Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-307
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-307
16 Jun 2017
 | 16 Jun 2017
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal HESS but the revision was not accepted.

Adaptation tipping points of urban wetlands under a drying climate

Amar V. V. Nanda, Leah Beesley, Luca Locatelli, Berry Gersonius, Matthew R. Hipsey, and Anas Ghadouani

Abstract. Urban wetlands experience considerable alteration to their hydrology, which typically contributes to a decline in their overall ecological integrity. Wetland management strategies aim to repair wetland hydrology and attenuate wetland loss associated with climate change. However, decision makers often lack the data needed to support complex social environmental systems models, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of current or past practices. Adaptation Tipping Points (ATPs) is a method that can be useful in these situations. The method assesses thresholds exceedance of ecological objectives obtained from policy and informs about the effectiveness of the management strategy to the delivery of certain social or environmental goals. Here we trial the method on an urban wetland in a region experiencing a markedly drying climate. ATPs were defined by linking key ecological objectives identified by policy documents to threshold values for water depth. We then used long-term hydrologic data (1978–2012) to assess if and when thresholds were breached. We found that from the mid-1990s declining wetland water depth caused ATPs for the majority of the wetland objectives. We conclude that the wetland management strategy has been ineffective from the mid-1990s when the region's climate dried markedly. Empirical verification of the ATP assessment is required to validate the suitability of the method. However, in general we consider ATPs to be a useful desktop method to assess the suitability of management when rigorous ecological data are lacking.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Amar V. V. Nanda, Leah Beesley, Luca Locatelli, Berry Gersonius, Matthew R. Hipsey, and Anas Ghadouani
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Amar V. V. Nanda, Leah Beesley, Luca Locatelli, Berry Gersonius, Matthew R. Hipsey, and Anas Ghadouani
Amar V. V. Nanda, Leah Beesley, Luca Locatelli, Berry Gersonius, Matthew R. Hipsey, and Anas Ghadouani

Viewed

Total article views: 1,545 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
1,108 370 67 1,545 90 102
  • HTML: 1,108
  • PDF: 370
  • XML: 67
  • Total: 1,545
  • BibTeX: 90
  • EndNote: 102
Views and downloads (calculated since 16 Jun 2017)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 16 Jun 2017)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,489 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,483 with geography defined and 6 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 06 Dec 2024
Download
Short summary
When anthropological effects result in changes to wetland hydrology; this often leads to a decline in their ecological integrity. We present a policy oriented approach that assesses the suitability of management when rigorous ecological data are lacking. We link ecological objectives from management authorities to threshold values for water depth defined in policy. Results show insufficient water levels for key ecological objectives and we conclude that current policy is ineffective.