The western Australian region
Walker, D.I. (2000). The western Australian region, in: Sheppard, C.R.C. (Ed.) Seas at the millennium: an environmental evaluation: 2. Regional chapters: The Indian Ocean to The Pacific. pp. 691-704 In: Sheppard, C.R.C. (Ed.) (2000). Seas at the millennium: an environmental evaluation: 2. Regional chapters: The Indian Ocean to The Pacific. Pergamon: Amsterdam. ISBN 0-08-043207-7. XXI, 920 pp., more |
| Available in | Author | | Document type: Review
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| Abstract | western Australia has some 12,500 kIn of coastline, and about four million square kilometres of Australia's EEZ lies off its coastline. This long coastline has a diversity of environments, ranging from corals and mangroves in the tropics to seagrasses and cool, temperate macroalgal reefs on the south coast. Much of this marine environment is poorly described or understood. This chapter provides a brief description of the coastal geomorphology , habitats and their biogeography, and assesses human impacts on this diverse marine environment. The low population base in Western Australia has resulted in relatively low scales of impacts on the marine environment, but there are examples of degradation, particularly associated with centres of population in the southwest. The dominant factors affecting the marine environment in Western Australia are degradation of habitat, contamination, the introduction of exotic species and harvesting of marine species. More detailed studies of the West Australian marine environment are required if a sound basis for management is to be developed, both within and outside the marine park and reserve system. There have been few coherent, broad-based studies (both in time and space) that have researched the cumulative impact of pollution, siltation, habitat fragmentation and introductions of invasive species on community structure of marine communities. There are some 15 different government agencies which have some responsibility for management of the West Australian marine environment and a more coherent approach to management is required by government agencies. |
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