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Multi-decadal decline in cover of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera at the southern limit of its Australian range
Citation
Butler, CL and Lucieer, VL and Wotherspoon, SJ and Johnson, CR, Multi-decadal decline in cover of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera at the southern limit of its Australian range, Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 653 pp. 1-18. ISSN 0171-8630 (2020) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2020 The Authors Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Abstract
Knowledge of long-term and multi-scale trends in ecological systems is a vital component in understanding their dynamics. We used Landsat satellite imagery to develop the first long-term (1986-2015) data set describing the cover of dense surface canopies of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera around the entire coastline of Tasmania, Australia, and assessed the extent to which potential environmental drivers explain the dynamics of surface canopies at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Broad-scale temporal patterns in canopy cover are correlated with El Niņo-Southern Oscillation events, while regional patterns are related to sea surface temperature and nutrient regimes are associated with the East Australian Current. Regression models developed to predict the presence or absence of giant kelp canopy emphasise the importance of sea surface temperature in these systems. Long-term decline in canopy cover is clearly evident in most regions, and in light of increasing thermal stress associated with a changing ocean climate, this raises concern for the future of this species as a major habitat-forming kelp in Australia and some other regions worldwide. Given that Tasmania represents the stronghold of the range of this species in Australia, but is a geographic trap in that there is no suitable habitat for M. pyrifera to the south, our findings support the Federal listing of giant kelp communities in Australia as an endangered marine community type.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | remote sensing, kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, climate change, sea surface temperature, range contraction, ocean warming hotspot, population dynamics, El Niņo-Southern Oscillation |
| Research Division: | Engineering |
| Research Group: | Geomatic engineering |
| Research Field: | Photogrammetry and remote sensing |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Butler, CL (Ms Claire Butler) |
| UTAS Author: | Lucieer, VL (Dr Vanessa Lucieer) |
| UTAS Author: | Wotherspoon, SJ (Dr Simon Wotherspoon) |
| UTAS Author: | Johnson, CR (Professor Craig Johnson) |
| ID Code: | 141594 |
| Year Published: | 2020 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2020-11-02 |
| Last Modified: | 2021-02-18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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