Adaptive Management of Malkumba-Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site in Arid Australia—A Free Flowing River and Wetland System

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Please see attached document.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

This paper is acceptable for publication with the adjustments outlined below. The English is a little poor in terms of sentence construction in places, especially where commas are concerned but that is a minor matter. The conclusions do need to be expanded a little to round-out the paper by showing what action has been/could be taken in the case of the invasive fish example used and conclusions drawn about the overall planning approach success, or otherwise, to date.

Specific comments

Line 18         Re-structure sentence to e.g.: ‘Abstract: The Malkumba-Coogie Lakes Ramsar site has extensive terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems covering 2,178,952 ha, including freshwater and salt lakes, lignum swamps and river channels in central Australia. In fact, it is the largest Ramsar Site in Oceania and was designated as such in 1987.’

Response

We have restructured the sentence but still include some of the original material. It now reads: “The Malkumba-Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site has extensive terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems (largest Ramsar Site in Oceania, 2,178,952 ha, designated in 1987), including freshwater and salt lakes, lignum swamps and river channels in central Australia” (Lines 18-20).

22         Change to, ‘… and a National Park (3%) with the largest oil and gas production field in Australia.’.

Response

Changed as suggested

30         Change to, ‘… driving adaptive feedback for learning.’.

Response

Changed as suggested

38         Suggest change to, ‘Like most realms, ecosystem loss comes from habitat destruction and degradation…’.

Response

Changed as suggested

89         Change to, ‘… Threshold of Potential Concern (TPC’s)…’ (if you are going to use capitalised acronym).

Response

Changed as suggested but kept TPCs, because not a possessive

92         Change to, ‘…the effects of management and for adapting actions [22, 30] and ultimately indicate whether the shared vision is being achieved [31].’.

Response

Changed as suggested

94         The reader may not know what a Ramsar is – please elaborate here.

Response

We have added another sentence as suggested: “Wetlands of international importance are listed under the Convention for Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention, aimed at maintaining their ecological character [32]” (lines 94-95).

156       Change to, ‘… is protected for its natural value, while allowing…’.

Response

We have maintained ‘values’ to tie into the multiple natural values of the area, critical for Strategic Adaptive Management

164       Change to, ‘…and another, a Controlled Access Zone, …’.

Response

Changed as suggested

237       Change to, ‘…spanning cultural, environmental, legal and socio-economic dimensions (Table 1).’.

Response

Changed as suggested

• Change to, ‘… related to the social dimensions and included cultural heritage; economically productive and permeant communities; …’.

Response

Changed as suggested

• Change to, ‘It was also clear that the wetland ecosystem and its largely free-flowing river are critically important, supporting aa high biodiversity of significant and extensive waterbird populations (Table 1).’.

Response

Largely changed as suggested, except included ‘nationally important’. Now reads: “It was also clear that the wetland ecosystem and its nationally important largely free-flowing river are critically important, supporting high biodiversity of significance and extensive waterbird populations (Table 1)” (Lines 245-247).

245       Figure 2: I would consider making the smallest font a little larger for ease of reading.

Response

Changed as suggested

267       Change to, ‘… both in terms of economy and well-being …’.

Response

Changed as suggested

272       Change to, ‘…including floodplain developments which were inconsistent with the obligations of the Ramsar Convention.’.

Response

Changed as suggested

286       Change to, ‘… are not mutually exclusive and their inter-relatedness was recognised.’.

Response

Changed as suggested

294       Change to, ‘The fourth Level 1 objective relates to the free-flowing status of the MCLRS (Fig. 2) while the final two Level 1 objectives are focussed…’.

Response

Changed as suggested

299       I think that here, where you mention the Supplementary Figures for the first time, you should direct the reader to the section at the end of the paper which details where these can be found.

Response

No response here as when this is journal format, it should be possible for readers to move to this part of the manuscript. Possibly there is also a link?

319       Sentence beginning, ‘There are 13 native…’ is confusing and badly structured; please re-phrase.

Response

Rephrased to make it easier to read to “Thirteen native fish species were recorded during long-term fish surveys in the MCLRS and adjacent areas along Cooper Creek, 2000-2019….” (Lines 324-325)

328       I am struggling to see how Section 3.3 fits into the narrative of the paper thus far. I think you need to start by saying that this represents an example of the scheme and is being used to illustrate the concept, for the purpose of this paper. If the other management issues have not been expanded in practice you should tell the reader that what is discussed here represents work in progress and not the finished management plan.

Response

Earlier in the manuscript, we indicated that this was an example because we had the most data for this part of the ecosystem. However, we have added a sentence at the beginning of this section to underline its inclusion. “We illustrate the implementation of Strategic Adaptive Management approach using the fish community, as this is the most progressed, with other objectives and analyses a work in progress”.

328       I can’t follow what you are trying to say in the sentence beginning, ‘Annual number of fish…’. Please restructure.

Response

Rewritten to “Number of fish species recorded each year ranged between 8 and 13 (10.88±1.36sd),…” (Lines 333-334).

• Figure 4a is rather Please re-draft with large text on all axes.

Response

Figure 4a – redrawn with larger text, as suggested

• These Figures are too small to be able to read off data effectively. Please re- configure or

Response

The main point about this figure is to illustrate the relationship between flows and abundances of the different fish species. We think this figure 4b is still useful and should be retained.

359       Change to, ‘… using a range of information sources including available rudimentary understanding of data (Fig. 4) and also expert opinion’.

Response

Changed as suggested

394       Table 2 is too large. Suggest re-drafting with a smaller font and single-spaced lines.

Response

We can do this but it may be problematic to read. We seek editorial advice on this point but have left the table as it stands

421       I think that you need to explain here how the knowledge gained in the Conceptual Model (Figure 5) was actually used to mitigate the invasive fish problem to make this

section more complete. If action has not been carried out yet perhaps to could give examples of how the data might be used in theory.

Response

This is an excellent suggestion. We have added more information to support the importance of the conceptual model for management. Specifically: “Further, this can guide management. For example, it can be used to track the invasion front up and down rivers (Figure 5) and identify potential management measures (such as trapping and removal). Abundances (biomass) are highest during dry periods (discharge, Figure 5) which may result in concentrations allowing targeted removal. High survival and reproduction also mean that one management strategy is awareness to avoid spread of this alien fish into other rivers. The conceptual model can also be used to identify ecological effects to be measured to determine the full scope of impact (Figure 5)” (lines 425-432).

453       Change to, ‘… research and management thus supporting agreed…’.

Response

Changed as suggested

456       I would change this sentence to a numbered list, i.e., ‘SAM implementation has several key components: i) scoping of management options to meet objectives; ii) planning…’.

Response

Changed as suggested

460       Change to, ‘… contexts and it determines the extent to which management interventions have succeeded over time and whether they are consistent with the objectives and, ultimately, the vision [55].’.

Response

Changed as suggested

529       Change to, ‘The current overarching…’.

Response

Changed as suggested

558       Conclusions: I think you need to expand the conclusions a little more to include discussion of how the SAM plan, developed thus far, has been implemented in practice to show the reader the practical outcome of this particular example. If no actions have been taken yet can you instead hypothesise what could theoretically be done for the example case of the invasive fish species.

Response

We have expanded the conclusion section as suggested and now include the following.

“This plan is still at its early stages, representing the start of a long but rigorous process, guided by the value and context driven development of a hierarchy of social-ecological objectives. As we continue to develop fine level objectives, they become management actions which can be progressed, monitored, evaluated and clearly linked to the overall vision. Some of these management actions may require more detailed understanding, informed by management implementation and research. For example, the control of invasive fish species, particularly sleepy cod, requires monitoring of impacts on different parts of the ecosystem to determine the extent of the impact, exploration of opportunities for targeted removal (potentially when concentrated) and also raising of awareness to avoid invasion into other Lake Eyre Basin rivers. Other social objectives require further refinement and development with the key foundations now in place. These include further collaboration with Traditional Owners and industry to identify management actions that reflect accordance with the vision. Our Ramsar SAM Plan provides a clear and transparent management planning approach for this Ramsar Site, enabling identification and mitigation against unacceptable changes in ecological character. The Ramsar SAM Plan is applicable to any wetland, river or other natural resource management related programs. Certainly, more focused strategic adaptive management approach, building ownership and buy-in among all stakeholders involved, is applicable to all Ramsar Sites, worldwide. It could significantly improve management in the achievement of positive ecological, social, economic outcomes” (Lines 575-595).

584       I have not proofed the reference list

Response

No response

Reviewer 2 Report

In this paper the authors developed a Strategic Adaptive Management Plan elaborated for The Malkumba-Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site. The proposed approach combines science, monitoring and management as well as stakeholders are involved. The developed methodology is of interest to a wide range of readers.

Clarification of the following point would be helpful for readers:

L 94: The authors introduce the concept of Ramsar Strategic Adaptive Management Plan. They previously define (L:77-90) Strategic Adaptive Management Plan. What is the difference between Ramsar SAM and SAM ?

Author Response

Reviewer 2 - Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this paper the authors developed a Strategic Adaptive Management Plan elaborated for The Malkumba-Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site. The proposed approach combines science, monitoring and management as well as stakeholders are involved. The developed methodology is of interest to a wide range of readers.

Clarification of the following point would be helpful for readers:

L 94: The authors introduce the concept of Ramsar Strategic Adaptive Management Plan. They previously define (L:77-90) Strategic Adaptive Management Plan. What is the difference between Ramsar SAM and SAM ?

Response

We have rewritten this and so it is clearer. “We developed a Strategic Adaptive Management Plan (Ramsar SAM Plan) for the Malkumba-Coongie Lakes Ramsar Site (MCLRS)…” (Lines 96-97).