Attenborough’s Reef
The Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a significant draw card for a multitude of tourist each year is a complex chain of approximately three thousand reefs extending from just north of Fraser Island, past Cape York to almost the Island of Papua New Guinea. Its biodiversity, ecosystem services and astounding beauty fascinate even the most travelled of individuals. Sir David Attenborough, the formidable giant of documentary film regards it as one of his favourite places.
Although it may captivate many, it may only be able to do so for a limited time. This marine ecosystem has a battle on its hands. Being attacked from all flanks from natural and human induced threats, the reef, or more precisely thousands of reefs, unless managed appropriately may loose its shine, its sparkle and become simply a memory immortalised in the wondrous films that feature the man, who seems to only have one blue shirt and pair of white pants.
Text: Great Barrier Reef
Spatial Patterns and Dimensions
To view Project 3DGBR, click on the link. This project that aims to map the entire GBR. This layered interactive map identifies the various geomorphic characteristics of the Great Barrier Reef.
Reef Mapping & GIS
Biophysical Interactions
Good and bad news for reef in Yasi’s wake
Radio National: JCU’s James Woodford explains the impact of Yasi on the GBR
Nature and Rate of Change
Climate change and associated impacts
Coral Bleaching Information Sheet: GBRMPA
Read the above information sheet and explain the process of coral bleaching. Use a diagram to assist you in doing in this. Outline the ways in which this can be managed.
Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching could be the new normal by 2050, research finds
ARCGIS Story Map: Coral Bleaching Sites- Great Barrier Reef
Images of coral bleaching taken in March 2017, near Mission Beach.
Invasion or a natural process? C.O.T.S
What’s the problem and how do these outbreaks occur?
Answer these two questions based upon the information found on the GBRMPA website.
Explain the biogeographical processes related to (invasion? succession?) and impacts of the Crown of Thorns Starfish. Identify and evaluate the contemporary management strategies employed to deal with this most ugly of creature that is having a detrimental impact upon the GBR.
Human Impacts
Ecologically sustainable development includes the following criteria:
›Intragenerational equity
– Are people able to benefit from the ecosystem?
– Are people able to access various parts of the ecosystem?
– Is the present generation of people able to use the resources within the ecosystem? (Consider what “use of resources” actually means)
– Is the current population able to benefit from the ecosystem’s aesthetic values (the way the ecosystem looks?)
›Intergenerational equity
– Is the use and management of the ecosystem maintaining the quality of the ecosystem for the future?
– Will people in the future be able to access the various parts of the ecosystem?
– Will people in the future be able to use the resources of the ecosystem?
– Is the current population able to benefit from the ecosystem’s aesthetic values (the way the ecosystem looks)?
›The precautionary approach
– Has the ecosystem become more or less susceptible to human or natural stress?
– Are there attempts to improve knowledge of the threats to the ecosystem?
– Do management strategies take into account best and worst case scenarios for threats to the ecosystem?
– Are historical processes maintained (e.g the ability to adapt to changes)?
– Has there been a reduction in the size or extent of the ecosystem?
›Biological diversity
– What changes have taken place within food chain/food webs?
– Are there still as many links within the chains and webs?
– Has the diversity of the ecosystem been diminished in any way? Has there been a reduction in the number of species?
– Is genetic diversity maintained?
– Has there been a reduction or increase of any species? What impact will this have?
– Is the ecosystem still functioning effectively in terms of biological processes, etc
Is the expansion of Australia’s coal industry ecologically sustainable? Does it promote economic growth and employ Australians at the cost of intergenerational equity? Does it harm biological diversity within the GBR? Should an alternative more sustainable option for economic growth be considered?
Do the benefits truly outweigh the challenges? You decide
The Carmichael coal mine to be operated by the Adani company and the extensions to the Abbot Point Port are projects that aim to stimulate economic growth for Queensland, but at what cost? Many green groups suggest that this cost, particularly the cost upon the Great Barrier Reef is far beyond that which will be generated through this coal extraction and exportation operation. Is it a ‘win win’ situation? Jobs and growth for Queensland?
Supply and demand
The above chart highlight’s India’s growing thirst for coal. In recent years, many of the world’s largest coal consumers have declined in their use of coal for power generation. The alternative to this is India. The soon to be most populous nation on Earth is rapidly urbanising and developing, hence the increase in demand for energy. In many of its cities, rolling blackouts cause frustration and impact upon economic growth. Coal a cheap, easily burnt, non-renewable resource may be the solution, albeit unsustainable, solution to this issue. The same issue that China faced previously. Although China of course still consumes vast quantities of coal derived from Queensland soils, it has decreased its consumption by 6%, beating the highly developed nations of Japan, Canada and Germany. China is moving to increasing the use and dependence upon renewable sources of energy. Innovation and the ever decreasing costs of solar technology have seen the air quality in some cities improve with less coal burning fire stations being solely depended upon for power. Coal use trends and dependence is a story of development. Rapid development and population growth leads to growing dependence on coal. With innovation and growing technology sectors, China has begun and is far along the road toward a more green, renewable mix of energy sources.
Adani plans to export low quality, high ash coal to India, court told
Sedimentation of the waters of the Great Barrier Reef
Read through the above article on sedimentation and EXPLAIN (relate cause and effect) how land runoff can a variety of issues for reef health.
Natural weather events, such as the recent cyclone Debbie can cause increased flows from coastal waterways. This increased flows lead to greater sedimentation of the waters of North Queensland. This issue is only exacerbated examples of poorly managed human activities such as above.
Traditional and Contemporary Management
Connectography 