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An experimental assessment of impacts of pollution sources on sessile biota in a temperate urbanised estuary
Citation
Fowles, AE and Edgar, GJ and Hill, N and Stuart-Smith, RD and Kirkpatrick, JB, An experimental assessment of impacts of pollution sources on sessile biota in a temperate urbanised estuary, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 133 pp. 209-217. ISSN 0025-326X (2018) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.040
Abstract
Populations of macro-algae and sessile invertebrates have precipitously declined in urbanised coastal waters in Australia since European occupation. Responses of healthy subtidal sessile assemblages to cumulative impacts and types of urban impacts were measured in one of the most polluted estuaries in Australia - the Derwent Estuary - by transplanting sessile communities established on pavers to locations adjacent to marinas, sewerage outfalls, fish farm cages, and stormwater discharges, each with associated controls. Reef communities translocated to sites adjacent to central urban pollution sources (within 5 km of Hobart) lost canopy-forming algae. Fish farms, marinas, and storm water drains were all characterised by higher filamentous algal cover than their controls. Marinas were associated with losses in canopy and foliose algae. Restoration of subtidal reef near highly urbanised areas is unlikely to be successful until current pollution levels are dramatically reduced.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | field experiment, marinas, invasive species, fish farms, biodiversity, sewerage outfall, stormwater discharge, macroalgae |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management |
| Objective Field: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments |
| Author: | Fowles, AE (Ms Amelia Fowles) |
| Author: | Edgar, GJ (Professor Graham Edgar) |
| Author: | Hill, N (Dr Nicole Hill) |
| Author: | Stuart-Smith, RD (Dr Rick Stuart-Smith) |
| Author: | Kirkpatrick, JB (Professor James Kirkpatrick) |
| ID Code: | 126400 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2018-06-08 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-06-13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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