Ecological risk to aquatic systems from salinity increases

• DOI: 10.1071/bt02111
• Publication Date: 2003-12-04T18:28:15Z
• Authors: Barry T. Hart; P. S. Lake; J. Angus Webb; Michael R. Grace
• Keywords: Biota; Dryland salinity

Salinity is a major problem in many regions of Australia, and predicted to get considerably worse over the next 30–50 years. Most effort has focused on terrestrial environment, specifically loss productive agricultural land. Increased salinity can also result unwanted changes aquatic ecosystems rivers, streams particularly wetlands.This paper first reviews importance assessing risks from increases catchment context, then introduces disturbance–response conceptual model assist with understanding such situations. Two factors are shown be important which freshwater systems will most susceptible salinity—the location landscape, current ecological condition system. The resilience an ecosystem disturbances useful concept further knowledge may incorporated into risk-assessment approaches.The development new risk assessment approach for Goulburn–Broken medium (20 years) long (100 term reported. biota Hughes Creek, tributary Goulburn River, assessed by using probabilistic approach. Current levels creek present low biota.Finally, addresses challenge making method more quantitative discussing following two key aspects: how better quantify linkages between stressors biotic components, handle uncertainties.