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Effects of urbanisation on macroalgae and sessile invertebrates in southeast Australian estuaries
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 16:44 authored by Fowles, AE, Richard Stuart-SmithRichard Stuart-Smith, Jemina Stuart-SmithJemina Stuart-Smith, Nicole HillNicole Hill, James KirkpatrickJames Kirkpatrick, Graham EdgarGraham EdgarThe influence of anthropogenic and environmental factors on the composition, cover and dominance of macroalgae and sessile invertebrates was assessed in three capital city estuaries in south-eastern Australia. Heavy metals and proximity to ports showed the strongest relationships to the distribution of sessile reef biota after accounting for natural environmental gradients. The densities of laminarian, fucoid, brown and red foliose algae were negatively correlated with heavy metals, both in Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne) and the Derwent (Hobart), while turf, filamentous algae and some invertebrates were favoured. Sydney Harbour possessed a different pattern, with the laminarian kelp Ecklonia radiata most abundant near the main shipping port, probably because of biotic interactions involving urchin grazing in the lower estuary. Identifying drivers of benthic community pattern represents a key challenge for effective conservation management, particularly for estuaries affected by multiple anthropogenic impacts.
History
Publication title
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf ScienceVolume
205Pagination
30-39ISSN
0272-7714Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Academic Press Ltd Elsevier Science LtdPlace of publication
24-28 Oval Rd, London, England, Nw1 7DxRights statement
Copyright 2018 Elsevier Ltd.Repository Status
- Restricted