the combination of that significantly High-very high: permanent site impact catchment (changes in condition can also Where wetlands: channel form, result in medium occur in the near riparian vegetation sensitivity in coastal zone structure) and off catchments where (cyclone landfall, site impacts (flow exposure to storm surge paths, pressure is areas) occur in connectivity, otherwise low. highly seasonal hydrology, climates, where groundwater High Very High biota are – discharge) which Where the seasonally have facilitated following occur in exposed to the establishment unison and result critical conditions of secondary in long- term (including pressures (weeds, chronic strain, waterhole water quality generating highly stratification decline, floristic modified and and/or changes) creating dysfunctional temperatures long-term chronic wetlands: nearing their strain which high exposure to thermal maxima) persists in the catchment or depend on a absence of habitat small number of resetting and flows and functional recuperative contaminant aquatic refugia processes. loadings from to sustain the catchment obligate aquatic sensitivity High result in ambient biota through dry occurs where water quality seasons wetland conditions conditions are dependent under permanently on groundwater development exceeding discharge from pressure ecosystem shallow aquifers represent a major health guidelines are exposed to departure from for one or more existing baseline e.g. parameters pressures that seasonal versus sustained are exacerbated perennial, closed alteration of by higher canopy versus wetland temperatures
the combination of permanent site (changes in channel form, riparian vegetation structure) and off site impacts (flow paths, connectivity, hydrology, groundwater discharge) which have facilitated the establishment of secondary pressures (weeds, water quality decline, floristic changes) creating long-term chronic strain which persists in the absence of habitat resetting and recuperative processes. High sensitivity occurs where wetland conditions under development pressure represent a major departure from baseline e.g. seasonal versus perennial, closed canopy versus that significantly impact catchment condition can also result in medium sensitivity in catchments where exposure to pressure is otherwise low. High – Very High Where the following occur in unison and result in long- term chronic strain, generating highly modified and dysfunctional wetlands: high exposure to catchment flows and contaminant loadings from the catchment result in ambient water quality conditions permanently exceeding ecosystem health guidelines for one or more parameters sustained alteration of wetland High-very high: Where wetlands: occur in the near coastal zone (cyclone landfall, storm surge areas) occur in highly seasonal climates, where biota are seasonally exposed to critical conditions (including waterhole stratification and/or temperatures nearing their thermal maxima) or depend on a small number of functional aquatic refugia to sustain obligate aquatic biota through dry seasons are dependent on groundwater discharge from shallow aquifers are exposed to existing pressures that are exacerbated by higher temperatures