Australian Endangered Species

The aim of our excursion to Hastings Point, New South Wales was to study the biodiversity and ecology and to see how these organisms behave in their natural habitat and surroundings. There will also be information collected about a variety of different organisms as well as population counts and observe how they have adapted to the species surrounding environment. The excursion will also be an opportunity to gather information on

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most complex natural ecosystems and was listed on the World Heritage List in 1981. It has a large biodiversity with a great variety of habitats and threatened species including over 400 species of corals, 4,000 species of molluscs, over 1,500 species of fish and a huge diversity of sponges, marine worms, anemones and crustaceans.

6) There are several advantages and disadvantages to identifying benthic macro-invertebrates at different taxonomic levels. In this assignment metrics were calculated to the 27-group level (which consists of phyla, classes, orders and families) as well as the family level. There were slight differences in the calculated species richness and Biotic Indexes using these different identification levels. This is an indication that taxonomic resolution can affect bioassesment outcomes.

Economic development is mostly compatible with maintaining the long-term biodiversity and ecosystem functions of the Great Barrier Reef as shown by its economic contribution. In north-east Queensland

Over 128 Animal species are strongly believed to be extinct since European settlement in Australia. In an act to prevent marine pollution by controlling dumping of wastes and other matter, the Environment Protection Sea Dumping Act 1981 was introduced. The legislation outlines the policies and procedures to gain access to Australian waterways (Australian Government Department of Environment, 2015). The current legislation are not able to fully protect the natural environment, as the legislation only implies that permits are required for all sea dumping operations and for those court weak consequences are applied. For those reason, the Sea Dumping Act has been criticised for its ineffectiveness to control the waterways. This essay

In 1819 and 1820, hydrographer, Philip Parker Kin, undertook the methodical task of precisely chartering most of the northern Reef in detail for the first time. He commanded the Mermaid in 1819 and the Bathurst in 1820. These researchers and explorers on his crew embraced the studies we do today to know better about the reef and its creation. This could occur by examining the special characteristics of the reef, what type of species exist here, and find evidence of it evolvement over

There are many species in the Great Barrier Reef like the 1,500 species of fish, 411 types of hard coral , 3 134 species of sharks and rays,

“The old map suggests much of the Southern Ocean around Australia is mainly covered by clay blown off the continent, whereas our map shows this area is actually a complex patchwork of microfossil remains,” said study author Adriana Dutkiewicz, a sedimentologist at the University of Sydney in a statement. “Life in the Southern Ocean is much richer than previously thought.”

The reef’s huge foundation of coral was also created millions of years ago by the coral polyps, and the oldest part of the reef is estimated to be about 20 to 25 million years old. The first European discovery of the reef was entirely by chance. On June 11th, 1770, the first recording of the Great Barrier Reef on a European nautical map occurred. Later that year, Cook’s Passage was discovered and it was the safest way through the reef without damage to the boat or shipwreck. The Aborigines of Northern Australia call it Waga Gaboo, which means “the great reef” (Hoffman 220 & 221). These aboriginal people used the Great Barrier Reef to survive off of around 20,000 years ago (Kummer 45). Some species that live on the reef, like turtles or crocodiles, have been living there since prehistoric times. More recently though, the Great Barrier Reef has had outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. These starfish are an invasive species that are dangerous to the reef. The first documented outbreak was in 1962, and three other major ones have occurred. The second one was in the 1970s, third in the early 1990s, and the fourth was just in 2010! In 1981, the Great Barrier Reef reached World Heritage status and it was the first coral reef ever to do so. Then, in 2007, it was placed on the National Heritage List

Lawler, I., Marsh, H., McDonald B., Stokes, T. 2002. Dugongs in the Great Barrier Reef: Current State of Knowledge. CRC Reef Research Centre.

Marine Protected Areas worldwide make it a goal to protect biodiversity, conservation and Socioeconomic viability. To establish a functional and efficient management plan their needs to be a consensus on strategies that will be implemented to ensure the effectiveness and satisfaction of all stakeholders. The Management also needs to include monitoring programs along with methods to reevaluate the plan to fit the most current issues throughout time. One of the most well-known Marine Protected Areas is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park located in the northeast corner of Queensland, Australia. Its geographical coordinates are 18.2871° S, 147.6992° E. This Marine Park has been in place since 1975. The MPA began in attempts to regulate devastation to commercial fish stocks and replenish biodiversity in the Coral habitat. It has since grown to regulate all types of human impacts including recreational use by snorkelers and tourist activities. Since the establishment there has been a monitoring system in place to reevaluate the progress and regression in

The Acanthaster planci, better known as the crown-of-thorns sea star, is a marine invertebrate and one of the largest species of sea stars known in the world. It is endemic to the coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region, finding habitat within the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Over the past several decades, Acanthaster planci has gained a global infamous reputation for its devastating outbreaks affecting the Great Barrier Reef. However, when looking further into the behaviours, predation, and diet of the crown-of-thorns it is understood that it also plays a vital ecological role within the reef’s ecosystem.

In statistical terms, the GBR is a habitat for 400 coral species, 500 seaweed species, 4,000 mollusk species, 1,500 fish species, 20 sea snake species, six turtle and dugong species, and over 200 bird species. It is additionally visited by about 30 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The GBR is vital to the survival of many of these species, such as the dugong, whose GBR population is one of the largest in the world. It is not surprising that such an extensive ecosystem was declared a World Heritage Area in 1981 by meeting all four of the natural heritage demands. These criteria involve geological representations of evolution, current biological and ecological processes, outstanding beauty, and considerable biodiversity (Chadwick and Storrie p.1-2, CRC p.1-2, Guynup p.22).

On the 23rd of August, the three biology classes or grade 11 at Redlands College visited the rocky shore ecosystems at Point Cartwright in Queensland. Two different types of rocky shore ecosystem were examined, the rock pool area, and the boulder area. We first examined areas within the rock pool area. The rock pool area has several specific features which set it apart from other rocky shore ecosystems, including its geological makeup and position. It is made up of a flat platform of rock pockmarked with numerous rock pools; indents in the rocks which are filled with water and contain

New Zealand’s Biodiversity Strategy (2000) is a policy from the Department of Conservation (DOC) in which the aim of its third goal is to stop the decline of the country’s indigenous biodiversity. Goal 3 focuses on ecosystems and natural habitats in order to conserve species and biodiversity. This will be achieved by (i) restoring and maintaining a variety of ecosystems and habitats as well as (ii) restoring and maintaining sustainable populations of indigenous species; across the natural range of these species as well as maintaining the genetic diversity of these species ((DOC), 2000) . In order to realise this goal by 2020 timeframe stipulated in the strategy, the in depth knowledge about the status and ecosystems of these species is required. A part of the Biodiversity Strategy is that a “substantive review” is to be undertaken after a time frame of 5 years, in 2015, in order to access the “goals, roles, governance arrangements, objectives and priority actions” ((DOC), 2000, p. 130). The report ‘Synthesis Report: Review of the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy’ (2015) highlighted 8 ‘building blocks’ that are now in place as a direct consequence of the Biodiversity Strategy. However, the report also highlighted ‘building blocks’ which are still required, most notably “indicators for biodiversity and biosecurity, linked to regional and national monitoring and reporting systems” (Green & Clarkson, 2015, p. 1).