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- Title
LONG-TERM MONITORING OF A COASTAL SANDY FRESHWATER WETLAND: EIGHTEEN MILE SWAMP, NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND, QUEENSLAND.
- Authors
SPECHT, A.; STUBBS, B. J.
- Abstract
The understanding developed through intensive monitoring over 18 years of Eighteen Mile Swamp on North Stradbroke Island, south-eastern Queensland, Australia, is discussed in this paper. This wetland is the largest coastal peat swamp in eastern Australia and is typified by its sandy, poor nutrient substrate and peat base. On-ground and remote monitoring was commissioned to detect any changes resulting from water extraction from the Swamp, which commenced in 1992. During the monitoring period (1988 until 2006) the Swamp was subject to fires and drought. The vegetation has displayed great resilience to many environmental perturbations, but changes in water level can, and have, altered the biota profoundly. Through analysis of structural and floristic data collected against the backdrop of natural and artificial change, the limitations to monitoring, when the basic function of the ecosystem is unknown, are highlighted. The monitoring goal is confounded by a high degree of natural variation, the long cycles of natural change, and the effect of extreme events. In order to determine the effect of human activity on such areas it is imperative to have a network of reference sites in similar areas and to sustain monitoring for long periods—at least 50 years—accompanied by information on relevant environmental effectors.
- Subjects
NORTH Stradbroke Island (Qld.); WETLANDS monitoring; SWAMP ecology; WATER use &; the environment; WATER levels -- Environmental aspects; EFFECT of water levels on plants; SAND dunes
- Publication
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 2011, Vol 117, p201
- ISSN
0080-469X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5962/p.357755