9. Lower Ringarooma River
Information in the Ecological Character Description (ECD) (Newall and Lloyd 2007) and the latest version of the RIS for the Lower Ringarooma
River Ramsar site were reviewed to identify threats to the ecological character of the site. Terminology from these key Ramsar documents was
aligned to be consistent with the approach of the Ramsar Rolling Review (see Table 1).
The Ramsar Rolling Review uses the IUCN threat classification to standardise terminology across sites. All threat categories identified at the Lower
Ringarooma River Ramsar site are listed in Table 2.
The critical components, processes and services (CPS) specified in the ECD are reproduced in Table 3. Threats which have the potential to
change one or more of the critical CPS within a 10 year timeframe are defined as imminent threats to the ecological character of the site (labelled
IMM in Table 3). Consultation with site managers was undertaken to ensure the correct identification of current and imminent threats (see Table ).
A stressor model is presented to illustrate the major pathways by which imminent threats effect the critical CPS. For clarity, the model does not
attempt to show non-imminent threats, weak linkages or feedbacks.
Table 1: Notes regarding alignment of terminology and additional information sourced from site managers to aid in the development of
the sites threat conceptual model.
Notes:
 The ECD identifies the following as the major components of the site:
 Climate,
 Geomorphology,
 Substrate,
 Hydrology,
 Water Quality,
 Vegetation,
 Fauna.
The ecosystem services or benefits provided by the site include:
 Wetland products,
 Maintenance of hydrological stability,
 Coastal shoreline and river bank stabilization and storm protection,
 Sediment and nutrient retention,
 Water purification,
 Biological control of pests and diseases,





Recreation & tourism,
Cultural value,
Food web support,
Geological value,
Ecological value.
The threats descried as direct threats in the ECD and have been inferred as imminent.
The key benefits listed in the ECD include:
 Educational and scientific values through the potential palaeobotanical and palaeofaunal remains on the site.
 Supporting an abundance of individual species
 Supporting migratory bird species
 Supporting a diversity of species
 Maintaining bioregional biodiversity and providing representative wetlands for the bioregion
 Representing a rare or threatened wetland type
 Providing important habitat for species at critical/vulnerable stages of their life cycle
 Supporting threatened ecological communities, and species of flora and fauna.
Table 2: Major categories and subcategories of current threats for the Ramsar site.
9. Lower Ringarooma River
2. Agriculture and Aquaculture
2.3 Livestock farming and ranching
8. Invasive & Other Problematic Species & Genes
8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species
3. Energy Production & Mining
3.2. Mining & quarrying
9. Pollution
9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluent
(dairy farm runoff)
6. Human Intrusions & Disturbance
6.1. Recreational activities
7. Natural System Modification
7.1 Fire and fire suppression
7.2 Dams and Water Management/Use
11. Climate Change
11.1. Habitat shifting & alteration
11.1. Habitat shifting &
alteration
9.3. Agricultural & forestry
effluent
(dairy farm runoff)
8.1. Invasive nonnative/alien species
7.1 Fire and fire
suppression
3.2. Mining & quarrying
Components, Processes and Services
(CPS) (components shaded blue, processes
green, services yellow)
2.3 Livestock farming and
ranching
Table 3: Matrix of all current threats against critical components, processes, and services showing those considered to be an imminent
threat to the ecological character of the Ramsar site.
Australian shoveler
IMM
Migratory waterbird species
IMM
Waterbird diversity
IMM
Flora diversity
IMM
IMM
IMM
Threatened flora and fauna species
IMM
Threatened wetland type
Water quality
IMM
IMM
Waterbirds
Wetland vegetation
IMM
IMM
IMM
Threatened flora & fauna
IMM
Hydrology
Geomorphology
Supporting service: Hydrological processes
IMM
IMM
IMM
IMM
Supporting service: Supporting biodiversity
IMM
Supporting service: Threatened wetland
species, habitats or ecosystems
IMM
Supporting service: Priority wetland species &
ecosystems
Key to shapes used in conceptual model.
11.1. Habitat shifting &
alteration
9.3. Agricultural & forestry
effluent
(dairy farm runoff)
8.1. Invasive nonnative/alien species
IMM
IMM
Supporting service: Sediment trapping,
stabilisation & soil formation
Supporting service: Ecological connectivity
7.1 Fire and fire
suppression
IMM
Supporting service: Physical habitat
Supporting service: Nutrient cycling
3.2. Mining & quarrying
2.3 Livestock farming and
ranching
Components, Processes and Services
(CPS) (components shaded blue, processes
green, services yellow)
IMM
IMM
IMM
References:
Newall, P.R. and Lloyd, L.N. (2007). Ecological Character Description for the Floodplain Lower Ringarooma River Ramsar Site – Final Draft. Lloyd
Environmental Pty Ltd Report (Project No: LE0722) to NRM North, Launceston, Tasmania. November 2007.
9.
Lower Ringarooma River – (Part 1 of 2)
7. Natural System Modifications
7.2. Dams & water management/use
Decreased extent of
inundation
Indicator: Extent of
inundation, depth
Fragmentatio
n/isolation
(hydrological
connectivity)
Component:
Hydrology
Service:
Hydrological processes;
Physical habitat,
Biodiversity; Ecological
connectivity
9. Pollution
9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluent
(Dairy farm runoff)
Decreased frequency
of inundation
Indicator: Frequency
of inundation
Physical disturbance grazing
Indicator: Stocking rates,
total suspended solids,
turbidity
Increased nutrients
Indicator: Nutrient
concentrations,
nitrogen and
phosphorous
Decreased
vegetation
health
Component:
Wetland vegetation
Service:
Biodiversity; Threatened wetland
species, habitats or ecosystems,
Priority wetland species &
ecosystems
2. Agriculture & Aquaculture
2.3. Livestock farming & ranching
(Livestock grazing and trampling)
Reduced
flora &
fauna
diversity
Component:
Water quality
Service:
Nutrient cycling
Change in
vegetation type
(freshwater
sedgeland,
rushland &
herbland)
Component:
Fauna
Service:
Biodiversity; Threatened wetland
species, habitats or ecosystems;
Priority wetland species &
ecosystems
9.
Lower Ringarooma River – (Part 2 of 2)
3. Energy production and mining
3.2. Mining & quarrying
(Previous & potential future mining)
11. Climate Change
11.1. Habitat shifting & alteration
(Sea level rise, vegetation shifts)
Increased suspended
sediments
Indicator: Total
suspended solids,
turbidity
Altered native vegetation
composition
Indicator: Native
vegetation and weed
composition & condition
Change in
physical
habitat (infilling
of wetlands)
Reduced
flora &
fauna
diversity
Component:
Hydrology
Service:
Hydrological processes;
physical habitat;
biodiversity; ecological
connectivity
Component:
Geomorphology and
substrate
Service:
Physical habitat; sediment
trapping, stabilisation & soil
formation
Component:
Wetland vegetation
Service:
Biodiversity; threatened wetland
species, habitats or ecosystems;.
priority wetland species &
ecosystems
Increased sea level
Indicator: Sea
level
Altered
community
composition
Component:
Fauna
Service:
Biodiversity; threatened
wetland species, habitats or
ecosystems; priority wetland
species & ecosystems