6) monitoring changes to saltmarsh due to both localised human impacts (e.g. grazing, eutrophication, destruction) and global change factors (e.g. climate change, sea-level rise). Addressing these research priorities will help in developing a better understanding of the ecological character of Tasmanian coastal saltmarshes and improve their conservation management.
History
Publication title
Pacific Conservation BiologyVolume
26Pagination
105-129ISSN
1038-2097Department/School
School of Geography, Planning and Spatial SciencesPublisher
CSIRO PublishingPlace of publication
AustraliaRights statement
Copyright 2019 CSIRORepository Status
- Restricted