Impacts of Climate Change on the peri-tidal microbial systems of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area

Abstract

The study investigated near term climate change impacts on the microbialite forming ecosystem within Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay. Biogeomorphic links between metocean processes and microbialite formation were identified including the relationship between storm processes and Ningaloo Nino events and the stability of microbialite formation, coquina deposition, and microbialitic-sediment generation processes, within the shallow subtidal to supratidal zone. Historic changes to impact patterns were then investigated by incorporating multiple data sets over the last 60 years.