Hydrology or Floristics? Mapping and Classification of Wetlands in Victoria,Australia, and Implications for Conservation Planning

A national approach to the conservation of biodiversity in Australia's freshwater ecosystems is a high priority. This requires a consistent and comprehensive system for the classification, inventory, and assessment of wetland ecosystems. This paper, using the State of Victoria as a case study, compares two classification systems that are commonly utilized to delineate and map wetlands--one based on hydrology (Victorian Wetland Database [VWD]) and one based on indigenous vegetation types and other natural features (Ecological Vegetation Classes [EVC]). We evaluated the extent of EVC mapping of wetlands relative to the VWD classification system using a number of datasets within a geographical information system. There were significant differences in the coverage of extant EVCs across bioregions, different-sized wetlands, and VWD wetland types. Resultant depletion levels were markedly different when examined using the two systems, with depletion levels, and therefore perceived conservation status, of EVCs being significantly higher. Although there is little doubt that many wetland ecosystems in Victoria are in fact threatened, the extent of this threat cannot accurately be determined by relying on the EVC mapping as it currently stands. The study highlighted the significant impact wetland classification methods have in determining the conservation status of freshwater ecosystems.     

A transformative mission for prioritising nature in Australian cities

Australia is experiencing mounting pressures related to processes of urbanisation, biodiversity loss and climate change felt at large in cities. At the same time, it is cities that can take the leading role in pioneering approaches and solutions to respond to those coupling emergencies. In this perspective piece we respond to the following question: What are the required transformations for prioritising, valuing, maintaining and embracing nature in cities in Australia? We adopt the mission framework as an organising framework to present proposed pathways to transform Australian cities as nature-positive places of the future. We propose three interconnected pathways as starting actions to steer urban planning, policy and governance in Australian cities: First, cities need to establish evidence-based planning for nature in cities and mainstream new planning tools that safeguard and foreground urban nature. Second, collaborative planning needs to become a standard practice in cities and inclusive governance for nature in cities needs to prioritise Aboriginal knowledge systems and practices as well as look beyond what local governments can do. Third, for progressing to nature-positive cities, it is paramount to empower communities to innovate with nature across Australian cities. Whilst we focus on Australian cities, the lessons and pathways are broadly applicably globally and can inspire science-policy debates for the post COP15 biodiversity and COP26 climate change implementation processes.     

The classification of lands managed for conservation: existing and proposed frameworks, with particular reference to Australia

Comprehensive classification systems to accurately account for lands managed for biodiversity conservation, are an essential component of conservation planning and policy. The current international classification systems for lands managed for nature conservation are reviewed, with a particular emphasis on Australia. The need for a broader, all-encompassing, categorisation of lands managed for conservation is presented and a proposed broader categorisation system is developed—the Conservation Lands Classification. This classification system has the advantage of incorporating data on both tenure and protection mechanisms and has been applied in this paper using conservation lands in three Australian jurisdictions as examples. It is envisaged that this method of classification has the potential to significantly improve the ability to measure current and future trends in nature conservation across all land types at a variety of scales and hence is put forward in order to stimulate discussion on this important topic.     

Dynamic behaviour of 1-aminopropan-2-one in sewage: a preliminary synthetic and spectroscopic study

A preliminary investigation of the solution phase behaviour of the biomarker compound 1-aminopropan-2-one (APR) using NMR spectroscopy was carried out. This was achieved, in part, by synthesis of APR with¹³C-enrichment in the methylene position. In this paper, we report that this biomarker undergoes H/D exchange with D₂O, probably via an enol intermediate. In addition, use of¹³C-enriched APR enabled its detection by¹³C NMR spectroscopy at environmentally relevant concentrations.     

Removal of atrazine from river waters by indigenous microorganisms

We report the first data for atrazine removal in low-turbidity freshwaters. Atrazine is a globally applied herbicide, contamination by which may lead to direct and indirect ecotoxicological impacts. Although a common contaminant of surface waters, microbial biodegradation of atrazine in this environment has been little studied, with most work focused on soils by means of selected, atrazine-degrading bacteria-enriched cultures. Here, we measured atrazine removal from river water using a batch incubation system designed to represent environmental conditions, with water from two contrasting UK rivers, the Tamar and Mersey. Atrazine and bacterial inocula prepared from the source water were added to cleaned river water for 21-day incubations that were analysed directly by electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry. The experimental approach was validated using peptides of different molecular mass. Results show that atrazine concentrations decreased by 11% over 21 days in Tamar samples, a rural catchment with low population density, when atrazine was the only substrate added. In contrast no removal was evident in Mersey samples, an urban catchment with high population density. When a tripeptide was added as a co-substrate, atrazine removal in the Tamar water remained at 11% while that for the Mersey water increased from 0 to 37%. Although degradation of atrazine in aerobic freshwaters is predicted according to its chemical structure, our data suggest that the composition of the bacterial population determines whether removal occurs under these conditions and at these environmentally realistic concentrations.