the great barrier reef & stockton sand dunes
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The Great Barrier Reef and Stockton Bight Sand Dunes
Geography Research Task
Part A – Question 1 Great Barrier Reef Stockton Bight Sand Dunes
Biophysical interactions
http://mrstevennewman.com/geo/GBR/biophysical_interactions.htm, Steven Newman, 17th November 2013 (Research site)
http://www.mrstevennewman.com/geo/Stockton/Biophysical_Interactions/Main.htm , Steven Newman, 19th November (Research site
Spatial patterns
Les Hiddens, The Coral Coast, published by ABC Books. 20th November 2013 (books)
Stockton Bight’s Tin City Under Threat from dune erosion. Neil Keene, August 23rd 2013 http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/stockton-‐bight8217s-‐tin-‐city-‐under-‐threat-‐from-‐dune-‐erosion-‐but-‐residents-‐stay-‐on/story-‐fni0cx12-‐1226702430946 (website)
Changing Nature
Great Barrier Reef, Nature’s Miracle, BBC Two. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqxnxUtHPKU, 19th November 2013 (video)
Great sandy land, Rachel Sullivan, ABC Science, http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/02/10/2807917.htm. Published 10th February 2010. Accessed 27th November 2013 (article)
Human Impacts
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in Colour, Keith Gillett, published by Reed Books. 25th November (information book)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW7BCgsda_4, Sarah McEwan, 19th November 2013 (video)
Management strategies
Macquarie HSC Geography, John Paine, Greg Reid and Debra Owens, Pages 66-‐84. 27th November (textbook/study notes)
Management practices that are in place at Stockton Bight http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/jointmanagement/stocktonjointmanagement.htm, 27th Wednesday 2013 (website)
Part A – Question 2 Source 1 – Biophysical interactions – Great Barrier Reef This source clearly identifies the aspects of the interactions that are involved with the Great Barrier Reef. It has been developed and complied by a schoolteacher that has had experience in the field of geography making it a reliable and trustworthy source. The source also gives in great detail the many aspects of the biophysical interactions that are occurring at the Great Barrier Reef, which will help me with my inquiry and investigation of the aspects of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. The source has been created recently which allows for the information used to be up to date and on par with all recent statistics. The source indicates clear information about the barrier reef and gives general information about the interactions the GBR is facing. Source 2 – Changing Nature – Stockton Bight Sand Dunes The article gives valuable information and interesting statistics that directly relate to changes occurring at Stockton. Although the source was published in 2010 it allows me to compare results and information found recently. Produced by a writer who has written a majority of article relating to geographical issues, which proves it validity allowing for it to provide key information. It talks about the changes occurring and some aspects relating to human impacts that are inducing these varieties of issues. This source although a little outdated provides information that I can further use and compare against more recent findings. Source 3 – Management Strategies – Stockton Bight Sand Dunes This Government website provides specific information regarding the traditional (indigenous) ongoing management on the sand dunes. As this source is created and edited by the government of new south wales, proves that the source is trustworthy and wealthy in information. It gives specific management practices that are currently in place at the sand dunes and also interesting statistics that relate directly to the topic of management. The Source was very useful in providing facts and evidence to support my other sources and further back up my answer. The source is continuously being updated as more strategies are in place, which provides an accurate example of the ongoing management at Stockton. Source 4 – Management Strategies – Great Barrier Reef The Macquarie Textbook study guide textbook provides information on the key areas that the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing and what it has experienced over the past years. This source is useful and has a distinguished reputation across a variety of educational facilities. It was useful in my investigation as it gave me information that I required in my query and supplied me with statistics and issues arising and also how some of these issues can relate back to the other aspects of my query. Complied by renowned textbook writers and based accordingly to the most recent syllabus and was updated in 2010. Although it is not entirely new and up to date with recent statistics it allowed me to back up my main points of interest.
Source 5 – Human Impacts – Stockton Bight This documentary provided information from first hand geographers at the site but did not provide me with valuable information at all. Although the documentary explained the physical features and gave me the experience, which would have experienced if I were there myself. Inexperienced geographers that were investigating the issues arising in the dune system compiled this documentary. As it was complied by the geographers it cant be trusted as a valuable source but still might provide a better insight into the issues arising.
Part A -‐ Question 3 Analyse the human impacts affecting the nature and rate of change of The Great Barrier Reef and Stockton Bight Sand dunes Analyse -‐ Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications Essay Plan: Introduction –
-‐ Introduce main ideas and key aspects revolving to the question -‐ Spatial patterns and the choose human impacts
Body Paragraph one –
-‐ Identify human impact (Global Warming) at GBR -‐ How it affects the rate and natural change at GBR -‐ How it effects the present (photo) -‐ How it will effect the future (graph/statistic) -‐ Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature
Body Paragraph two –
-‐ Identify human impact (Pollution) at GBR -‐ How it affects the rate and natural change at GBR -‐ How it effects the present (photo) -‐ How it will effect the future (graph/statistic) -‐ Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature -‐
Body Paragraph three – -‐ Identify human impact (Sea wall position incorrect) at Stockton Bight
Sand Dunes -‐ How it affects the rate and natural change at Stockton -‐ How it effects the present (photo) -‐ How it will effect the future (graph/statistic) -‐ Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature
Body Paragraph four – -‐ Identify human impact (Introduced Species: Rabbit, Weeds and Bitou
Bush) at Stockton Bight Sand Dunes -‐ How it affects the rate and natural change at Stockton -‐ How it effects the present (photo) -‐ How it will effect the future (graph/statistic) -‐ Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature
Conclusion
-‐ Sum up all linkages and main points mentioned in the body paragraphs -‐ Link all back to the question
Part B – Essay Analyse the human impacts affecting the nature and rate of change in The Great Barrier Reef and the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes Ecosystems are a complex diversity of living things, which as part of nature are affecting by a variety of human impacts. The nature and the rate of change that is occurring in accordance to the impacts vary on how complex the ecosystem is and the rate in which the impact is occurring. The Great Barrier Reef located to the north of Queensland, Australia and being such a popular aquatic ecosystem with the people and tourism in the area is experiencing a vast increase in the rate of change and its nature and the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes are experiencing similar issues but mainly because of the changing nature because of the human impacts. The Great Barrier Reef is located within the tropic of Capricorn and the Equator thus the climate is warm throughout the year. It is 8 degrees south latitude to 24 degrees south latitude. The Great Barrier Reef is known to be about 8000 years old. (Make reference to Fig 1.1) The Stockton Bight sand dunes are located in the mid-‐point of New South Wales, and are located in a semi-‐arid and temperate location mainly because it would experience onshore prevailing winds. The mid point of the sand dunes is approximately latitude of 32 degrees 50’S and a longitude of 151 degrees 53’E. (Make reference to Fig 1.2) The issue of global warming is affecting a wide range of areas across the globe but it has a significant impact upon the Great Barrier Reef. Global warming has caused coral bleaching; this occurs when the water temperature fluctuates and increased UV radiation. Coral are delicate living things and the slightest change in temperature and UV radiation can create further problems. Bleached corals can recover and return to normal but if stressed condition continue the coral may die. (Figure 1.3) At present day, out of the all of the inshore reefs 87% were bleached. Of the bleached reefs 67% had high levels of bleaching and 25% severely bleached. (ReefEd, Australian Government, 2012) The statistics show
here that the continuous stress on the barrier reef would see a large piece of it diminish in the coming years. The Reefs acts as like a barrier protecting the coastline of Queensland, which looking at the perspective of the economy would see a decline in tourism and capital, therefore the Government developed a plan in allocating a budget to conserve the great barrier reef by replenishing it with sediments and resources. The environmental issues that would arise if such issue occurred would create issues such as the disruptions with the species living in the ecosystem and the coastline would lose a major protection against storm erosion. Pollution has made significant impacts upon the Great Barrier Reef and its survival. An example of the human induced pollution is of the run off from coastal development and the increased tourism in and out of the inshore reefs. (Fig 1.4) The runoff of sediments from farmers is slowly taking its toll on the biodiversity present within the reefs, this is evident with a large out break of the crown of thorns starfish, which is a coral eating starfish which is disrupting the dynamic equilibrium of the reefs. (Great Barrier Reef: unwell or terminally ill, Michael Green, 5 Dec 2013, SMH) Statistics show that every 15 years an increase/outbreak of the starfish occurs. This is mainly due to the doubling of chlorophyll. (Sitemaker Education, Donald Dunley, 2012) (Fig 1.5). This all together is degrading the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef, which can in the long run cause problems with the ecosystem and the inhabitants such as the coral and various species of fish. Its important to protect the Reef and implement strategies such as reducing the amount of Crown of Thorns starfish because protecting a reef that is detrimental to the survival of ecosystems on shore should be a main priority. The Stockton Bight Sand dunes are a self-‐managing dune system that is powered by the accretion cycle. This is the building of the entire dune system through the use of wind and other erosional and depositional interactions. The building of the sea wall to the north of the dunes has disrupted the process of longshore drift and as a response the dune system of the past few years has caused the fore dune to reside and fall back. (Refer to fig 1.6) The sediment that was being provided by the longshore drift is not making its way back to the beach. (Human Impacts, Steven Newman, Aug 15 2012). The sea wall in itself is a management strategy but in this case has created too much of an interference to the natural processes causing a disruption in the equilibrium. It’s important that the dune system is kept at a sustainable level because the fore dune acts like a storm buffer after the erosive features of the storm have occurred. A year ago a strong storm hit and the Stockton beach had been severely eroded resulting in the fore dune being broken in 25 places and the end result being the beach became lower and steeper. (The Herald, Mathew Kelly, 16 October 2012) There is a risk of the coastal development and recreation activities around the area to be washed away with the sea as the storm brings destructive waves. Costly reworking of the sea wall is undergoing and could take a certain amount of time before the dune system is functioning properly at its normal rate. Humans are constantly inducing more stress onto ecosystems and this is evident through the introduction of a variety of different plant and animal species,
particularly weeds and rabbits, which have been introduced into the fragile dune ecosystem. In order for plants and animals to survive in the harsh dunes they must be able to tolerate the poor soils, strong winds and salt spray. Weeds are spread by off road vehicles and the soles of people. Eradicating these weeds is a labour intensive job and thus costly for the people in charge. This has seen a wider increase of the past years (refer to fig 1.7), which depicts that the ecosystem is experiencing dramatic, drops in the native plants and increases in human introduced weeds but also managed by the Bitou bush. Rabbits are suspected to be the cause of the issue and probably the most destructive species ever to be introduced into Australia. It is important to manage the dune system as it acts as the buffer to coastal development on the shoreline and is the habitat to many various species of fauna and flora. (Macquarie HSC Geography, John Paine, pg 68) The Great Barrier Reef and Stockton Bight sand dunes are consistently being put under natural and human induced stress, which is destroying the natural equilibrium and biodiversity of flora and fauna present. It is important that the people in charge of taking care and looking after the protected area implement strategies as these two ecosystems house some of Australia’s most precious and prestigious species that need to conserved for the future generation. Although different issues are affecting Stockton Bight and The Great Barrier Reef they are still facing destruction at a faster rate by the human impacts implemented.
One Appendix – Adrian Todorovski
Fig. 1.2 Maps of Stockton Bight dunes http://www.superyachtsydney.com.au/newcastle/, NSW Super yacht industry, 2011
Fig 1.1Map of Great Barrier Reef, http://tierneyinoz.blogspot.com.au/ , 2010, Tierney
Fig 1.5 Predicted Chlorophyll levels over the past 15 years and estimated 2020 result, http://sitemaker.umich.edu/gc2sec7labgroup3/pollution , Donald Dunley
Fig 1.4 Comparison between healthy and bleached corals, Michael Grayham Richard, http://www.treehugger.com/natural-‐sciences/coral-‐bleaching-‐creates-‐a-‐vicious-‐cycle-‐of-‐further-‐bleaching-‐and-‐disease.html , 2011
Fig 1.3 Runoff of sediments and Farmer pesticides into the inshore reefs, The Australian, February 2007
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Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Fig 1.6 Stokton beach sea wall, http://beachsafe.org.au/beach/nsw239, Surf Life Savers
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Weeds
Native Plants
Fig 1.7 Weeds vs Native Plants, The Herald Newcastle 2012, Mathew Kelly