Effects of urbanisation on macroalgae and sessile invertebrates in southeast Australian estuaries. (31st May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fowles, Amelia E.; Stuart-Smith, Rick D.; Stuart-Smith, Jemina F.; Hill, Nicole A.; Kirkpatrick, Jamie B.; Edgar, Graham J.
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 205(2018)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2018-05-31
• Subjects: Ecklonia radiata -- Estuarine ecology -- Heavy metal pollution -- Kelp -- Multiple stressors; Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2018.02.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: The influence of anthropogenic and environmental factors on the composition, cover and dominance of macroalgae and sessile invertebrates was assessed in three capital city estuaries in south-eastern Australia. Heavy metals and proximity to ports showed the strongest relationships to the distribution of sessile reef biota after accounting for natural environmental gradients. The densities of laminarian, fucoid, brown and red foliose algae were negatively correlated with heavy metals, both in Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne) and the Derwent (Hobart), while turf, filamentous algae and some invertebrates were favoured. Sydney Harbour possessed a different pattern, with the laminarian kelp Ecklonia radiata most abundant near the main shipping port, probably because of biotic interactions involving urchin grazing in the lower estuary. Identifying drivers of benthic community pattern represents a key challenge for effective conservation management, particularly for estuaries affected by multiple anthropogenic impacts. Highlights: Sessile reef biota were detectably influenced by contaminants above natural variability in three major Australian estuaries. Heavy metal concentrations and distance to port were consistently related to changing reef community structure. Responses were relatively coherent at the level of functional groups. Sydney Harbour showed some anomalous patterns, probably in part due to strong biotic interactions involving urchin grazing.