Ecohydrological adaptation: A research and management framework for ecosystems in Australia’s drying and warming climate

Australia – the driest inhabited continent and the continent with the most exceptionally variable rainfall globally – is also home to a diverse range of unique and often endemic ecosystems. While globally the productivity and distribution of many ecosystems is strongly controlled by temperature, water availability is the primary driver of productivity and the distribution of most Australian ecosystems. Despite its high rainfall variability, Australia’s ecosystems display great resilience to changes in water availability. The limits of this resilience in the context of climate change are of increasing concern, as multiple extreme events in quick succession reduce opportunities for recovery. In this review, we introduce Australian ecosystems and their water use, outline drivers of changing water availability to Australian ecosystems, their likely consequences, and a hierarchy of potential management options available to slow the pace and decrease the magnitude of water-driven ecosystem and ecohydrological change. We present case studies where previous implementation of such management solutions have been applied. We conclude by identifying the ecohydrological knowledge gaps needed to equip Australia, and other nations worldwide, to implement these strategies responsibly, considering the costs and uncertainties associated with potential management measures.