Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem (ANAE) Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem (ANAE)

Classification SchemeClassification Scheme

Christopher Auricht and Sarah ImgrabenChristopher Auricht and Sarah Imgraben

Overview and StatusOverview and Status

Estuarine-Marine Workshop, Canberra 14Estuarine-Marine Workshop, Canberra 14thth May 2013 May 2013

Why do we need a national Why do we need a national Classification?Classification?

Not possible to manage aquatic systems if you don’t Not possible to manage aquatic systems if you don’t know where they are, know where they are, what theywhat they areare,, and and how they how they function. (Plus information on values, threatening function. (Plus information on values, threatening processes & changes over time)processes & changes over time)

Need to represent the broad range of systems in simple Need to represent the broad range of systems in simple meaningful, discrete and ecologically relevant groupsmeaningful, discrete and ecologically relevant groups

Lake – Lacustrine

Vegetated swamp – Palustrine

Riverine (+ fringing vegetation)

Estuarine & Marine

Aquatic SystemsAquatic Systems

Lac

Riv (GDE)

SUB (GDE)

Pal (GDE)

Pal

Riv

Lac (GDE)

Mar

Est

Integrated SystemIntegrated System

Mapping

Overall AE Adaptive Mgmt Framework - Where Overall AE Adaptive Mgmt Framework - Where Classification Fits (Current Understanding)Classification Fits (Current Understanding)

Where they are

What they are

How they function

How are they changing - monitoring

Applications for classification

HEVAE

Mgmt

EWR’sThreatened Sp

NRS

Climate Change CfoC

Values, services, threats & pressures

Requirements for Generic National SystemRequirements for Generic National System

Applicable at multiple scales (spatial and temporal)Applicable at multiple scales (spatial and temporal)

Integrate between different aquatic habitats (functional Integrate between different aquatic habitats (functional aspects and connectivity)aspects and connectivity)

Utilise and integrate existing national datasets (remote Utilise and integrate existing national datasets (remote sensing)sensing)

Translation with jurisdictional databases / systemsTranslation with jurisdictional databases / systems

Workable with different levels of data availability (data rich, Workable with different levels of data availability (data rich, data poor)data poor)

Transparent, comprehensive, inclusive, easy to useTransparent, comprehensive, inclusive, easy to use

Scientifically rigorousScientifically rigorous

Classification ApproachesClassification Approaches

Unstructured – list e.g. Ramsar, DIWAUnstructured – list e.g. Ramsar, DIWA

Abiotic - driver based e.g. River Styles, estuarine, Abiotic - driver based e.g. River Styles, estuarine, hydrogeomorphic hydrogeomorphic

Biological - bottom-up, species e.g. State-based Biological - bottom-up, species e.g. State-based bioregionalisationsbioregionalisations

Holistic – combination of abiotic and biotic Holistic – combination of abiotic and biotic

e.g. Cowardin, IBRA, IMCRA, e.g. Cowardin, IBRA, IMCRA, ANAEANAE

ANAE: Key FeaturesANAE: Key Features

Based on clearly defined and described attributes at Based on clearly defined and described attributes at three levels (two regionalisations)three levels (two regionalisations)

Attributes are key drivers of ecological functioning at Attributes are key drivers of ecological functioning at different levelsdifferent levels

Attributes link to each other in different systemsAttributes link to each other in different systems

Allows for a combination of attributes (system) used to Allows for a combination of attributes (system) used to determine habitat ‘type’ but types are not specified within determine habitat ‘type’ but types are not specified within the systemthe system

Structured but non-hierarchical at system and habitat Structured but non-hierarchical at system and habitat levellevel

Not all attributes are needed or available all the timeNot all attributes are needed or available all the time

Spatial ScalesSpatial Scales

Level 3 Site / Asset Delineation

Classification

ANAE StructureANAE Structure

Structure - unpackedStructure - unpacked

Level 1Level 1

A broad driver based AE Regionalisation: A broad driver based AE Regionalisation:

LandformLandform – broad scale physiographic units from existing – broad scale physiographic units from existing national regionalisation datasets provide the bio-national regionalisation datasets provide the bio-geographic and evolutionary context for aquatic geographic and evolutionary context for aquatic ecosystems and habitatsecosystems and habitats

ClimateClimate – existing broad scale climate regionalisations – existing broad scale climate regionalisations e.g. Köppen, capture the broad differences in climate e.g. Köppen, capture the broad differences in climate (temperature, rainfall and seasons) which are considered (temperature, rainfall and seasons) which are considered contemporary modifiers of the bio-geographic distribution contemporary modifiers of the bio-geographic distribution and evolutionary traits of aquatic habitatsand evolutionary traits of aquatic habitats

HydrologyHydrology – broad scale drainage divisions which capture – broad scale drainage divisions which capture the catchments within which aquatic habitats occurthe catchments within which aquatic habitats occur

Level 2Level 2

A number of datasets and regionalisations exist A number of datasets and regionalisations exist that are appropriate to the landscape covering the that are appropriate to the landscape covering the thematic areas of:thematic areas of:

Topography Topography

Landform (inc floodplain / non-floodplain)Landform (inc floodplain / non-floodplain)

Water influenceWater influence

Level 3 and attributesLevel 3 and attributes

Attributes: Inland & Coastal Surface Aquatics Attributes: Inland & Coastal Surface Aquatics (lacustrine / palustrine / riverine)(lacustrine / palustrine / riverine)

Water Source Water Source surface (flood/non-floodplain), groundwater, bothsurface (flood/non-floodplain), groundwater, both

Water Type Water Type saline, freshsaline, fresh pHpH

Water Regime Water Regime permanent, intermittent, ephemeralpermanent, intermittent, ephemeral

Substrate / Soil Substrate / Soil peat, mineral, rockpeat, mineral, rock

Vegetation / Fringing Veg Vegetation / Fringing Veg forested, shrub, sedge/grass/forb or no emergent vegetation forested, shrub, sedge/grass/forb or no emergent vegetation

Confinement (rivers only)Confinement (rivers only)

Case Study - Lake Eyre BasinCase Study - Lake Eyre Basin

Number Landform Connectivity Water source Water regime Water type

1 Lowland Floodplain Surface water Permanent Fresh

2 Lowland Floodplain Surface water Permanent Saline

3 Lowland Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Fresh

4 Lowland Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Saline

5 Lowland Non-Floodplain Ground water - unconfined Permanent Fresh

6 Lowland Non-Floodplain Ground water - unconfined Permanent Saline

7 Lowland Non-Floodplain Ground water Non-Permanent Fresh

8 Lowland Non-Floodplain Ground water Non-Permanent Saline

9 Lowland Non-Floodplain Surface water Permanent Fresh

10 Lowland Non-Floodplain Surface water Permanent Saline

11 Lowland Non-Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Fresh

12 Lowland Non-Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Saline

13 Upland Floodplain Surface water Permanent Fresh

14 Upland Floodplain Surface water Permanent Saline

15 Upland Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Fresh

16 Upland Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Saline

17 Upland Non-Floodplain Ground water Permanent Fresh

18 Upland Non-Floodplain Ground water Permanent Saline

19 Upland Non-Floodplain Ground water Non-Permanent Fresh

20 Upland Non-Floodplain Ground water Non-Permanent Saline

21 Upland Non-Floodplain Surface water Permanent Fresh

22 Upland Non-Floodplain Surface water Permanent Saline

23 Upland Non-Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Fresh

24 Upland Non-Floodplain Surface water Non-Permanent Saline

25 Unknown - not necessarily unknown but that we don’t have all 5 core attributes to classify it.

26 Lowland Non-Floodplain Ground water - artesian Permanent Fresh

27 Lowland Non-Floodplain Ground water - artesian Permanent Saline

Pros of the processPros of the process

Transparent systemTransparent system Practical - efficient and effectivePractical - efficient and effective No gapsNo gaps Inclusive - can be widely applied Inclusive - can be widely applied

throughout Australia – range of throughout Australia – range of spatial and vertical scalesspatial and vertical scales

Attributes are used as Attributes are used as necessary – not hierarchicalnecessary – not hierarchical

Attributes can be retrospectively Attributes can be retrospectively applied to existing spatial applied to existing spatial datasetsdatasets

ANAE StatusANAE Status

AETG Classification Workshop October 2008, plus AETG Classification Workshop October 2008, plus updates / discussion at AETG meetings 2009 and 2010updates / discussion at AETG meetings 2009 and 2010

Concept to develop ANAE Classification Scheme (based Concept to develop ANAE Classification Scheme (based on attributes and regionalisations) endorsed by NRPPC on attributes and regionalisations) endorsed by NRPPC Meeting No 21, May 2009Meeting No 21, May 2009

Continued development process Continued development process Number of Number of workshops and trials - Utility and application + ability to workshops and trials - Utility and application + ability to map existing systems into national system. (Throughout map existing systems into national system. (Throughout 2009 – 2010 period)2009 – 2010 period)

ANAE Status - continuedANAE Status - continued

Briefing to Australian Government, Canberra (also QLD) Briefing to Australian Government, Canberra (also QLD) (June 2010)(June 2010)

Formal approval AETG, Min Council (2010 – 2012)Formal approval AETG, Min Council (2010 – 2012) Aquatic Ecosystems Toolkit Module 2 Interim ANAE Aquatic Ecosystems Toolkit Module 2 Interim ANAE

Classification aClassification a Development of attributes – Development of attributes –

Lacustrine and Palustrine – (reworked / updated Lacustrine and Palustrine – (reworked / updated Connectivity. Connectivity. Trialled in LEB, Sth East and WA). Input to GDE AtlasTrialled in LEB, Sth East and WA). Input to GDE Atlas

Riverine (workshop Adelaide, April 2010 – draft attributes Riverine (workshop Adelaide, April 2010 – draft attributes Current trial in MDBA).Current trial in MDBA).

Subterranean (workshop Adelaide, April 2010) Subterranean (workshop Adelaide, April 2010) Input to GDE Input to GDE AtlasAtlas

Estuarine / Marine – need to split level 3 attributes (NEN & Estuarine / Marine – need to split level 3 attributes (NEN & ICAG)ICAG)

Estuarine/Marine AttributesEstuarine/Marine Attributes

Where/how do Estuarine and Marine systems fit within the Where/how do Estuarine and Marine systems fit within the scheme (Level 2 and 3)scheme (Level 2 and 3)

What are the type/s of systems?What are the type/s of systems? What attributes are required to ensure that the range of What attributes are required to ensure that the range of

systems is integrated within the existing ANAE systems is integrated within the existing ANAE classification and/or reflected in the Asset identification classification and/or reflected in the Asset identification process?process?

Are such measures consistent with the intent of the ANAE Are such measures consistent with the intent of the ANAE and can they be used to inform representativeness of and can they be used to inform representativeness of assets?assets?

Linkage with other systems e.g. OzCoasts & CatamiLinkage with other systems e.g. OzCoasts & Catami

IssuesIssues

Practical applicationPractical application Spatial ScaleSpatial Scale Where does and estuary start and stopWhere does and estuary start and stop PeriodicityPeriodicity MixingMixing Water column and floorWater column and floor