| Autor: |
Gillies CL; The Nature Conservancy Australia, Carlton, Victoria, Australia., McLeod IM; TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia., Alleway HK; Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia., Cook P; Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia, Albany, Western Australia, Australia., Crawford C; Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia., Creighton C; TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia., Diggles B; DigsFish Services, Banksia Beach, Queensland, Australia., Ford J; School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia., Hamer P; Victorian Fisheries Authority, Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia., Heller-Wagner G; TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia., Lebrault E; Fisheries NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia., Le Port A; TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia., Russell K; Fisheries NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia., Sheaves M; TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia., Warnock B; Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia, Albany, Western Australia, Australia. |
| Abstrakt: |
We review the status of marine shellfish ecosystems formed primarily by bivalves in Australia, including: identifying ecosystem-forming species, assessing their historical and current extent, causes for decline and past and present management. Fourteen species of bivalves were identified as developing complex, three-dimensional reef or bed ecosystems in intertidal and subtidal areas across tropical, subtropical and temperate Australia. A dramatic decline in the extent and condition of Australia's two most common shellfish ecosystems, developed by Saccostrea glomerata and Ostrea angasi oysters, occurred during the mid-1800s to early 1900s in concurrence with extensive harvesting for food and lime production, ecosystem modification, disease outbreaks and a decline in water quality. Out of 118 historical locations containing O. angasi-developed ecosystems, only one location still contains the ecosystem whilst only six locations are known to still contain S. glomerata-developed ecosystems out of 60 historical locations. Ecosystems developed by the introduced oyster Crasostrea gigas are likely to be increasing in extent, whilst data on the remaining 11 ecosystem-forming species are limited, preventing a detailed assessment of their current ecosystem-forming status. Our analysis identifies that current knowledge on extent, physical characteristics, biodiversity and ecosystem services of Australian shellfish ecosystems is extremely limited. Despite the limited information on shellfish ecosystems, a number of restoration projects have recently been initiated across Australia and we propose a number of existing government policies and conservation mechanisms, if enacted, would readily serve to support the future conservation and recovery of Australia's shellfish ecosystems. |
