Geography_Resilience_and_Vulnerability

“Explain the impact of natural stress’s and human induced modifications on the vulnerability and resilience of two ecosystem you have studied” Ecosystems are highly fragile and any slight change either natural or human induced can effect it’s ability to resist the effects of these changes. This is also known as resilience, the more resilient an ecosystem is the more it can withstand, high resilience is common with large ecosystems as they have a higher range of diversity and life. Natural disasters have a immediate and devastating impact on any ecosystem and being on the ocean the Port Stephens Coastal Dunes have the ability to receive both land and ocean natural disasters. Strong wave action has the ability to remove tonnes of sand within hours disrupting plant life and therefore destroying natural habitats and animal life. Without sand the stability of plants and natural habitats is largely effected as they are unable to begin to rebuild slowly and gradually. Port Stephens Coastal Dunes is a highly resilient ecosystem as it stretches for kilometers along the coast of Australia. However this large ecosystem is still strongly affected by both natural stresses and human- induced modification. Humans have the ability to make extensive changes among any ecosystem and this is likely to result in any ecosystem’s inability to demonstrate a strong show of resilience. Port Stephen’s Coastal Dunes is in close proximity to many areas of housing and is part of a popular tourism area. With this excess of people visiting the area it can have a significant effect on the Dunes ability to bounce back from any human induced modifications. Urban, industrial and agricultural land uses destroy natural ecosystems. Oceans, rivers and atmospheres have become dumping grounds for pollutants all along the Port Stephens Coastal Dunes. The alpine ecosystem is another ecosystem that has been strongly impacted by natural stresses and human- induced modifications. The organisms living in these areas are by nature highly specialized. The higher the specialization of an organism the more difficult it would be for that organism to accept and adapt to change. Due the very limited area of true alpine habitat if a natural disaster were to hit it would be disastrous and incredibly difficult for any ecosystem such as this unique region to bounce back. It would have an enormous impact on the flora and fauna as they are so sensitive to any change and a dramatic change such as a natural disaster would be catastrophic. The flora and fauna of the Alpine are highly sensitive to any slight changes that occur throughout their ecosystem. Climate change is one of the biggest concerns regarding the alpine ecosystem. It is predicted that the distribution and numbers of alpine endemic fauna will be effected. Climate change is having such a drastic impact on the entire world, not only the alpine ecosystem. The Alpine ecosystem is a largely popular area for tourism each year. Every year thousands of people visit the alpine and this can have a massive impact on ever aspect of the ecosystem. People use every area of the alpine with accommodation, shopping centers, lifts and ski attractions. This use of the land can result in the destruction of native areas, as there is extensive clearing for runs and roads up to the mountains from Jindabyne. There are many human- induced and natural stresses that can have strong effects on the resilience and vulnerability of both the Port Stephens Coastal Dunes and The Mount Kosciusko alpine region. Each ecosystem is unique and are effected by a range of different issues, some worse than others. It is an ecosystems ability to bounce back that determines its capability to survive in the constant changes of the world.