Setting ecologically relevant targets for river pollutant loads to meet marine water quality requirements for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: A preliminary methodology and analysis

Brodie, Jon; Lewis, Stephen E.; Collier, Catherine; Wooldridge, Scott A.; Bainbridge, Zoë; Waterhouse, Jane; Rasheed, Michael A.; Honchin, Carol; Holmes, Glen; Fabricius, Katharina

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.09.028

Cited by 56 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Pristine reefs gather external nutrients from surrounding areas through oceanic currents, along with river and groundwater inputs and atmospheric deposition [ Hernández‐Terrones et al ., ; Lowe and Falter , ]. While extensive research has been done on the influence of terrestrial nutrient runoff and river inputs on reefs [ Brodie et al ., ; Fabricius , ] as well as oceanic inputs [ Falter et al ., ; Lowe and Falter , ], there is limited information on groundwater‐derived nutrient inputs into coral reefs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen enrichment and speciation in a coral reef lagoon driven by groundwater inputs of bird guano

McMahon

Santos

2017

JGR Oceans

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While the influence of river inputs on coral reef biogeochemistry has been investigated, there is limited information on nutrient fluxes related to submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Here, we investigate whether significant saline groundwater‐derived nutrient inputs from bird guano drive coral reef photosynthesis and calcification off Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia). We used multiple experimental approaches including groundwater sampling, beach face transects, and detailed time series observations to assess the dynamics and speciation of groundwater nutrients as they travel across the island and discharge into the coral reef lagoon. Nitrogen speciation shifted from nitrate‐dominated groundwater (>90% of total dissolved nitrogen) to a coral reef lagoon dominated by dissolved organic nitrogen (DON; ∼86%). There was a minimum input of nitrate of 2.1 mmol m−2 d−1 into the lagoon from tidally driven submarine groundwater discharge estimated from a radon mass balance model. An independent approach based on the enrichment of dissolved nutrients during isolation at low tide implied nitrate fluxes of 5.4 mmol m−2 d−1. A correlation was observed between nitrate and daytime net ecosystem production and calcification. We suggest that groundwater nutrients derived from bird guano may offer a significant addition to oligotrophic coral reef lagoons and fuel ecosystem productivity and the coastal carbon cycle near Heron Island. The large input of groundwater nutrients in Heron Island may serve as a natural ecological analogue to other coral reefs subject to large nutrient inputs from anthropogenic sources.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen enrichment and speciation in a coral reef lagoon driven by groundwater inputs of bird guano

McMahon

Santos

2017

JGR Oceans

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“…Currently the targets are set based on the premise of increased loads contributing to the current state of degradation, with sediment, dissolved inorganic nutrient and pesticides contributing to different factors of degradation such as, increased frequency of crown-of-thorns star fish outbreaks, and reduced photosynthesis in seagrass, corals and algae respectively (Brodie et al, 2017). This has then resulted in the formation of targets such as the long term goal to ensure that by 2020 the quality of water entering the reef from broad scale land use has no detrimental impact on the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef (Brodie et al, 2017).…”

Section: Overview Of Optimisation Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The time dynamics of some parameters present challenges in optimisation (Pressey et al, 2007), as the lines of evidence are relating to a number of catchment indicators are then modelled on average over a 28 year period similar to how the targets are now set (Brodie et al, 2017). Table 1.…”

Section: Case Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the cost for pollutant load reductions in the Great Barrier Reef: a case study

2017

Syme, G., Hatton MacDonald, D., Fulton, B. And Piantadosi, J. (Eds) MODSIM2017, 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Si

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The slow progress of pollutant reduction towards the Great Barrier Reef water quality improvement plan targets has increased the pressure to achieve more cost effective outcomes. Consistency in how costs are captured for different policy mechanisms from the paddock scale to the catchment scale would allow more robust evaluation of achieving overall pollutant reduction targets. Progress in the Paddock to Reef monitoring and modelling program (P2R) in the areas of landholder adoption, ground cover and monitoring the program have improved decision making. However, the costs involved in current optimization approaches have data paucity, and could be improved with more consistent, and comprehensive data to evaluate investments. This paper provides a framework on how economic data could be collected to integrate into Paddock to Reef program to optimise investments.

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“…The application of the concept of the load was used to check which activity has more intensely influenced the pollution of waters in that locality. Recently, Brodie et al (2017) studied strategies to prioritize investments in pollution control on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The authors used the concept of load to evaluate which watersheds had the greatest influence on the pollution of reefs and used it to improve the effectiveness of programs for environmental protection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using the pollutant load concept to assess water quality in an urban river: the case of Carahá River (Lages, Brazil)

Quinatto¹,

Zambelli²,

Souza³

et al. 2018

Rev. ambiente água

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the water quality of Carahá River in Lages (Brazil), using the concept of pollutant load and comparing the results with the water quality index. Thirteen points along the river were selected and eight collections were carried out over a period of 16 months. The parameters analysed were those required for the calculation of the water quality index (WQI). Flow measurements were also carried out, which enabled the calculation of the polluting load. The results showed that the WQI score ranges between 24.95 at the source and peaks at 40 at the outlet. The water classification, therefore, ranges from “very bad” to “bad”. The calculation of the pollutant load showed a constant disposal of contaminants into the river, which demonstrates that the quality of the water is continuously degraded. This information could not be obtained by analysing only the WQI, which presented a nearly constant quality at point 4 and beyond. The use of the calculation of pollutant load for Carahá River is, therefore, a tool for assessment of pollution that can provide more appropriate information for the water resources management.

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Setting ecologically relevant targets for river pollutant loads to meet marine water quality requirements for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: A preliminary methodology and analysis

Cited by 56 publications

References 74 publications

Nitrogen enrichment and speciation in a coral reef lagoon driven by groundwater inputs of bird guano

Nitrogen enrichment and speciation in a coral reef lagoon driven by groundwater inputs of bird guano

Assessing the cost for pollutant load reductions in the Great Barrier Reef: a case study

Using the pollutant load concept to assess water quality in an urban river: the case of Carahá River (Lages, Brazil)

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