Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Potential effects of climate change on Australian estuaries and fish utilising estuaries: a review

Share this record

Add to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to XAdd to WechatAdd to Microsoft_teamsAdd to WhatsappAdd to Any

Export this record

View Altmetrics

Gillanders, B. M., Elsdon, T. S., Halliday, I. A., Jenkins, G. P., Robins, J. B. and Valesini, F. J. (2011) Potential effects of climate change on Australian estuaries and fish utilising estuaries: a review. Marine and Freshwater Research, 62 (9). pp. 1115-1131.

[img]
Preview
PDF
347kB

Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF11047

Publisher URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MF11047

Abstract

Estuaries are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because changes in climatic and hydrologic variables that influence freshwater and marine systems will also affect estuaries. We review potential impacts of climate change on Australian estuaries and their fish. Geographic differences are likely because southern Australian climates are predicted to become warmer and drier, whereas northern regions may see increased precipitation. Environmental factors, including salinity gradients, suspended sediment, dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentrations, will be influenced by changing freshwater input and other climate variables. Potential impacts will vary depending on the geomorphology of the estuary and the level of build-up of sand bars across estuarine entrances. Changes to estuarine fish assemblages will depend on associated changes to salinity and estuarine-mouth morphology. Marine migrants may be severely affected by closure of estuarine mouths, depending on whether species ‘must’ use estuarine habitat and the level of migratory v. resident individuals. Depending on how fish in coastal waters locate estuaries, there may be reduced cues associated with estuarine mouths, particularly in southern Australia, potentially influencing abundance. In summary, climate change is expected to have major consequences for Australian estuaries and associated fish, although the nature of impacts will show significant regional variation.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Animal Science
Keywords:estuarine mouth, freshwater, marine, salinity.
Subjects:Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Fishery resources
Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Fishery conservation
Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Fishery research
Live Archive:27 Mar 2019 23:15
Last Modified:16 Oct 2024 23:53

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics