The

Great Barrier Reef and

Stockton Bight Sand Dunes
Geography Research Task

 Part A Question 1

Great Barrier Reef

Biophysical http://mrstevennewman.co
interactions m/geo/GBR/biophysical_int
eractions.htm, Steven
Newman, 17th November
2013 (Research site)
Spatial
Les Hiddens, The Coral
patterns
Coast, published by ABC
Books. 20th November 2013
(books)

Stockton Bight Sand Dunes

http://www.mrstevennewman.c
om/geo/Stockton/Biophysical_In
teractions/Main.htm , Steven
Newman, 19th November
(Research site
Stockton Bights Tin City Under
Threat from dune erosion. Neil
Keene, August 23rd 2013
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.
au/news/nsw/stockton-
bight8217s-tin-city-under-
threat-from-dune-erosion-but-
residents-stay-on/story-
fni0cx12-1226702430946
(website)
Changing
Great Barrier Reef, Natures Great sandy land, Rachel Sullivan,
Nature
Miracle, BBC Two.
ABC Science,
http://www.youtube.com/w http://www.abc.net.au/science/
atch?v=yqxnxUtHPKU, 19th
articles/2010/02/10/2807917.h
November 2013 (video)
tm. Published 10th February
2010. Accessed 27th November
2013 (article)
Human
Australias Great Barrier
http://www.youtube.com/watch
Impacts
Reef in Colour, Keith Gillett, ?v=NW7BCgsda_4, Sarah
published by Reed Books.
McEwan, 19th November 2013
25th November (information (video)
book)
Management Macquarie HSC Geography,
Management practices that are in
strategies
John Paine, Greg Reid and
place at Stockton Bight
Debra Owens, Pages 66-84.
http://www.environment.nsw.go
27th November
v.au/jointmanagement/stocktonj
(textbook/study notes)
ointmanagement.htm, 27th
Wednesday 2013 (website)

 Part A Question 2
Source 1 Biophysical interactions Great Barrier Reef
This source clearly identifies the aspects of the interactions that are involved
with the Great Barrier Reef. It has been developed and complied by a
schoolteacher that has had experience in the field of geography making it a
reliable and trustworthy source. The source also gives in great detail the many
aspects of the biophysical interactions that are occurring at the Great Barrier
Reef, which will help me with my inquiry and investigation of the aspects of the
Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. The source has been created recently which allows
for the information used to be up to date and on par with all recent statistics. The
source indicates clear information about the barrier reef and gives general
information about the interactions the GBR is facing.

Source 2 Changing Nature Stockton Bight Sand Dunes
The article gives valuable information and interesting statistics that directly
relate to changes occurring at Stockton. Although the source was published in
2010 it allows me to compare results and information found recently. Produced
by a writer who has written a majority of article relating to geographical issues,
which proves it validity allowing for it to provide key information. It talks about
the changes occurring and some aspects relating to human impacts that are
inducing these varieties of issues. This source although a little outdated provides
information that I can further use and compare against more recent findings.

Source 3 Management Strategies Stockton Bight Sand Dunes
This Government website provides specific information regarding the traditional
(indigenous) ongoing management on the sand dunes. As this source is created
and edited by the government of new south wales, proves that the source is
trustworthy and wealthy in information. It gives specific management practices
that are currently in place at the sand dunes and also interesting statistics that
relate directly to the topic of management. The Source was very useful in
providing facts and evidence to support my other sources and further back up
my answer. The source is continuously being updated as more strategies are in
place, which provides an accurate example of the ongoing management at
Stockton.

Source 4 Management Strategies Great Barrier Reef
The Macquarie Textbook study guide textbook provides information on the key
areas that the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing and what it has experienced
over the past years. This source is useful and has a distinguished reputation
across a variety of educational facilities. It was useful in my investigation as it
gave me information that I required in my query and supplied me with statistics
and issues arising and also how some of these issues can relate back to the other
aspects of my query. Complied by renowned textbook writers and based
accordingly to the most recent syllabus and was updated in 2010. Although it is
not entirely new and up to date with recent statistics it allowed me to back up
my main points of interest.

Source 5 Human Impacts Stockton Bight

This documentary provided information from first hand geographers at the site
but did not provide me with valuable information at all. Although the
documentary explained the physical features and gave me the experience, which
would have experienced if I were there myself. Inexperienced geographers that
were investigating the issues arising in the dune system compiled this
documentary. As it was complied by the geographers it cant be trusted as a
valuable source but still might provide a better insight into the issues arising.

Part A - Question 3
Analyse the human impacts affecting the nature and rate of change of The
Great Barrier Reef and Stockton Bight Sand dunes

Analyse - Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and
relate implications

Essay Plan:
Introduction
- Introduce main ideas and key aspects revolving to the question
- Spatial patterns and the choose human impacts

Body Paragraph one
- Identify human impact (Global Warming) at GBR
- How it affects the rate and natural change at GBR
- How it effects the present (photo)
- How it will effect the future (graph/statistic)
- Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature


Body Paragraph two
- Identify human impact (Pollution) at GBR
- How it affects the rate and natural change at GBR
- How it effects the present (photo)
- How it will effect the future (graph/statistic)
- Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature
-
Body Paragraph three
- Identify human impact (Sea wall position incorrect) at Stockton Bight
Sand Dunes
- How it affects the rate and natural change at Stockton
- How it effects the present (photo)
- How it will effect the future (graph/statistic)
- Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature

Body Paragraph four

- Identify human impact (Introduced Species: Rabbit, Weeds and Bitou
Bush) at Stockton Bight Sand Dunes
- How it affects the rate and natural change at Stockton
- How it effects the present (photo)
- How it will effect the future (graph/statistic)
- Management strategies in place to combat the effects of human nature

Conclusion
- Sum up all linkages and main points mentioned in the body paragraphs
- Link all back to the question

Part B Essay
Analyse the human impacts affecting the nature and rate of change in The
Great Barrier Reef and the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes

Ecosystems are a complex diversity of living things, which as part of nature are
affecting by a variety of human impacts. The nature and the rate of change that is
occurring in accordance to the impacts vary on how complex the ecosystem is
and the rate in which the impact is occurring. The Great Barrier Reef located to
the north of Queensland, Australia and being such a popular aquatic ecosystem
with the people and tourism in the area is experiencing a vast increase in the
rate of change and its nature and the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes are
experiencing similar issues but mainly because of the changing nature because of
the human impacts.

The Great Barrier Reef is located within the tropic of Capricorn and the Equator
thus the climate is warm throughout the year. It is 8 degrees south latitude to 24
degrees south latitude. The Great Barrier Reef is known to be about 8000 years
old. (Make reference to Fig 1.1)

The Stockton Bight sand dunes are located in the mid-point of New South Wales,
and are located in a semi-arid and temperate location mainly because it would
experience onshore prevailing winds. The mid point of the sand dunes is
approximately latitude of 32 degrees 50S and a longitude of 151 degrees 53E.
(Make reference to Fig 1.2)
The issue of global warming is affecting a wide range of areas across the globe
but it has a significant impact upon the Great Barrier Reef. Global warming has
caused coral bleaching; this occurs when the water temperature fluctuates and
increased UV radiation. Coral are delicate living things and the slightest change
in temperature and UV radiation can create further problems. Bleached corals
can recover and return to normal but if stressed condition continue the coral
may die. (Figure 1.3) At present day, out of the all of the inshore reefs 87% were
bleached. Of the bleached reefs 67% had high levels of bleaching and 25%
severely bleached. (ReefEd, Australian Government, 2012) The statistics show

here that the continuous stress on the barrier reef would see a large piece of it
diminish in the coming years. The Reefs acts as like a barrier protecting the
coastline of Queensland, which looking at the perspective of the economy would
see a decline in tourism and capital, therefore the Government developed a plan
in allocating a budget to conserve the great barrier reef by replenishing it with
sediments and resources. The environmental issues that would arise if such
issue occurred would create issues such as the disruptions with the species
living in the ecosystem and the coastline would lose a major protection against
storm erosion.

Pollution has made significant impacts upon the Great Barrier Reef and its
survival. An example of the human induced pollution is of the run off from
coastal development and the increased tourism in and out of the inshore reefs.
(Fig 1.4) The runoff of sediments from farmers is slowly taking its toll on the
biodiversity present within the reefs, this is evident with a large out break of the
crown of thorns starfish, which is a coral eating starfish which is disrupting the
dynamic equilibrium of the reefs. (Great Barrier Reef: unwell or terminally ill,
Michael Green, 5 Dec 2013, SMH) Statistics show that every 15 years an
increase/outbreak of the starfish occurs. This is mainly due to the doubling of
chlorophyll. (Sitemaker Education, Donald Dunley, 2012) (Fig 1.5). This all
together is degrading the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef, which can in
the long run cause problems with the ecosystem and the inhabitants such as the
coral and various species of fish. Its important to protect the Reef and implement
strategies such as reducing the amount of Crown of Thorns starfish because
protecting a reef that is detrimental to the survival of ecosystems on shore
should be a main priority.

The Stockton Bight Sand dunes are a self-managing dune system that is powered
by the accretion cycle. This is the building of the entire dune system through the
use of wind and other erosional and depositional interactions. The building of
the sea wall to the north of the dunes has disrupted the process of longshore
drift and as a response the dune system of the past few years has caused the fore
dune to reside and fall back. (Refer to fig 1.6) The sediment that was being
provided by the longshore drift is not making its way back to the beach. (Human
Impacts, Steven Newman, Aug 15 2012). The sea wall in itself is a management
strategy but in this case has created too much of an interference to the natural
processes causing a disruption in the equilibrium. Its important that the dune
system is kept at a sustainable level because the fore dune acts like a storm
buffer after the erosive features of the storm have occurred. A year ago a strong
storm hit and the Stockton beach had been severely eroded resulting in the fore
dune being broken in 25 places and the end result being the beach became lower
and steeper. (The Herald, Mathew Kelly, 16 October 2012) There is a risk of the
coastal development and recreation activities around the area to be washed
away with the sea as the storm brings destructive waves. Costly reworking of the
sea wall is undergoing and could take a certain amount of time before the dune
system is functioning properly at its normal rate.

Humans are constantly inducing more stress onto ecosystems and this is evident
through the introduction of a variety of different plant and animal species,

particularly weeds and rabbits, which have been introduced into the fragile dune
ecosystem. In order for plants and animals to survive in the harsh dunes they
must be able to tolerate the poor soils, strong winds and salt spray. Weeds are
spread by off road vehicles and the soles of people. Eradicating these weeds is a
labour intensive job and thus costly for the people in charge. This has seen a
wider increase of the past years (refer to fig 1.7), which depicts that the
ecosystem is experiencing dramatic, drops in the native plants and increases in
human introduced weeds but also managed by the Bitou bush. Rabbits are
suspected to be the cause of the issue and probably the most destructive species
ever to be introduced into Australia. It is important to manage the dune system
as it acts as the buffer to coastal development on the shoreline and is the habitat
to many various species of fauna and flora. (Macquarie HSC Geography, John
Paine, pg 68)

The Great Barrier Reef and Stockton Bight sand dunes are consistently being put
under natural and human induced stress, which is destroying the natural
equilibrium and biodiversity of flora and fauna present. It is important that the
people in charge of taking care and looking after the protected area implement
strategies as these two ecosystems house some of Australias most precious and
prestigious species that need to conserved for the future generation. Although
different issues are affecting Stockton Bight and The Great Barrier Reef they are
still facing destruction at a faster rate by the human impacts implemented.

 One Appendix Adrian

Todorovski















Fig 1.1Map of Great Barrier Reef, http://tierneyinoz.blogspot.com.au/ , 2010,
Tierney
























Fig. 1.2 Maps of Stockton Bight dunes
http://www.superyachtsydney.com.au/newcastle/, NSW Super yacht industry,
2011












Fig 1.3 Runoff of sediments and Farmer pesticides into the inshore reefs, The
Australian, February 2007












Fig 1.4 Comparison between healthy and bleached corals, Michael Grayham Richard,
http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/coral-bleaching-creates-a-vicious-
cycle-of-further-bleaching-and-disease.html , 2011

Chlorophyll

80
70
60
50
40

Chlorophyll

30
20
10
0
1960

1975

1990

2005

2020

Fig 1.5 Predicted Chlorophyll levels over the past 15 years and estimated 2020 result,
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/gc2sec7labgroup3/pollution , Donald Dunley













Fig 1.6 Stokton beach sea wall, http://beachsafe.org.au/beach/nsw239, Surf
Life Savers

8
7
6
5
Weeds

Native Plants

3
2
1
0
2010

2011

2012

2013

Fig 1.7 Weeds vs Native Plants, The Herald Newcastle 2012, Mathew Kelly