2.  identify and predict the potential impact of significant threats on society and outdoor environments.

3.  Biological isolation of the Aust landmass for over 40 my  10% of world’s biodiversity  Susceptible to impact of introduced spp  Climate challenge also  Threats to native spp and to society which relies on productivity of the land

5.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_degradati on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_degradati on

6.  Detrimental changes in land condition due to humans  Linked to reduction in productive capacity of land & economic value  Causes ◦ Older farming practices, incl land clearing ◦ Urbanisation ◦ Industrial pollution

7.  Land degradation has been occurring at an alarming rate over past 200 years  Threatens OE and reduces the quality & quantity of productive land  Threatens biodiversity and our capacity to produce food  Major types of land degradation: ◦ Dryland soil salinity ◦ Soil contamination ◦ Erosion

8.  Salinity = too much salt in soil/water  Salinity is a major threat to health & productivity  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DMYqQ SGMMs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DMYqQ SGMMs  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4pX5W_ WwU4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4pX5W_ WwU4

9.  Caused by over-fertilising, continuous legume cropping & wetland drainage  Consequent changes to soil acidity can make land useless for agriculture or natural vegetation

10.  Wind and water erosion are natural however they are accelerated by: ◦ Clearing vegetation ◦ Overgrazing ◦ Pest animals eg rabbits ◦ Salinity

11.  Many spp have been introduced since 1770  Some have had major impacts on OE ◦ Blackberries ◦ Rabbits ◦ Foxes ◦ Cane toads ◦ Marine pests ◦ Deer, cats

12.  Over 100 species of introduced plants have been recorded in the Park.  The majority of these are restricted in distribution and present in low numbers, and occur in association with localised disturbances such as adjacent private property and roads.  The relatively low number of serious infestations is largely a reflection of minimal disturbance in the past.  A small number of infestations do, however, pose significant threats to the survival and integrity of native vegetation and wildlife habitat.  Bridal Creeper, Cape Ivy and Dolichos Pea are of great concern because they invade minimally disturbed or undisturbed bushland and compete successfully with several vegetation types.  17 introduced vertebrate species have been recorded in the Park (eight mammals and nine birds). Major problem species include: predators such as foxes, cats and dogs.  Predators have been implicated in the decline of small native fauna; in particular, dog and fox  predation on Little Terns and Hooded Plovers endangers the breeding success of these species.  Pigs and goats have the potential to become major problems in the Park.

13.  Introduced in mid- 1800s  Grows vigorously and can infest large areas quickly – reduces native wildlife habitat  Displaces native species  Provides food and habitat for other introduced spp (eg rabbits and foxes)  http://www.vicblackberrytaskforce.com.au/v bt_problem.html http://www.vicblackberrytaskforce.com.au/v bt_problem.html

14.  Introduced with First Fleet for food  Rabbits cause soil erosion, they remove vegetation & disturb soil.  Economic damage $600 000 000  http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pest s-diseases-and-weeds/pest-animals/a-z- of-pest-animals/european-rabbit/about- european-rabbit http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pest s-diseases-and-weeds/pest-animals/a-z- of-pest-animals/european-rabbit/about- european-rabbit

15.  Introduced in 1940s for sport  http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pest s-diseases-and-weeds/pest-animals/a-z- of-pest-animals/red-fox http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pest s-diseases-and-weeds/pest-animals/a-z- of-pest-animals/red-fox

16.  https://www.feralscan.org.au https://www.feralscan.org.au

17.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Pacifi c_seastar_in_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Pacifi c_seastar_in_Australia  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinus_maen as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinus_maen as

18.  Significant & lasting change in weather patterns over an extended period of time  Natural process due to variations in sun energy output, Earth’s orbit, volcanic activity  Vs  Anthropogenic climate change = caused by humans

19.  Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil & gas)  has incr conc of greenhouse gases  Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides  Global average temp incr of approx 1 degree  Will have MAJOR impacts on society, OE, agriculture, human health, water & infrastructure

20.  Reduced availability of water  Less snow fall  Melting of ice in polar regions leading to sea level rise, flooding  Reduction in egg and milk production  Increases in extreme heat days,  Locally,  ??

21.  Increase in intensity of droughts and floods  Reduction in fish stocks  Increased bushfires  Loss of coral reefs  Species with low adaptability or mobility facing extinction eg, Mtn pygmy possum  Ecosystems changing as new species appear and disappear eg sea urchins

22.  http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/ en/ http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/ en/

23.  Average temperatures will continue to increase in all seasons (very high confidence).  More hot days and warm spells are projected with very high confidence. Fewer frosts are projected with high confidence.  Generally less rainfall in the cool season is projected with high confidence. Changes to summer and autumn rainfall are possible but less clear. For the near future, natural variability is projected to dominate any projected changes.  Increased intensity of extreme rainfall events is projected, with high confidence.  Mean sea level will continue to rise and height of extreme sea-level events will also increase (very high confidence).  A harsher fire-weather climate in the future (high confidence).

24.  Development of towns & cities and increasing populations of urban areas  Rural to urban drift  90% of Aust live in urban areas  Urban sprawl

25.  Vegetation & biodiversity loss  Water quality, run off issues  Air & soil pollution  Cause heat trap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_heat_island https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_heat_island

26.  Snowy River has had its flow and ecological health heavily impacted by the building of the Snowy Hydro-electric Scheme.  The Scheme collects and stores the water that would normally flow east to the coast and diverts it through trans-mountain tunnels and power stations. The water is then released into the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers for irrigation  Biodiversity has been severely disrupted

27.  2 500ha of native vegetation lost @ year in Vic  Logging, agriculture, human settlement (incl urbanisation), mining