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 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
UTAS Author:	Fowles, AE (Ms Amelia Fowles)
UTAS Author:	Edgar, GJ (Professor Graham Edgar)
UTAS Author:	Hill, N (Dr Nicole Hill)
UTAS Author:	Stuart-Smith, RD (Dr Rick Stuart-Smith)
UTAS Author:	Kirkpatrick, JB (Professor James Kirkpatrick)
ID Code:	126400
Year Published:	2018
Deposited By:	Ecology and Biodiversity
Deposited On:	2018-06-08
Last Modified:	2018-11-15
Downloads:	0