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Post by Admin on Jul 12, 2016 23:34:40 GMT
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Post by samlol16 on Aug 5, 2016 2:44:15 GMT
From clearing activities for farm lands and cattle holds, around 13% of Australian vegetation has disappeared since the European settlement in 1788. Overgrazing has been one of the biggest pressures on the environment in recent years from cattle and horse farming.
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Post by brodiecase on Aug 5, 2016 2:48:43 GMT
Australia has very clean air, but also having strategies on reducing the air pollution in Australia. Population growth, urbanisation, demands for energy consumption and transport are ongoing challenges which impact our air quality which we breathe. Australia's air pollution is somewhat cleaner compared to other countries around the world. Although the things that we do on our land also takes major affect on our water and the quality of it, which then gets washed into our waterways which affects our reefs animals plants and many more.
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Post by chandler on Aug 6, 2016 12:53:55 GMT
The Great Barrier Reef desperately needs attention. The 2,300km-long living thing has been overly damaged for the past few years by trawling and other fishing practices. The fishermen are permitted to fish in over one-third of the reef and fishing practices like trawling threatens the fish and the Great Barrier Reef. By casting the net into the reef it catches unwanted fish or by-catch and damage the corals in the sea floor. Sediments from farmers have also devastated the reef by expanding their crops in the catchment and nutrient loading has created algal blooms. Providing food for the larvae of the crown- of- thorns starfish which ravages the corals by 40% according to WWF.
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jacque
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Post by jacque on Aug 7, 2016 13:05:33 GMT
Australians are proud of its soil and properties but as decades past since European settlement "13% of Australia's original vegetation has been removed" due to overgrazing. Overgrazing is the process of livestock feeding on plants continuously without a pause to re-grow and results to agriculture in that area to be eliminated. Leaving grasslands and woodlands exposed and vulnerable to erosion. According to the article 10 years ago "less than 2% of the original grasslands remain" but another article from Melbourne Museum 7 years ago contradict it as "less than 4.5 percent of the original grasslands actually left" (1). Therefore the original article isn't as credible since it studies global impacts where as Melbourne studies locally. But both shows relevant concerns as agriculture clearing ties into deforestation. Although both are mildly different, both are similar through destroying and eradicating biomes and species of living organisms. Deforestation affect both water and soil and can impact civilisations. From the article according to "Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) estimates that land degradation costs about $1 billion annually" which totals to $10 billion after a decade. The annually rate increased massively according to a 2015 article that states "Land clearing's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions costs Australia around $1.6 billion annually" (2). The quote from the article links Land clearing/deforestation to greenhouse gas emissions because from Australia's actions of bulldozing, rotting and bush burnings emits gases in the atmosphere. Overgrazing and Deforestation in Australia will cause the biodiversity of various biomes and plants to extinction. These actions will force Australia's land to change, mostly to desertification, and it's vegetation that provides for the agriculture of civilisations to be limited. Which will result in many decades in the future, if this continues, for grasslands to dry out, forests gone and enormous pollution in the air from the helping hand of land clearing to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore the issues highlighted from the article sources projects how relevant these concerns are and wether the article is written 10 years ago is irrelevant as the issues for today's geographical health is still significant. (1)museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/wild/victorian-environments/wild-science/protecting-grasslands/(2)www.bushheritage.org.au/about/our-challenge/natural_world_land_clearing |
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max
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Post by max on Aug 12, 2016 1:57:02 GMT
Pollution is still an issue in Australia as the Australian Antarctic Division states ...whether in the most remote of deserts or the busiest of cities, we see the discarded signs of human habitation everywhere... which is basically saying that what we drop travels far…Vehicle exhaust emissions, sewage, household refuse and chemicals litter the landscapes and pollute the oceans… we could prevent things like this by walking or riding to work and school, also by recycling our rubbish and using solar.
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Post by abdult14armata on Aug 12, 2016 2:04:53 GMT
Oil spill can be very damaging to the Australia coast, fish and sea life i'm going to research this topic first
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max
New Member
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Post by max on Aug 12, 2016 2:10:08 GMT
The Great Barrier Reef desperately needs attention. The 2,300km-long living thing has been overly damaged for the past few years by trawling and other fishing practices. The fishermen are permitted to fish in over one-third of the reef and fishing practices like trawling threatens the fish and the Great Barrier Reef. By casting the net into the reef it catches unwanted fish or by-catch and damage the corals in the sea floor. Sediments from farmers have also devastated the reef by expanding their crops in the catchment and nutrient loading has created algal blooms. Providing food for the larvae of the crown- of- thorns starfish which ravages the corals by 40% according to WWF. we could reduce the trawling and also we could put in Go-slow areas or speed limits to protect whales and other critical habitat and •Higher standards and propeller design for ships travelling through the Reef •Compulsory marine pilotage for ships transiting the Reef •Support for a strong, safe, local shipping industry greens.org.au/save-the-reef |
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Post by abdult14armata on Aug 12, 2016 2:12:27 GMT
In general, oil spills can affect animals and plants in two ways: from the oil itself and from the response or cleanup operations. Understanding both types of impacts can help spill responders minimize overall impacts to ecological communities and help them to recover much more quickly.
Spilled oil can harm living things because its chemical constituents are poisonous. This can affect organisms both from internal exposure to oil through ingestion or inhalation and from external exposure through skin and eye irritation. Oil can also smother some small species of fish or invertebrates and coat feathers and fur, reducing birds' and mammals' ability to maintain their body temperatures.
We have a series of guidance documents that describe the biology of and impacts of oil on sea turtles, mangroves, and coral reefs. Each one includes related planning and response considerations for oil spills which may affect these particularly sensitive organisms and habitats.
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Post by abdult14armata on Aug 12, 2016 2:14:40 GMT
What Creatures Are Most Affected by Oil Spills? Since most oils float, the creatures most affected by oil are animals like sea otters and seabirds that are found on the sea surface or on shorelines if the oil comes ashore. During most oil spills, seabirds are harmed and killed in greater numbers than other kinds of creatures. Sea otters can easily be harmed by oil, since their ability to stay warm depends on their fur remaining clean. If oil remains on a beach for a while, other creatures, such as snails, clams, and terrestrial animals may suffer. To learn more details about this topic, check out the Oiled Wildlife Care Network from the University of California at Davis. What Measures Are Taken When an Animal Comes in Contact with Oil? Most states have regulations about the specific procedures to follow. Untrained people should not try to capture any oiled bird or animal. At most U.S. spills, a bird and/or mammal rehabilitation center is set up to care for oiled animals. You can read an overview of this topic at EPA's Rescuing Wildlife page and find more information at the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research website and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network website. You can also read about one NOAA staffer who usually works behind the scenes volunteering to wash birds affected by an oil spill in her city. What Type of Spilled Oil Causes the Most Harm? The type of oil spilled matters because different types of oil behave differently in the environment, and animals and birds are affected differently by different types of oil. However, it's not so easy to say which kind is worst. First, we should distinguish between "light" and "heavy" oils. Fuel oils, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, are very "light" oils. Light oils are very volatile (they evaporate relatively quickly), so they usually don't remain for long in the aquatic or marine environment (typically no longer than a few days). If they spread out on the water, as they do when they are accidentally spilled, they will evaporate relatively quickly. However, while they are present, light oils present two significant hazards. First, some can ignite or explode. Second, many light oils, such as gasoline and diesel, are also considered to be toxic. They can kill animals or plants that they touch, and they also are dangerous to humans who breathe their fumes or get them on their skin. In contrast, very "heavy" oils (like bunker oils, which are used to fuel ships) look black and may be sticky for a time until they weather sufficiently, but even then they can persist in the environment for months or even years if not removed. While these oils can be very persistent, they are generally significantly less acutely toxic than lighter oils. Instead, the short-term threat from heavy oils comes from their ability to smother organisms whereas over the long-term, some chronic health effects like tumors may result in some organisms. Also, if heavy oils get onto the feathers of birds, the birds may die of hypothermia (they lose the ability to keep themselves warm). We observe this same effect if sea otters become oiled. After days or weeks, some heavy oils will harden, becoming very similar to an asphalt road surface. In this hardened state, heavy oils will probably not harm animals or plants that come in contact with them. In between light and heavy oils are many different kinds of medium oils, which will last for some amount of time in the environment and will have different degrees of toxicity. Ultimately, the effects of any oil depend on where it is spilled, where it goes, and what animals and plants, or people, it affects. response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/how-oil-harms-animals-and-plants-marine-environments.html |
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Post by georgina on Aug 12, 2016 2:22:10 GMT
Feral cats, foxes and rabbits can be found in different locations across Australia including: houses, people’s backyards, parks, alleyways, outside of neighbourhood stores and are habitually spotted in forests. Feral cats are known to eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. Foxes also feed off small mammals, birds and reptiles. Almost a third of a fox’s diet includes livestock such as lambs, calves, poultry, water fowl and goats. These animals are a huge threat to native animals, and some, plants. Feral animals are also possibly carriers of other animal’s diseases such as rabies, foot and mouth disease and parasites.
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max
New Member
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Post by max on Aug 12, 2016 2:22:17 GMT
From clearing activities for farm lands and cattle holds, around 13% of Australian vegetation has disappeared since the European settlement in 1788. Overgrazing has been one of the biggest pressures on the environment in recent years from cattle and horse farming. I agree sam we could stop this by not mass producing cows.  |
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Post by abdult14armata on Aug 12, 2016 2:26:44 GMT
JUNE 16, 2016 -- Sea turtles: These beloved marine reptiles have been swimming the seas for millions of years. Yet, in less than a hundred years, threats from humans, such as accidentally catching turtles in fishing gear ("bycatch"), killing nesting turtles and their eggs, and destroying habitat, have caused sea turtle populations to plummet. In fact, all six species of sea turtles found in U.S. waters are listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. As we’ve seen in the Gulf of Mexico in recent years, oil spills represent yet another danger for these air-breathing reptiles that rely on clean water and clean beaches. But how exactly do oil spills affect sea turtles? And what do people do during and after an oil spill to look out for the well-being of sea turtles? response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/how-do-oil-spills-affect-sea-turtles.html |
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Post by abdult14armata on Aug 12, 2016 2:31:13 GMT
Try to visit the NOAA website
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Post by jackusan on Aug 12, 2016 2:32:41 GMT
Cane toads are an untouched issue in this discussion board. So I feel the need to expose this. Cane toads are a blight that have seem to have gone unnoticed in recent months, the thing people do not realise about the Cane toad is that it's a fast adapting frog, almost like a weed it can be everywhere. From personal experience I once saw a Cane toad dead on the road somewhere where it should not be, near the Blue Mountains in NSW. I later found out from my father that the Cane toad will slowly but surely envelop all of Australia within the next 20-30 years. There will soon be nowhere they will not be found. (This link should provide additional information concerning the fore mentioned) www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/publications/factsheet-cane-toad-bufo-marinus |
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