Ecological Indicators for Australias Exclusive Economic Zone: Rationale and Approach with Application to the South West Marine Region.

Brief description

Global interest in ecological indicators has expanded significantly since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, driven by the need to assess and communicate environmental health through State of the Environment reporting. This project develops and tests a national methodology for identifying ecological indicators to measure the environmental condition of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, using the South West Marine Region (SWMR) as a case study. The approach integrates the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework with qualitative modelling to address limitations of data availability and the complexity of marine ecosystems subject to multiple pressures.
The method involves identifying Key Ecological Features (KEFs), mapping their spatial interactions with anthropogenic pressures, and constructing conceptual models to evaluate system responses under varying “pressure scenarios.” A dataset of 215 environmental and human activity layers was compiled to identify hotspots of KEF–pressure interaction. Qualitative models were developed for selected KEFs, including meso-scale eddies, the Perth Canyon, Western Rock Lobster, and small pelagic fish ecosystems, incorporating uncertainty and feedback dynamics.
Potential ecological indicators were defined as variables demonstrating consistent and reliable responses across multiple scenarios. These indicators were then evaluated using a structured selection process based on measurability, interpretability, management relevance, and multi-purpose applicability. The methodology successfully identified indicators sensitive to climate change, fishing, and other anthropogenic pressures.
This framework offers a robust, transparent, and repeatable approach to indicator identification within complex marine systems, overcoming key limitations of existing theoretical methods. While resource-intensive and sensitive to uncertainty, it provides a systematic basis for national-scale environmental assessment and supports improved marine management and policy decision-making.

This dataset record is provided by Parks Australia to highlight research conducted within or relevant to Australian Marine Parks. The original publication and associated intellectual property remain with the source organisation.
This publication was previously made available via the Australian Marine Parks Science Atlas and is provided here to maintain access following the decommissioning of that platform

Full description

Ecological Indicators for Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone: Rationale and Approach with Application to the South West Marine Region - link to publication, full text available