When History May Lead us Astray: using historical documents to reconstruct swampy meadows/chains of ponds in the New South Wales Central Tablelands,Australia

This paper examines historical evidence on the occurrence and status of an important landscape element in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales: the swampy meadow/chain of ponds landform. Our findings reject the notion that it is possible to reconstruct this landform as it was at the time of early European settlement, based solely on early colonial documents. Furthermore the analysis of such documents should be used with appropriate caution when benchmarking this landform. These conclusions have been reached by analysing 826 nineteenth-century portion plans, 18 early explorers and settlers’ journals, letters and maps, and nine Surveyor General's maps and plans. We suggest that our findings have significant implications for developing management and restoration strategies, better informing conservation initiatives and the development of policies aimed at protecting, conserving and restoring the swampy meadow/chain of ponds landform. Our experience suggests that researchers involved in historical analyses of documents for similar purposes should be wary about factors such as the limitations and reliability of source data, unwarranted interpretations and the imprecise and/or contradictory use of terms. We also suggest that the possible subjective views of some observers, particularly those with limitations in interpreting such a landform, are further reasons to be cautious. If these factors are not taken into account it is very likely to result in a flawed interpretation. We conclude that both landform awareness and other perceptions of an observer at the time of early European settlement may present a hitherto unrecognised subjective element in this and other analyses which could limit the precision of historical reconstruction, without resort to other complementary methods.     

Characterization of phanerogam communities (Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa) using side-scan-sonar images

This paper presents the most appropriate image-processing techniques available at the present time to differentiate two different seameadow communities, Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa. The pre-processing program is an integral part of the sonar system and, therefore, is not discussed in this paper. We propose a methodology based on unsupervised classification to chart and monitor these meadows, so fundamentally important to the mediterranean ecosystem. The images used for discussion were of seabottoms in the Cabrera Archipielago in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Seagrass meadows globally as a coupled social–ecological system: Implications for human wellbeing

Seagrass ecosystems are diminishing worldwide and repeated studies confirm a lack of appreciation for the value of these systems. In order to highlight their value we provide the first discussion of seagrass meadows as a coupled social–ecological system on a global scale. We consider the impact of a declining resource on people, including those for whom seagrass meadows are utilised for income generation and a source of food security through fisheries support. Case studies from across the globe are used to demonstrate the intricate relationship between seagrass meadows and people that highlight the multi-functional role of seagrasses in human wellbeing. While each case underscores unique issues, these examples simultaneously reveal social–ecological coupling that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. We conclude that understanding seagrass meadows as a coupled social–ecological system is crucial in carving pathways for social and ecological resilience in light of current patterns of local to global environmental change.     

Thick moss layers and high cover of grasses: Potential threats to herb diversity in hay meadows in Norway

In an old, species-rich hay meadow in Varalds?y in Hardanger, the only known remaining managed site of its kind in West Norway, the moss layer is increasing in thickness in some places. Thick moss is associated with a high cover of monocotyledons, while a low cover of monocotyledons is associated with high numbers of herbs, including vulnerable species, which mainly occur in herb-rich areas. The increase in moss is probably caused by a reduction in both traditional means of moss removal and in sheep trampling and it may represent a potential threat to plant species diversity in traditionally managed hay meadows in the region. In order to increase the area of open, species-rich hay meadows, and thus the potential population sizes for indicator species of traditional management, increased grazing intensity (back to traditional levels) and removal of mosses during haymaking is recommended. The study demonstrates that, for conservation purposes, it is not easy to replicate past conditions unless the details of traditional management practices are known and understood, and these are now passing from general knowledge.