TY - JOUR
T1 - The distribution and protection of intertidal habitats in Australia
AU - Dhanjal-Adams, Kiran L.
AU - Hanson, Jeffrey O.
AU - Murray, Nicholas J.
AU - Phinn, Stuart R.
AU - Wingate, Vladimir R.
AU - Mustin, Karen
AU - Lee, Jasmine R.
AU - Allan, James R.
AU - Cappadonna, Jessica L.
AU - Studds, Colin E.
AU - Clemens, Robert S.
AU - Roelfsema, Chris M.
AU - Fuller, Richard A.
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Shorebirds have declined severely across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Many species rely on intertidal habitats for foraging, yet the distribution and conservation status of these habitats across Australia remain poorly understood. Here, we utilised freely available satellite imagery to produce the first map of intertidal habitats across Australia. We estimated a minimum intertidal area of 9856km2, with Queensland and Western Australia supporting the largest areas. Thirty-nine percent of intertidal habitats were protected in Australia, with some primarily within marine protected areas (e.g. Queensland) and others within terrestrial protected areas (e.g. Victoria). Three percent of all intertidal habitats were protected by both marine and terrestrial protected areas. To achieve conservation targets, protected area boundaries must align more accurately with intertidal habitats. Shorebirds use intertidal areas to forage and supratidal areas to roost, so a coordinated management approach is required to account for movement of birds between terrestrial and marine habitats. Ultimately, shorebird declines are occurring despite high levels of habitat protection in Australia. There is a need for a concerted effort both nationally and internationally to map and understand how intertidal habitats are changing, and how habitat conservation can be implemented more effectively.
AB - Shorebirds have declined severely across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Many species rely on intertidal habitats for foraging, yet the distribution and conservation status of these habitats across Australia remain poorly understood. Here, we utilised freely available satellite imagery to produce the first map of intertidal habitats across Australia. We estimated a minimum intertidal area of 9856km2, with Queensland and Western Australia supporting the largest areas. Thirty-nine percent of intertidal habitats were protected in Australia, with some primarily within marine protected areas (e.g. Queensland) and others within terrestrial protected areas (e.g. Victoria). Three percent of all intertidal habitats were protected by both marine and terrestrial protected areas. To achieve conservation targets, protected area boundaries must align more accurately with intertidal habitats. Shorebirds use intertidal areas to forage and supratidal areas to roost, so a coordinated management approach is required to account for movement of birds between terrestrial and marine habitats. Ultimately, shorebird declines are occurring despite high levels of habitat protection in Australia. There is a need for a concerted effort both nationally and internationally to map and understand how intertidal habitats are changing, and how habitat conservation can be implemented more effectively.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84968861331&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/MU15046
DO - 10.1071/MU15046
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84968861331
SN - 0158-4197
VL - 116
SP - 208
EP - 214
JO - Emu: Austral Ornithology
JF - Emu: Austral Ornithology
IS - 2
ER -