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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(3)

Resilience of floodplain ecosystems in a semi-arid environment

Matthew J. Colloff A C and Darren S. Baldwin B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

B Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre and CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 991, Wodonga, Vic. 3690, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: Matt.Colloff@csiro.au

The Rangeland Journal 32(3) 305-314 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ10015
Submitted: 26 March 2010  Accepted: 26 August 2010   Published: 14 September 2010

Abstract

Implicit to loss of ecosystem resilience is that systems can shift from one stable state to another as a result of disturbance. We present a conceptual model of ecosystem resilience of floodplains and wetlands in semi-arid environments like those of the Murray–Darling Basin. The model is based on a single state characterised by fluctuating wet and dry phases driven by episodic floods and droughts. It might appear that such a single state is inherently unstable, but stability, and the measure of resilience, is conferred by the capacity of floodplains and wetlands to undergo drought and yet return to a functioning wet phase following inundation as well as to undergo flooding and return to the dry phase following flood recession. Floodplains and wetlands are driven by strong, periodic abiotic disturbances and their ecosystem functions and biogeochemical processes are highly rate-limited, spatiotemporally variable and driven by relatively species-poor assemblages of plants and animals adapted to withstand drought and flooding. Extreme drying due to climatic change and over-allocation of water resources represents the primary mechanism via which resilience is lost.

Additional keywords: alternative stable state, drought, flood, ecosystem engineer, ecosystem function.


Acknowledgements

We acknowledge support from the Commonwealth Environmental Research Facilities Significant Projects Program and CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship. This paper was greatly improved by thoughtful and constructive suggestions from Dr Nick Abel (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences), Dr Gavin Rees (Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre and CSIRO Land and Water) and Nadeem Samnakay (Murray–Darling Basin Authority) and an anonymous referee.


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