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An experimental assessment of impacts of pollution sources on sessile biota in a temperate urbanised estuary
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 18:43 authored by Fowles, AE, Graham EdgarGraham Edgar, Nicole HillNicole Hill, Richard Stuart-SmithRichard Stuart-Smith, James KirkpatrickJames KirkpatrickPopulations 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.
History
Publication title
Marine Pollution BulletinVolume
133Pagination
209-217ISSN
0025-326XDepartment/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Pergamon-Elsevier Science LtdPlace of publication
The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Ox5 1GbRights statement
© 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.Repository Status
- Restricted