global biodiversity

energy flow

solar energy is captured by producers and moves through consumers and decomposers

nutrient cycling

key nutrients are recycled through biotic and abiotic systems

ecosystem function

biological, chemical, and physical processes that take place within an ecosystem

global biodiversity

variety of life across earth on all levels

biocapacity

the capacity of an ecosystem to regenerate after human interference

what is a biome

a region of the world characterised by its resident life, environment, and climate

what is a ecosystem

interactions between organisms living together in a particular environment

what is a habitat

location where a species or population of organisms live

how is productivity of ecosystem measured

variety of energy and nutrients which flow within the system

where does energy originate from and why are there smaller amounts of animals on higher trophic levels

energy from sun, energy lost in search of food and production of heat during plant growth

what is vulnerability

ease at which a ecosystem can be changed

what is resilience

an ecosystems ability to cope with a change

what is dymanic equilibrium

occurs when vulneraiblity is equal to resilience

factors that cause dynamic disequilibrium

location to a hazards, extent of ecosystem, biodiversity present

positive vs negative feedback loops

positive loop amplifies original change while negative loop regulates the disturbance

overall reasons for managing and protecting ecosystems?

maintenance of genetic diversity, utility value, intrinsic value, heritage value

genetic diversity: link to resilience

more diversity means more complex energy flows and more resilient

genetic diversity; amount of species and total identified, % of total species ever existed

5-30 million, only 1.4 million identified, 10% of all species ever

genetic diversity: evolutionary extinction and amount of threatened species

1 species a year, International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists 48,600 (28%) species at risk of extinction

utility value: to human

reduces potential source of food, medicine, or other material and impacts contributions to national ecocnomy

utility value: environmental services

purifying water, regulating temperature, recycling nutrients

what is ecological integrity

how whole and unaltered a ecosystem is by human activity

what is biocapacity

the regenerative capacity of an ecosystem, the higher the more resilient

trend in biodiversity: Living planet indix (LPI)

tracks vertebrate species, 73% decrease in species population compared to 1970

current trend in biodiversity: agricultural expansion leading to threatened species

agricultural expansion accounts for threat of extinction for 24,000/28,000 threatened species (UN)

current trend in biodiversity: agricultural expansion and % of biodiversity loss

primary driver of 75% of terrestrial biodiversity loss (UNEP, 2022)

future trend in biodiversity: loss by 2050

10-27% loss

future trend in biodiversity: agricultural and fish expansion

global agricultural and fish production is projected to expand by 14% over the next decade (OECD, 2025)

future trend in biodiversity: global food demand

Global food demand is projected to increase by 60% by 2050 (FAO, 2022)

Y2Y ecosystem: utility value

clean air, fresh water, recreational opportunities, and spiritual guidance

Y2Y ecosystem: economic value

tourism, recreational, traditional industry while land conservation decreases impacts of climate change and the costly consequences that come with it

Y2Y ecosystem: cultural value

Respect and belonging for Indigenous peoples whose territories overlap with the Yellowstone to Yukon region, partnering with over 75 indigenous nations

Y2Y ecosystem: maintaining the ecosystem

Maintaining and adding corridors to improve wildlife movement and reconnect isolated communities, planting trees, protecting large, intact ecosystems

strategy at global scale

international agreements such as the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change saw announcement of goals towards net zero by 2050

strategy at regional and national scale in AU

establishment of national parks, creating and abiding by laws such as Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

strategy at local scale - Blue gum High Forest

By Hornsby Shire Council, 5% of original forest across 21 sites, local Bushcare group helps restore remnants and advise urban development

Faure Island; overview

located within Shark Bay in WA, 700km north of Perth, flat semi-arid environment with 230mm rainfall per year

Faure Island; littoral zone

littoral zone with wetlands, beaches, and coastal dunes that provide key breeding areas for seabirds like critically endangered far eastern curlew

Faure Island; sandplains

sandplains are inland with heathland and shrublands, important region for endangered mammals such as burrowing bettong

Faure Island; initial condition and owner

pastoral station for 100 years, brought in 1999 by Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Faure Island; feral animals and removal

over 2000 feral goats in 1999, lots of feral cats and foxes which destroyed mammal populations and natural flora, removal through trapping and shooting

Faure Island; translocation mission

reintroduced 5 species in 16 translocation missions, 4 successful

Faure Island; reintroducation success

20,000 population of burrowing bettong, stable banded hare-wallabies, western barred bandicoots and djoongaris, enough to be used for translocation to other areas

indigenous land management; indigenous land and sea ranger program

started by Queensland Government in 2007 with 20 rangers, over 150 in 2020s, projects reflects indigenous priorities and deliver education programs