Scientists utilizing pure tracers off Queensland’s coast have found the supply of beforehand unquantified nitrogen and phosphorus having a profound environmental influence on the Nice Barrier Reef.
The findings, printed at the moment in Environmental Science and Know-how, point out present efforts to protect and restore the well being of the Reef might require a brand new perspective.
Southern Cross College’s Dr Douglas Tait leads the ground-breaking examine, ‘Submarine groundwater discharge exceeds river inputs as a supply of vitamins to the Nice Barrier Reef’.
Submarine groundwater discharge is any water launched to the ocean beneath the waterline from numerous sources, together with underground aquifers and the seafloor.
The analysis workforce, which additionally consists of CSIRO, AIMS and Gothenburg College (Sweden), collected information from offshore transects, rivers and coastal bores in an space from south of Rockhampton to north of Cairns. The usage of radium isotopes allowed the scientists to trace how a lot nutrient is transported from the land and shelf sediments by way of invisible groundwater flows.
Southern Cross Professor Damien Maher stated the workforce’s work confirmed that groundwater discharge was 10-15 instances better than river inputs, one thing beforehand unaccounted for.
“Groundwater discharge accounted for about one-third of recent nitrogen and two-thirds of phosphorus inputs, indicating that just about twice the quantity of nitrogen enters the Reef from groundwater in comparison with river waters,” Professor Maher stated.
Professor Maher added that the lion’s share of efforts to mitigate the influence of vitamins on the Reef have been targeted on outflow from river techniques.
Lead writer Dr Douglas Tait stated: “Vitamins are important to help the unbelievable biodiversity of the Nice Barrier Reef.”
“Nevertheless, an extra of vitamins can result in detrimental points resembling dangerous algal blooms, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, and fish ailments, which have been on the rise within the Reef over the previous few many years.
“Our examine underscores the necessity for a strategic shift in administration approaches aimed toward safeguarding the Nice Barrier Reef from the results of extra vitamins.”
Dr Tait stated not like river outflow, vitamins in groundwater might be saved for many years underground earlier than being discharged into coastal waters, that means analysis and techniques to guard the Reef wanted to be long-term.
“This examine sheds new mild on the advanced nutrient dynamics throughout the Nice Barrier Reef,” Dr Tait stated.
“Our understanding and skill to handle the sources of vitamins is pivotal in preserving the Reef for generations to return.”
The venture was supported with funding from the Australian Analysis Council, the Herman Slade Basis and the Nice Barrier Reef Basis.
