Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Amanda K. Martin, Jennifer A. Sheridan
Summary: Alterations in body size have significant impacts on an organism's life history and ecology, and are influenced by climate and land use changes. Climate warming leads to smaller body sizes, while urbanization primarily results in body size increases. However, few studies have explored the combined effects of climate and land use changes on body size.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Shahid Khan, Mohammed M. A. Almazah, Ataur Rahman, Ijaz Hussain
Summary: Climatic variables significantly impact agricultural production, making accurate knowledge of these variables essential for policy formulation. The Bureau of Meteorology monitored various climatic variables in New South Wales, Australia, but the placement of monitoring stations was not systematic. This study aims to optimize the monitoring network and minimize prediction error.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew L. Riley, Sean Watt, Ningbo Jiang
Summary: Tropospheric ozone measurements in rural Australia are scarce, and the results from monitoring in Gunnedah show that ozone levels exceed Australia's ambient air quality standards. The background ozone mixing ratios in the region are also higher than the set standards.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Letter
Immunology
Heather F. Gidding, Sandrine Stepien, Jiahui Qian, Kristine K. Macartney, Bette Liu
Summary: By analyzing data from Australia, we found that the COVID-19 vaccination coverage is significantly lower among infected individuals compared to those who are uninfected across all age groups. To reduce COVID-19 illness rates, it is important to increase the uptake of scheduled vaccine doses, including among individuals who have previously been infected and have followed the recommended post-infection delay.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Al-Amin Hoque, Biswajeet Pradhan, Naser Ahmed, Md Shawkat Islam Sohel
Summary: This study developed a comprehensive agricultural drought risk assessment approach using geospatial techniques, incorporating hazard, vulnerability, exposure, and mitigation capacity components. The approach was applied to Northern New South Wales region of Australia, revealing that about 19.2% and 41.7% areas are under very-high and moderate to high risk to agricultural droughts, respectively, providing valuable information for relevant authorities to formulate proactive agricultural drought mitigation strategies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudia Patricia Camacho-Rozo, Nicolas Urbina-Cardona
Summary: Studying tadpole assemblages provides insights into habitat availability, species reproduction, and the impact of environmental variables. Natural water bodies show higher species diversity and tadpole abundance compared to anthropogenic water bodies.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xihua Yang, John Leys, Jonathan Gray, Mingxi Zhang
Summary: Hillslope erosion is the dominant form of erosion in Australia and many parts of the world. This study developed a new approach for setting hillslope erosion improvement (HEI) targets by considering seasonal erosion levels and land management practices. The findings can help identify areas and periods with excessive erosion and suggest management actions for soil improvement.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xuechen Gui, Zhonghua Gou
Summary: This research examines the adoption of household energy technologies in New South Wales, Australia over the past decade. The study finds significant regional differences in the adoption rates, which can be attributed to various factors such as socio-economic conditions and lifestyle. Based on the findings, policy suggestions are made to promote clean, renewable energy among households, taking into account regional differences.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Vinicius Klain, Marcia Bohrer Mentz, Sebastian Bustamante-Manrique, Julio Cesar Bicca-Marques
Summary: Environmental change can influence the ecology and behavior of host and parasite species, leading to changes in parasite communities. This study investigated the richness of parasite communities in brown howler monkeys inhabiting forest fragments in an anthropogenic landscape. The results showed weak negative relationships between parasite richness and forest cover as well as mean distance to the nearest forest fragment. The researchers concluded that the howler monkeys were likely infected with multiple parasite taxa on the ground, and the anthropogenic landscape structure had a minor role in modulating the richness of their parasite communities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pascal Castellazzi, Wolfgang Schmid, Guobin Fu
Summary: Unsustainable groundwater extraction can result in various negative impacts including aquifer compaction, damages to infrastructure, changes in water accumulation, and reduced water storage capacity. This study focuses on the heavily exploited aquifers in the New South Wales Riverina region of Australia and uses satellite radar imagery to detect ground deformation caused by groundwater extraction. Four areas with potential for groundwater-induced deformations are identified, and the study provides valuable information for water managers to mitigate the risks associated with groundwater-related ground deformation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuchi Chen, Xiaocheng Zhu, Panayiotis Loukopoulos, Leslie A. Weston, David E. Albrecht, Jane C. Quinn
Summary: Using multi-locus DNA barcoding, the study successfully identified ten Panicum species in Australia, highlighting genetic differences between native and non-native species. Combining traditional taxonomic identification, the study provides an accurate and cost-effective tool for distinguishing Panicum species at the species level.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Virology
Annaleise R. Howard-Jones, David Pham, Neisha Jeoffreys, John-Sebastian Eden, Linda Hueston, Alison M. Kesson, Vanathi Nagendra, Harsha Samarasekara, Peter Newton, Sharon C-A Chen, Matthew O'Sullivan, Susan Maddocks, Dominic E. Dwyer, Jen Kok
Summary: A new outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) occurred in New South Wales, Australia from March to May 2022, requiring the development of a strong diagnostic framework for testing suspected patients. A total of 1,061 samples were received for JEV testing, and 12 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) were identified. The incidence of JE during this period was 0.15/100,000 persons in New South Wales, suggesting a higher population-wide prevalence of JEV infection. Close collaboration with laboratories and clinicians played a crucial role in establishing successful JEV case ascertainment for this outbreak.
Article
Soil Science
Xihua Yang, John Leys, Mingxi Zhang, Jonathan M. Gray
Summary: Nutrient transport from soils to water bodies poses threats to agricultural productivity, food security, water quality, and the environment worldwide. However, the contribution of soil erosion to nutrient loss is often overlooked in nutrient cycle studies. This study assessed the transport of soil nutrients by water and wind erosion across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The findings revealed significant spatial and temporal variations in nutrient transport rates, with water erosion being the primary contributor. The cost of nutrient transport in NSW was estimated to be billions of dollars annually. This study enhances the understanding of nutrient transport due to erosion in broad nutrient cycle studies.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Irene Martin-Fores, Samantha L. Bywaters, Ben Sparrow, Greg R. Guerin
Summary: Orchids are sensitive to habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbance, making them potentially useful as ecological indicators. This study explores the effect of biological invasions, disturbance, and habitat fragmentation on an Australian orchid community. The results reveal a complex relationship between orchids and their surrounding environments, with different effects observed at different spatial scales. Orchids benefit from a somewhat disturbed environment but are negatively affected once exotic cover exceeds 20%. The reliability of orchid diversity as early-warning indicators of habitat disturbance may be limited.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Maria-Myrto Ntouni, Alexis Lazaris, Evangelos Tzanatos
Summary: Coastal ecosystems play important roles in the life cycle of fish species, but they are facing various anthropogenic stressors, including the structural modification of littoral areas by coastal infrastructure. In a study conducted in central Greece, researchers compared modified (artificial) and non-modified (natural) habitats in terms of fish assemblage structure, species diversity, abundance, and the presence of juveniles. They found that while the fish community and diversity did not differ between habitat types, species richness and total abundance were higher in artificial habitats. The abundance of certain taxa was significantly affected by habitat type, and the presence of smaller individuals indicated potential importance of artificial habitats for juvenile occupancy. The findings highlight the need for further research on the impact of artificial habitat construction on fish population dynamics and the conservation of coastal ecosystems.
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Meryl F. Larkin, David Harasti, Tom R. Davis, Stephen D. A. Smith
Article
Environmental Sciences
T. R. Davis, C. Champion, M. A. Coleman
Summary: The study highlights the global decline of canopy forming macroalgae due to climate change, emphasizing the importance of identifying refuges for their conservation. By developing a stacked urchin-kelp species distribution model in an ocean warming hotspot in south-eastern Australia, the research successfully predicted climate refugia for kelp and emphasized the necessity of proactive spatial planning to ensure the persistence of key kelp habitats under increasing environmental stress.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tom R. Davis, Curtis Champion, Melinda A. Coleman
Summary: By considering the ecological interactions between kelp and urchins, the study projected future impacts of climate change on kelp distribution. It found range contractions of kelp at lower latitudes due to ocean warming, but offset by increased kelp biomass at higher latitudes resulting from reductions in urchin herbivory.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Graham J. Edgar, Ella Clausius, Elizabeth S. Oh, Neville S. Barrett, Michael J. Emslie, Amanda E. Bates, Nic Bax, Daniel Brock, Antonia Cooper, Tom R. Davis, Paul B. Day, Jillian C. Dunic, Andrew Green, Norfaizny Hasweera, Jamie Hicks, Thomas H. Holmes, Ben Jones, Alan Jordan, Nathan Knott, Meryl F. Larkin, Scott D. Ling, Peter Mooney, Jacqueline B. Pocklington, Yanir Seroussi, Ian Shaw, Derek Shields, Margo Smith, German A. Soler, Jemina Stuart-Smith, Emre Turak, John W. Turnbull, Camille Mellin
Summary: Warming seas, marine heatwaves, and habitat degradation have dynamic and widespread impacts on marine biodiversity, with the extent of these impacts varying regionally. Temperature-related changes are most evident in temperate and subtropical reefs, while low latitude coral reefs are affected by habitat changes. Scaling up ecological monitoring is crucial for understanding the diverse drivers of large-scale biodiversity change and connecting disjointed systems of biodiversity observation, indicator research, and governance.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
T. R. Davis, M. F. Larkin, A. Forbes, R. J. Veenhof, A. Scott, M. A. Coleman
Summary: Climate-induced extreme flooding has severe impacts on kelp and the ecosystems in nearshore systems, causing widespread mortality and net loss of kelp. The mortality is more severe in areas farther from the entrance of embayments. However, surviving kelp gametophytes show resilience and contribute to the rapid recovery of the kelp.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. L. Butler, T. R. Davis, S. G. Brooks, C. Bowen, L. M. Cameron, S. J. Rowland, D. Smith, J. St Vincent Welch, L. Carpenter-Bundhoo
Summary: This study used bio-telemetry and underwater imagery to investigate the reproductive behavior and strategies of Murray cod in a natural riverine environment in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin, Australia. The study found that breeding behavior of Murray cod occurred from early-August and spawning took place from late-August to late-October. Nesting sites were mostly found in shallow water on hard substrate beneath undercuts along the riverbank edge, and river hydraulics did not play a significant role in spawning. Disturbing nesting Murray cod had a negative impact on the survival of eggs and larvae.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meryl F. Larkin, Tom R. Davis, David Harasti, Kirsten Benkendorff, Stephen D. A. Smith
Summary: This study investigates the attachment of D. australis cuttings to moveable substrates and tests three feeding regimes. The results show a 100% survival rate for the cuttings under all three feeding treatments. The study also finds that the cutting removal process has no significant effect on the donor colonies, suggesting the sustainability of this approach for species recovery.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matt J. Nimbs, Thomas Wernberg, Tom R. Davis, Curtis Champion, Melinda A. Coleman
Summary: Climate change has led to the decline and loss of kelp forests globally, affecting their ecological and economic values. Kelp populations at the equatorward range edges are particularly vulnerable to warming, which may result in the loss of unique adaptive or evolutionary genetic diversity. Through genetic analysis, we identified haplotype diversity in the dominant Laminarian kelp Ecklonia radiata in the south-western Pacific, a region experiencing high warming rates. We discovered a genetically diverse deep-water range-edge population off Moreton Island, Queensland, which serves as a refuge during climatic changes and requires urgent conservation efforts.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Matt J. Nimbs, Tom R. Davis, Sebastian P. Holmes, Lachlan Hill, Samara Wehmeyer, Amanda Prior, Jane E. Williamson
Summary: The genus Smeagol includes five named species of air-breathing marine slugs, with restricted distribution to southern Australia, New Zealand, and southern Japan. The critically endangered S. hilaris from New South Wales has had a known distribution limited to Merry Beach. This study surveyed the known population at Merry Beach and discovered a new population at Storm Bay, doubling the known global populations of this species. DNA barcoding confirmed the conspecificity among the populations and recommendations for ongoing management are provided.
Article
Ecology
Tom R. Davis, Curtis Champion, Steve Dalton, Melinda A. Coleman
Summary: Climate change is causing coral species to move towards the poles, but the rate and extent of such movements in temperate regions are rarely studied. It is important to understand the future distribution of corals to anticipate the social, economic, and environmental consequences. This study projects the expansion of suitable thermal conditions for coral communities along the east Australian coast using data on coral presence and ocean temperatures. The findings show that coral communities dominated by subtropical coral species could extend their range by 80 to 450 km by the year 2100, and diverse coral communities may expand by 130 to 580 km. These projections are similar to those in other parts of the world, and the establishment of coral communities in temperate regions could create new economic opportunities, particularly in marine tourism.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Graham J. Edgar, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Freddie J. Heather, Neville S. Barrett, Emre Turak, Hugh Sweatman, Michael J. Emslie, Danny J. Brock, Jamie Hicks, Ben French, Susan C. Baker, Steffan A. Howe, Alan Jordan, Nathan A. Knott, Peter Mooney, Antonia T. Cooper, Elizabeth S. Oh, German A. Soler, Camille Mellin, Scott D. Ling, Jillian C. Dunic, John W. Turnbull, Paul B. Day, Meryl F. Larkin, Yanir Seroussi, Jemina Stuart-Smith, Ella Clausius, Tom R. Davis, Joe Shields, Derek Shields, Olivia J. Johnson, Yann Herrera Fuchs, Lara Denis-Roy, Tyson Jones, Amanda E. Bates
Summary: Human society is dependent on nature, but the lack of systematic monitoring of species' populations makes it unknown whether our ecological foundations are at risk. Knowledge of species fluctuations is particularly inadequate in the marine realm. In this study, the population trends of 1,057 common shallow reef species in Australia over the past decade were assessed. Most populations decreased, including tropical fishes, temperate invertebrates, and southwestern Australian macroalgae, while coral populations remained stable. Heatwaves were found to be a significant factor in population declines, and species abundances tended to decline near warm range edges and increase near cool range edges. Efforts to expand monitoring of species' population trends are crucial for conservation and adaptation to anthropogenic and natural pressures.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tom R. Davis, Nathan A. Knott, Curtis Champion, Rachel Przeslawski
Summary: The urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii is expanding its range southward in eastern Australia, and the increase in its density is causing negative ecological impacts, especially the conversion of kelp forests to barrens. This study analyzes data from underwater surveys conducted between 1992 and 2022 to develop a density model for C. rodgersii and predicts future densities by 2100. The results show significant increases in C. rodgersii densities in the South-east marine region but no significant increases in the Temperate East marine region. Future projections suggest further increases in the South-east region and reductions in the Temperate East region by 2100.