Long-term changes in Mackay Whitsunday water quality and connectivity between coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems. Declining water quality is implicated in the degradation of near-shore Great Barrier Reef (GBR) ecosystems. The goal of this project is to provide a definitive answer to the question of how GBR water quality has changed since European arrival (pre-1860). Using novel geochemical proxies in long-lived coral cores and innovative remote sensing techniques, we will develop quantitative h ....Long-term changes in Mackay Whitsunday water quality and connectivity between coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems. Declining water quality is implicated in the degradation of near-shore Great Barrier Reef (GBR) ecosystems. The goal of this project is to provide a definitive answer to the question of how GBR water quality has changed since European arrival (pre-1860). Using novel geochemical proxies in long-lived coral cores and innovative remote sensing techniques, we will develop quantitative histories of water quality and mangrove distribution change. This project will deliver the first integrated assessment of how coastal water quality and associated ecosystems have varied historically, which will be immediately applicable for long-term management of coastal ecosystems lining the GBR.Read moreRead less
Contemporary ecological threats from historical pollution events and their modification by environmental conditions. Many Australian ports have contaminated sediments that are a legacy of industrial pollution. The resuspension of these sediments through shipping or dredging activity represents an obvious, yet unsubstantiated, threat to the biodiversity and health of marine communities living well above the seafloor. This research proposal addresses a strategic knowledge gap with implications for ....Contemporary ecological threats from historical pollution events and their modification by environmental conditions. Many Australian ports have contaminated sediments that are a legacy of industrial pollution. The resuspension of these sediments through shipping or dredging activity represents an obvious, yet unsubstantiated, threat to the biodiversity and health of marine communities living well above the seafloor. This research proposal addresses a strategic knowledge gap with implications for appropriate management of port operations. Identifying the conditions under which contaminated sediments may cause an impact, and the environmental factors that modify these effects, will produce significant advances in scientific understanding and the results will be of strategic interest to all Australian Port Authorities. Read moreRead less