Ecosystems at Risk: Home

The Australian continent supports a vast array of ecosystem types. Australia’s bioregion framework recognises 89 regions and 419 subregions based on common climate, geology, landform, native vegetation and species information, all of which are described in the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia.
All 19 Australian ecosystems reported to be showing signs of collapse experience multiple pressures, including 12 that experience more than 10 pressures. In recent years, pressures have become more severe, widespread and more frequent.

A landmark study published today in the international journal Global Change Biology has issued a stark warning of transformational change occurring in Australian ecosystems.

Academic article.
Globally, collapse of ecosystems—potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function—imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58° of latitude across 7.7 M km2, from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic ‘presses’ and/or acute ‘pulses’, drive ecosystem collapse.

Australia’s natural species and ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change and will have difficulty adapting to the rate and extent of projected changes. Many species are at risk because they are restricted in geographical and climatic range.
Alpine regions, south-western Australia, coral reefs and freshwater wetlands are likely to be particularly vulnerable. There are also likely to be significant changes to our marine ecosystems due to warmer water temperatures and the threat of ocean acidification.