Eutrophication in Australian rivers, reservoirs and estuaries - a southern hemisphere perspective on the science and its implications

摘要: Australian science has made rapid advances in the last decade understanding eutrophication processes inland waters and estuaries. The freshwater research on which these are based was triggered by well-publicised blooms of cyanobacteria during 1980s early 1990s, particularly a 1000 km long bloom Darling River. In estuaries study greatly enhanced our but simultaneously served to stimulate further into estuarine eutrophication, Port Phillip Bay Study, initially designed address perceived problems toxicants provided profound insights drivers for, ecosystem responses to, eutrophication. Subsequent largely been stimulated management questions arising from Australia’s increasing coastal development for residential purposes. shown that some beliefs extant at time were incorrect. For example, it is now clear stratification light penetration, not nutrient availability, triggers impounded rivers southeastern Australia, although exhaustion limits biomass blooms. Again, nitrogen seems play as important role phosphorus does controlling also aspects such transport, dominated different parts Australia. Many biophysical involved have quantified sufficiently models be developed sediment-nutrient release, stratification, turbidity algal growth both systems. cases reliable enough knowledge gained particular waterbodies applied elsewhere. Thus, there firm scientific foundation managers rely upon when managing Whilst findings already presented communities throughout still considerable way go before they absorbed their modus operandi.