Sustainable development and wildlife resources

Dr Melissa Bruton

Profile – Melissa Bruton

• Research

– Ecology & physiology

– Land management

– Reptiles

• Womas

What is your background?

• Geography?

• Biology?

• Planning/development?

• Wildlife?

The application of geography is inter-disciplinary

What is geography?

• The study of features and processes in space and time

What is geography?

• The study of features and processes in space and time

– Physical geography• Rocks, water, air, soil, flora & fauna

What is geography?

• The study of features and processes in space and time

– Physical geography• Rocks, water, air, soil, flora & fauna

– Human geography• Culture, society, demography, development & transportation

What is geography?

• The study of features and processes in space and time

– Physical geography• Rocks, water, air, soil, flora & fauna

– Human geography• Culture, society, demography, development & transportation

– Integrated geography• Bridges human & physical geography e.g. environmental

management & sustainability

What is geography?

• The study of features and processes in space and time

– Physical geography• Rocks, water, air, soil, flora & fauna

– Human geography• Culture, society, demography, development & transportation

– Integrated geography• Bridges human & physical geography e.g. environmental

management & sustainability

What is development?

Before development?

Development often interrupts nutrient cycles and ecosystem function

Nutrient cycles

Plants

Animals

Microbes

Soil/sediment

Nutrient cycles

Plants

Animals

Microbes

Soil/sediment

Humans and other animals require key resources to survive – food, water and

shelter

Group activity - humans

• Food

• Water

• Shelter

Group activity - wildlife

• Food

• Water

• Shelter

Group activity - wildlife

• Food

• Water

• Shelter

• Brisbane city centre

Group activity - wildlife

• Food

• Water

• Shelter

• Brisbane city centre • Southbank

Summary

• Geography and ecology are interwoven

Summary

• Geography and ecology are interwoven

• Removing animal resources = animals lost = loss of nutrient cycling

Summary

• Geography and ecology are interwoven

• Removing animal resources = animals lost = loss of nutrient cycling

• Replacing/protecting animal resources = sustainable development

Summary

• Geography and ecology are interwoven

• Removing animal resources = animals lost = loss of nutrient cycling

• Replacing/protecting animal resources = sustainable development

• Sustainable development requires ecological information

Summary

• Geography and ecology are interwoven

• Removing animal resources = animals lost = loss of nutrient cycling

• Replacing/protecting animal resources = sustainable development

• Sustainable development requires ecological information

• Sustainable development means humans and wildlife co-exist