Assessment Report Ecosystems nature’s diversity > Healthy wisely for the Healthy oceans: for the The South-east Regional Marine Plan Title: Ecosystems – Nature’s diversity The South-east Regional Marine Plan Assessment Reports Copyright: National Oceans Office 2002 Disclaimer: This report was prepared by the National Oceans Office to assist with consultation on the development of the South-east Regional Marine Plan, as part of the Commonwealth Government’s Australia’s Oceans Policy. The views expressed in this report are not necessarily those of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the contents of this report. Sourcing: Copies of this report are available from: The National Oceans Office Level 1, 80 Elizabeth St, Hobart GPO Box 2139 Hobart TAS 7001 Tel: +61 3 6221 5000 Fax: +61 3 6221 5050 www.oceans.gov.au For further information about this report, contact Ester Guerzoni, Public Affairs Officer, tel (03) 6221 5000. 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Credits: Design: CSIRO Marine Research Prepress: Photolith Printing: Printing Authority of Tasmania Published by the National Oceans Office Photographs: Sea plant (cover), seals, starfish, seaweed © Karen Gowlett-Holmes; squid (cover) © Dave Stevenson; spray/waves (cover), microscopic sea organism © CSIRO Marine Research Division State Library Ref: Ecosystems – Nature’s diversity South-east Regional Marine Plan Assessment Reports 1-877043-14-1 Ecosystems Contents nature’s diversity nature’s Executive Summary . .ii Chapter 3: Ecosystem links and functions . .45 Preface . .iv Life in the ocean . .45 Introduction . 1 Energy sources, nutrient flows Ecosystem-based management . .2 and biological production . .45 Ecological boundaries and Energy flows and food webs . .46 the scope of this assessment . .2 Population dynamics and Structure and contents of this report . .3 life-history strategies . .47 Chapter 1: The state of knowledge . .5 Marine life history strategies . .48 Hidden and unsuspected wealth Dispersal and migration . .49 in the deep sea . .5 Structural complexity . .50 Complex seafloor topography . .5 Large-scale processes in the Region . .51 Unique and unfamiliar organisms . .6 Primary production . .51 Understanding species interactions . .7 Energy transfer . .52 Chapter 2: Ecosystems . .8 Nutrients . .52 Classifying ecosystems . .8 Food supply . .53 A matter of scale . .8 Dispersal and migration . .53 Nested structures . .9 Larval dispersal and survival . .55 Broad environment types . .10 Migration . .56 Creating manageable units . .11 Ecosystems examples . .57 Large Marine Domains . .11 Relevant terrestrial environments . .57 Interim Marine and Coastal Inshore and inner shelf . .58 Regionalisation of Australia . .12 Mid and outer shelf . .64 Interim Bioregionalisation . .13 Continental slope . .68 The seascape of the Pelagic . .72 South-east Marine Region . .18 Regional links . .83 Geological history . .18 Land-ocean links . .83 Oceanographic characteristics . .25 Seafloor-water column links . .83 Life in the South-east Marine Region . .32 Inshore-offshore links . .84 A global hot spot of marine biodiversity . .32 Chapter 4: The ecological basis for planning in the South-east High levels of endemic species . .32 Marine Region . .85 Broad-scale patterns of Appendicies species distribution and richness . .33 Marine flora . .34 Appendix A: IMCRA meso-scale bioregions in the South-east Marine Region . .89 Marine invertebrates . .37 Appendix B: Interim Bioregionalisation Vertebrates . .40 of deep water environments of the Threatened species . .42 South-east Marine Region . .96 Introduced marine species . .43 Appendix C: South-east Marine Region commercial fish species . .107 Appendix D: Species of Conservation Significance – status and ecological profile . .148 Appendix E: Working Group membership and terms of reference . .204 References . .205 i > ecosystems – nature’s diversity This assessment will help towards developing an ecosystem-based regional marine plan for the South- east Marine Region by providing an overview of the structure and function of the ecosystems of the Region. Executive Summary The focus of the assessment is on providing key inputs for developing an ecosystem-based regional marine plan. Although Australia’s history of large-scale use of marine These inputs include an Interim Bioregionalisation and resources may be short, it has nevertheless left its mark Conceptual Models of the functional links between on the ecosystems of the South-east Marine Region. ecosystems, along with general background information on Pressures to use the ocean’s wealth means that we need the physical and biological characteristics of the Region. to put in place a way of managing all our interests as As well, the assessment includes a review of the state matter of increasing urgency to ensure the sustainability of of knowledge of the biological and physical characteristics marine resources. This requires an understanding of the of the Region gathered from relevant scientific literature ocean ecosystems and their responses to human uses and meetings with experts as well as a series of and our capacity to predict outcomes. commissioned projects. Despite the recent advances in understanding marine It provides useful tools and information that will assist ecosystems our knowledge of the Region is embryonic us in the next phase of the regional marine planning and this state of knowledge, combined with the complex process, as we move from the assessments phase to and dynamic nature of marine ecosystems, have developing a regional marine plan. implications for management. Ecosystem-based management is a significant shift in the management of human use of the environment. In principle, it recognises that ecosystems are complex, interconnected and dynamic and that we rely on these ecosystems for essential resources. It also recognises that our ability to accurately predict the outcomes of our use of marine resources is imperfect, and the need to develop precautionary, adapative structures to minimise the risk of irreversible change to the ecosystems. This shift is a response to the growing realisation that we need to move to a more integrated approach for assessing and managing human use of natural resources if we are to maintain healthy marine ecosystems and the benefits we derive from them. ii ecosystems – nature’s diversity Ecosystems To provide the ecological foundations for the development of ecosystem-based planning and management arrangements for the Region, the diversity nature’s biological and physical assessment is organised into three streams of work: The Interim Bioregionalisation is the first step in developing planning, management and monitoring • ecosystem structure – devising planning units based arrangements based on our current knowledge of the on the characteristics of the ecosystem. The major ecological structure of the Region. The Conceptual outcome is an Interim Bioregionalisation for the Models give an overview of our current understanding Region. A Working Group provided expert advice of the key processes that drive the dynamics of the and assistance, and eight research projects were different ecosystem types in the Region and what that commissioned to develop the bioregions. tells us about their potential vulnerability to different • ecosystem function – understanding the dynamics human activities. The synthesis of our current knowledge of the ecosystems in the Region and the physical describes the diversity of plants and animals that and ecological processes that link them. The major comprise the ecosystems of the Region, how they vary outcome of this work is a set of ecosystem Conceptual in different parts of the Region, and the current status Models – illustrative graphics and accompanying text of species of conservation or resource significance. Each – that provide a basis for developing ecosystem of these components develops our understanding of the objectives and indicators. A Working Group provided ecosystems of the Region. expert advice and assistance. The next steps in developing ecosystem-based regional • synthesising existing knowledge - gathering published marine plans for the Region are to define planning and scientific information on the structure and function management boundaries, and develop objectives and of the Region’s ecosystems. We have used this indicators for ecosystems, to be used in performance information in developing the ecosystem Conceptual assessment and management feedback. While the Models and the content for this assessment report. information obtained from this assessment will inform each of these steps, they need to be developed in conjunction with information from the other assessment streams and with the direct participation of all stakeholders. iii > ecosystems – nature’s diversity Preface Australia’s Oceans Policy and regional marine planning provides a framework for the people of Australia to explore, use, protect and enjoy our extensive marine resources. As its base, the Policy recognises the need to protect the biological diversity of the marine