Transcript Vegetation Monitoring - Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter 1983 to 2001

MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 9257 1625 ~ Fax: 9257 1640 ~ URL: www.mattiske.com.au
Living in Change - Sector Issues, Priorities, Needs
- Natural Resource Management
Dr Libby Mattiske
August 2005
Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
 Sector
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Issues
literature
past impacts of climatic changes
geological time frame
since European settlement
recent decades
patterns in current systems
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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
 Sector
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Issues - Case Studies
Key role of climate
Flora Species
Plant Communities
Fauna Species
Natural Resources
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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Case Study
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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
 Sector
Issues - Case Study
» Data Collected - Transect Studies
» Water tables in the period from the 1960 to 2005 have
changed in the order of 3 to 7 metres.
» Tick Flat, Neaves, West Gironde, Lake Joondalup
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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Case Study
Tick Flat
Yeal Swamp
Ridges
Yanchep
Lake Nowergup
Neaves
Lake Joodalup
West Gironde
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No. of Healthy Trees - 1984
No. of Healthy Trees - 1976
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
100
200
300
400
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
500
100
Banksia littoralis
Banksia littoralis
Banksia prionotes
No. of Healthy Trees - 2002
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
100
200
300
Distance Along Transect (m)
Banksia littoralis
Banksia prionotes
200
300
400
500
400
500
Distance Along Transect (m)
Distance Along Transect (m)
No. of Healthy Trees - 1996
Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
400
500
Banksia prionotes
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
100
200
300
Distance Along Transect (m)
Banksia littoralis
Banksia prionotes
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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
 Sector Issues - Case Study
» A shift towards the xeric end of the continuum (with both
local declines in the trees that tolerate moister soil conditions
and an increase in some species that tolerate drier soil
conditions).
» A general loss of condition of tree species, although this has
been offset by the establishment of seedlings on some sites.
» Loss of some wetland species and communities.
» Recent loss of some drier site species.
» Dynamic nature of communities in both temporal and spatial
context.
» Rate of decline and rate of changes.
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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
 Sector Issues - Lessons Learnt
» The structure and composition of vegetation on the Gnangara
Mound reflects underlying determining factors such as
landforms, soils, climate and surface soil moisture
availability.
» As the site becomes drier in a regional context the overstorey
becomes more open - so if recent annual rainfall trends
continue, it is likely that:
the overstorey will become more open
 there will be a continuing shift towards species that tolerate
drier site conditions
 loss of species and vegetation communities that tolerate wetter
and moister sites

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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
 Priorities
» Do we really place sufficient value on these natural
resources?
» Do we understand implications of potential changes?
Degree and rate of change - positives and negatives
 Major gaps in understanding
 At a landscape level - changes will occur

» Do we understand the implications for Industries dependent
on these values? (Wildflowers, Beekeepers, Forestry, Water
Catchments, Tourism, Ecosystem Services)
» Do we understand the implications for wider community social consequences of changing landscapes
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Botanists and Environmental Scientists
28 Central Road, Kalamunda, WA, 6076
Tel: 92571625 ~ Fax: 92571640 ~ URL:www.mattiske.com.au
MATTISKE CONSULTING PTY LTD
Natural Resource Management
 Needs
» Increase value of natural resources?
» Overcome structural problems in funding and human resources in NRM
(Federal, State and Regional groups).
» Increase skills and capacity of NRM teams and researchers.
» Underpin research organisations with long-term commitment (rather than
short term), including adequate resources, succession planning (as studies
take many years).
» Increase research into studying implications of change
 Degree and rate of change - positives and negatives - integrate
component into research programs
 Integrate databases to maximise return for effort
» Undertake a major review of implications for Industries dependent on these
natural resource values? (Wildflowers, Beekeepers, Forestry, Water
Production, Tourism, Ecosystem Services)
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