How Climate Change Affects Australian Ecosystems

Although climate change is an issue worldwide, Australia struggles with its effects more than almost any other nation. The country is already hot, dry, and prone to droughts. Its plight garnered attention in 2016 and 2017 when the Great Barrier Reef experienced mass bleachings that killed half of its corals.

Guest post by Josy O'Donnel the Creator of Conservation Institute. 

 However, ecosystems in the interior of the country are also suffering. Alpine forests shift to higher altitudes as ocean levels drop, rainforests are unusually warm, areas with fresh and groundwater adapt to different amounts of rain, and the savannahs are ravaged by bushfires. 2017 was the third-warmest year on record for Australia. The heat wasn’t even accentuated by El Niño, the routine climate pattern that regularly warms the Pacific. In fact, seven of the nation’s ten hottest years have occurred since 2005. Since the early 1900’s, the average temperature in Australia has increased by one degree Celsius. Although that may not sound like much, even a subtle difference in temperature over a prolonged period can induce extreme weather. Australia is no stranger to a variable climate, but the heatwaves, fire seasons, and droughts have become unusual even for this wild country. There are many examples of these extremes. The frequency and severity of bushfires have received special attention recently.

Over the past forty years, the number of extreme fire risk days has dramatically increased and could double by 2050. As a result, many alpine forests have been destroyed, leaving only shrubland. This issue is especially problematic in the interior and the southeast of Australia, one of the three most fire-prone areas in the world. The combination of extreme weather events with a gradual rise in temperature could be lethal for the ecosystems of Australia.

As certain areas become too warm, wildlife migrates toward cooler areas, infringing on the previous inhabitants. In many cases, the dislocated species will migrate themselves, but certain species have nowhere to go, like those at the top of mountains. These species face extinction. Other areas have also revealed changes with no clear implications.

Researchers have recorded changes in the distribution of species, the timing of their life cycle, physiology, and gender ratios. There are also changes to the water cycles and overall structure and function of ecosystems. It is difficult to predict future changes and their impact, but it is clear that the transformations will be substantial and cover the nation. The worst scenario is an ecosystem collapse. In this case, the changes are catastrophic. Perhaps an integral species dies out suddenly due to repeated events that it could not recover from. Or perhaps the decline is gradual. Either way, the lost populations permanently destroy the ability of the ecosystem to function. Wild animals are not the only potential victims of climate change. As drought overtakes the Outback, agriculture also suffers. Those working in livestock and agriculture are used to variable weather and have developed strategies to handle it. However, extended climate change may become too much. 

Many ranchers are already putting down cattle that they no longer have water to support. Since three-quarters of crops and livestock are exported in a non-drought year, this decrease in productivity could be disastrous. New South Wales, the most populous state in Australia, is officially in 100 per cent drought. Farmers have been feeding their cattle by hand since the grasslands are nothing but dirt. They also are now allowed to shoot kangaroos that are using their grazing land. Scientists agree that climate change plays a role in this troubling scenario. 

The tourist industry may also face difficult times. Like the Great Barrier Reef, the vast reaches of Australia’s interior are pristine, almost untouched. They have attracted tourists for decades. As the ecosystems are altered by climate change, the industry will have to adapt accordingly. Although many factors contribute to climate change, some of this unusual weather does seem to be induced by human activity. Australia is the fourth-largest producer of coal in the world. This industry emits a massive amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. For the farmers in New South Wales, the government has produced a relief package, but it has decided that legislation to mitigate climate change will not help. The government is also supporting the construction of a huge coal mine near the Great Barrier Reef. Meanwhile, Australia waits to see if its government is right, or if the future many scientists fear will come true. 

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