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Predicting Novel Riparian Ecosystems in a Changing Climate

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Abstract

Rapid changes in global climate are likely to alter species assemblages and environmental characteristics resulting in novel ecosystems. The ability to predict characteristics of future ecosystems is crucial for environmental planning and the development of effective climate change adaptation strategies. This paper presents an approach for envisioning novel ecosystems in future climates. Focusing on riparian ecosystems, we use qualitative process models to predict likely abiotic and biotic changes in four case study systems: tropical coastal floodplains, temperate streams, high mountain streams and urban riparian zones. We concentrate on functional groups rather than individual species and consider dispersal constraints and the capacity for genetic adaptation. Our scenarios suggest that climatic changes will reduce indigenous diversity, facilitate non-indigenous invasion (especially C4 graminoids), increase fragmentation and result in simplified and less distinctive riparian ecosystems. Compared to models based on biota-environment correlations, process models built on mechanistic understanding (like Bayesian belief networks) are more likely to remain valid under novel climatic conditions. We posit that predictions based on species’ functional traits will facilitate regional comparisons and can highlight effects of climate change on ecosystem structure and function. Ecosystems that have experienced similar modification to that expected under climate change (for example, altered flow regimes of regulated rivers) can be used to help inform and evaluate predictions. By manipulating attributes of these system models (for example, magnitude of climatic changes or adaptation strategies used), implications of various scenarios can be assessed and optimal management strategies identified.

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Acknowledgments

Ideas for this paper were conceived at a “Riparian Ecosystems under Climate Change” workshop hosted by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility—Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Network and Terrestrial Biodiversity Network. Thanks to other workshop participants, especially Ugo Arbieu, for comments in the early stages of this paper. Thanks also to Brendan Wintle for insightful comments on a draft manuscript, Chris Walsh for reviewing the Melbourne scenario and an anonymous reviewer for constructive feedback. PD and MD acknowledge the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) research consortium and MD also acknowledges support from the NERP North Australian Hub; JAC was partially supported by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Jane A. Catford

  2. School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences , University of Washington, 355020, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Robert J. Naiman

  3. Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia, Albany, Western Australia, 6330, Australia

    Robert J. Naiman & Peter Davies

  4. Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia

    Lynda E. Chambers

  5. Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga, New South Wales, 2640, Australia

    Jane Roberts

  6. PO Box 6191, O’Connor, Australian Capital Territory, 2602, Australia

    Jane Roberts

  7. Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia

    Michael Douglas

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  1. Jane A. Catford
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Correspondence to Jane A. Catford.

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Author Contributions

JAC, RJN, LEC and JR conceived and designed the study; all authors performed the research and wrote the paper under the leadership of JAC.

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Catford, J.A., Naiman, R.J., Chambers, L.E. et al. Predicting Novel Riparian Ecosystems in a Changing Climate. Ecosystems 16, 382–400 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-012-9566-7

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