Authors / CoAuthors
Williams, D. | Radke, L.C.
Abstract
The ecosystems of northern Australia have very high global rankings in terms of the estimated dollar values of the ecosystem services they provide. Estuaries, which are abundant along the northern Australia coast, are some of the most productive ecosystems on earth, and provide vital nursery habitat for economically important species of fish and crustaceans. Most of the world's population lives in close proximity to estuaries therefore they also tend to be amongst the most degraded marine ecosystems on the planet. However, due to the small population sizes, most of Northern Australia's estuaries are unique in the respect that they are in near-pristine condition. One of the key triggers in estuarine productivity is the fresh water inflow received during the wet season and the flow recession periods afterward. To date there have been no studies of the environmental flow requirements for estuaries in the Northern Territory. As northern Australia develops there will be greater reliance on these important ecosystems for food production and recreation, while at the same time there will be competing demands for freshwater. The designation of environmental flows to river-estuary systems should be based on estuary requirements. If adequate estuarine environmental flows are maintained then it is likely that flows in upper river reaches will also be sufficient for riverine species. Studies of the roles of environmental flows on productivity in estuaries in catchments slated for development will be key in providing the foundation for economically and ecologically sustainable development of these important ecosystems. These studies will also provide additional information on how other uses of estuaries may be developed. For example wetland systems may be used for aquaculture or as watering points. Good information on estuarine processes will not only provide previously unexplored opportunities but help to ensure that our estuaries remain in excellent condition.
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nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
90652
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
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2601
Australia
Keywords
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- GA Publication
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- NT
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2016-01-01T00:00:00
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geoscientificInformation
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