Lexi Webster
Australia is home to over a million species of plants and animals, and nearly half of the 200 Australian species are threatened by climate change. The reasons for this vary across the country. For example, in the upper Northern Territory, species are vulnerable due to their reliance on specific moisture regimes and habitats. Australia has witnessed unprecedented spring bushfires in NSW and Queensland, which have ravaged world heritage rainforest areas. The rising sea levels in northern Australia, at about twice the global average, are threatening wetlands in Kakadu National Park. Climate change is causing coral reefs to experience bleaching, with up to 50% of the world's coral reefs already dead. Amphibians, with their small and fragmented distributions, are highly vulnerable to climate change, and the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) is one of Australia's threatened frog species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amphibians | Most vulnerable to climate change due to their small and fragmented distributions, heavy reliance on particular moisture regimes, and aquatic habitats |
| Plants | Second most vulnerable due to low dispersal ability and reliance on specific soil types |
| Birds | Least vulnerable due to their good dispersal abilities |
| Green and Golden Bell Frog | Threatened frog species |
| Carnaby's black cockatoo | Endangered species susceptible to heat stress |
| Green turtles | In danger due to the "feminization" of the population in the northern Great Barrier Reef, with 99% female hatchlings |
| Bramble Cay melomys | First known mammalian extinction due to climate change, caused by rising sea levels |
| Coral reefs | Critical marine habitats experiencing bleaching due to rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification, with up to 50% of the world's coral reefs already dead |
| Extreme weather events | Increased frequency and severity of floods, hurricanes, droughts, and sea-level rise impact plant and animal life, with potential mass die-offs |
| Conservation efforts | On-ground management strategies and species-specific conservation programs are being implemented to combat the impacts of climate change |
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What You'll Learn
The impact of rising sea levels on wetlands
Australia is home to over a million species of plants and animals, and climate change is making it harder to protect them. Rising sea levels are already affecting freshwater wetlands in Australia, such as those in Kakadu National Park.
Wetlands are low-lying areas with specific water elevation tolerances. If the water is too deep, the area becomes open water rather than a vegetated wetland. Rising sea levels can cause wetlands to be lost to open waters, with the water depth exceeding what wetland vegetation can tolerate. The loss of wetlands will not be uniform across the Gulf Coast, and the slope of the shoreline will play a role in determining the rate of wetland loss and replacement. Steeper slopes will result in a narrower range of appropriate wetland depths, and the loss of wetlands will occur faster in these areas.
The loss of wetlands will have significant implications for the environment, economy, and communities. Wetlands provide immense value, including flood protection, erosion control, habitat for wildlife, recreation, and carbon storage. They also offer protection against storm surges and provide water filtration for inland communities. The ability of wetlands to store carbon is especially important in mitigating the effects of climate change.
It is projected that up to 97% of coastal wetlands could be lost by 2100 if heat-trapping emissions are not reduced and land is not conserved for wetland migration. However, if conservation efforts are made, coastal wetlands could expand by 25% this century. Strategies to preserve wetlands include conserving land for wetlands to migrate into, converting developed areas into reclaimed wetlands, and enhancing sediment supply to existing wetlands.
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The threat of extreme weather events
Australia is home to over a million species of plants and animals, and nearly half of the 200 surveyed Australian species are threatened by climate change. The country now holds the first record of a mammalian extinction due to climate change. The Bramble Cay melomys, a small rodent native to Australia, is the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change. Surveys revealed that the island where the Bramble Cay melomys was found was repeatedly flooded by storms, which were intensified by rising sea levels.
The increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts, have devastating effects on plant and animal life in Australia. For instance, hurricanes can destroy coastal ecosystems, uproot plants, and destroy habitats. Prolonged droughts lead to water shortages, affecting entire food webs and causing mass die-offs. Furthermore, the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) is one of Australia's threatened frog species due to its reliance on specific moisture regimes and aquatic habitats.
Additionally, the rising sea levels in northern Australia are threatening the wetlands in Kakadu National Park, with saltwater intrusion already evident. The Carnaby's black cockatoo, an endangered species, is highly susceptible to heat stress, and climate change brings more intense heatwaves. Climate change also affects the sex ratio of some species, such as the green turtles in the northern Great Barrier Reef, where 99% of hatchlings are female due to warming, leading to a potential complete 'feminisation' of the population.
To address these threats, Australia must drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources. On-ground management strategies and intensive conservation efforts are also crucial for combating the impending changes and helping species survive.
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The effect on amphibians and their habitats
Climate change is having a profound impact on Australia's biodiversity, with nearly half of the country's 200 species threatened, including amphibians. Amphibians are highly vulnerable to climate change due to their small and fragmented distributions and dependence on specific moisture regimes and aquatic habitats.
The Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) is one of Australia's amphibian species threatened by climate change. The specific factors contributing to their vulnerability include reliance on particular moisture regimes and habitats, low genetic variation, and specific patterns of disturbance, such as fire, required for reproduction or maintaining suitable habitats.
The effects of climate change on amphibian habitats and reproductive success are significant. Changes in temperature and precipitation directly impact the availability of water in aquatic habitats, affecting the reproductive success of amphibians. Warmer temperatures lead to lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen, which is crucial for the development of embryos and larvae. Additionally, climate change-induced shifts in breeding phenology can result in new biotic environments for developing larvae, with potential consequences for their survival and adaptation.
Climate-driven range changes are also observed in amphibians, as they shift their geographic distribution to track suitable climatic conditions. These range shifts can involve expansion into new habitats or contraction from regions that become inhospitable. The evidence suggests that amphibians are undergoing elevational range shifts, with species moving to higher altitudes to escape rising temperatures. However, these higher elevation habitats may not be able to support their long-term survival and reproduction.
To ensure the future of Australia's amphibians, conservation strategies must be implemented. This includes addressing the root cause by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing on-ground management strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable species.
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The loss of plant species
Australia is home to over a million species of plants and animals. However, the country has one of the highest rates of species extinction globally, with dozens of species of plants and animals going extinct every day. Climate change is a significant contributor to biodiversity loss in Australia, and plants are the second most vulnerable group to its effects.
Plants often have low dispersal ability and rely on specific soil types, making them highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. For example, rising temperatures affect plants' blooming and fruiting times, which directly impacts animals that depend on them for food. This disruption of food chains and resource availability can have far-reaching consequences for many species.
Additionally, droughts caused by climate change result in water shortages and affect entire food webs, causing mass die-offs of plants and dependent species. The reliance of some plant species on specific patterns of disturbance, such as fire for reproduction or maintaining suitable habitats, is another factor contributing to their vulnerability.
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The impact on marine life and coral reefs
Climate change poses a major threat to marine life and coral reefs in Australia. Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystem in the ocean, harbouring the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally. They support at least 25% of marine species, including thousands of marine creatures that depend on the reef for survival. Coral reefs also provide important ecosystem services to people, such as tourism, fisheries, coastal protection, and medicinal compounds, valued at US$2.7 trillion per year.
The increase in global temperatures and climate change, caused primarily by human activities, have led to more frequent and intense marine heat waves, storms, and changes in precipitation patterns. These changes have had significant impacts on coral reefs in Australia, with rising ocean temperatures causing coral bleaching and infectious diseases. Bleaching events, where corals turn white due to stress from warm ocean waters, can lead to coral mortality and significant losses in coral cover. From 2009 to 2018, the loss of coral from the world's coral reefs was estimated at 14%, higher than the total coral currently living on Australia's reefs.
Ocean acidification, caused by increased carbon dioxide absorption from the atmosphere, has also negatively affected coral reefs. The decrease in ocean pH levels reduces coral growth and structural integrity, further contributing to the degradation of coral reef ecosystems. Additionally, altered ocean currents have led to changes in connectivity and temperature regimes, resulting in a lack of food for corals and disrupted dispersal of coral larvae.
The combination of rising sea levels and more intense storms is expected to increase the force exerted on coastal areas, further threatening coral reef ecosystems. Localized impacts, such as land-based pollution, marine pollution, and destructive fishing practices, also contribute to the vulnerability of coral reefs. However, coral reefs have shown resilience and recovery capabilities in some instances, providing hope for their conservation.
The decline in coral reefs due to climate change has significant implications for marine life in Australia. As coral reefs degrade or disappear, there is a loss of habitat and food sources for marine species that depend on them. Additionally, the economic and social well-being of coastal communities that rely on reef-related industries, such as tourism and fisheries, is also at risk. Efforts to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are crucial for the protection and restoration of coral reefs and the diverse marine life they support.
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Frequently asked questions
Climate change is causing rising temperatures, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and rising sea levels, all of which have devastating effects on Australian wildlife. For example, the Bramble Cay melomys, a small rodent native to Australia, is now considered the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change.
The increase in frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts can destroy habitats and cause mass die-offs. Climate change also disrupts food chains and the availability of resources for both plants and animals. For example, warming in the northern Great Barrier Reef has resulted in 99% of green turtles hatching being female, threatening the complete 'feminisation' of the population.
Australia's high greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to increasingly severe changes in the climate system. This results in more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as bushfires and floods, which can be devastating for animals, injuring, killing, and displacing them.
To help Australian wildlife survive the impacts of climate change, on-ground management strategies and intensive conservation efforts are required. Additionally, individuals can make a difference by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions through diet changes, adopting climate-friendly commutes, and using energy-saving devices.
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