Thresholds of major pollutants with regard to impacts on instream and marine ecosystems (MTSRF Synthesis Report)

As part of its commitment under Theme 5 of the MTSRF, the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre publishes, or makes available, outputs (e.g. final technical or scientific reports, synthesis reports) from MTSRF-funded research projects nested within Research Themes 1-4.

In response to the needs of managers of the Great Barrier Reef, a key focus area of the Australian Government's Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) has been the development of thresholds of pollutants of concern in freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems. The outcomes of this research are summarised in this report, starting with an overview of new knowledge of the impacts of degraded water quality, and outlining how this work has been translated into threshold values and, ultimately in some cases, management guidelines for the GBR.

As part of its commitment under Theme 5 of the MTSRF, the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre publishes, or makes available, outputs (e.g. final technical or scientific reports, synthesis reports) from MTSRF-funded research projects nested within Research Themes 1-4.

The following summary is an extract from:

Waterhouse, J. (2010) Thresholds of major pollutants with regard to impacts on instream and marine ecosystems. Synthesis Report prepared for the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF). Published by the Reef & Rainforest Research Centre Ltd, Cairns (26pp.).

Introduction:

Managers of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) require information on the status of reef ecosystems, relationships between pressures and response, and an understanding of the thresholds of GBR species and ecosystems to these pressures. This information can be used to establish guidelines and targets for management that trigger a strategic management response. Knowledge of catchment and instream ecosystems is also necessary for regionally based natural resource managers, and to refine the understanding of relationships between catchment and marine ecosystems.

In response to these needs, a key focus area of the Australian Government’s Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) has been the development of thresholds of pollutants of concern in freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems. The outcomes of this research are summarised in this report, starting with an overview of new knowledge of the impacts of degraded water quality, and outlining how this work has been translated into threshold values and, ultimately in some cases, management guidelines for the GBR.

Related Articles/Items:

• MTSRF Program 7 Halting and Reversing the Decline of Water Quality (RRRC website)
• Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (RRRC website)
• Other MTSRF Synthesis Products (RRRC website)