作者: Daniel F. Martinez-Escobar , Jennie Mallela
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2019.07.139
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摘要: Abstract Phosphate mining activities on Christmas Island began in the late 1800's providing a unique, long-term case study which to assess impacts of coral reef development. Watershed modelling was used identify potential “hotspots” runoff adjacent reefs. Pollution hotspots were also confirmed by analysis sediment. rich flowed from local watersheds onto nearshore reefs with levels up 54,000 mg/kg total phosphate recorded sediment at Dryers site main storage facility. Using this combination watershed and in-situ contamination data we identified six sites along an environmental impact gradient. In-situ benthic transects paired new rubble-encruster method enabling combine large scale transect information alongside fine-scale epibenthic encruster assemblages. Results demonstrate that loading negatively impacted building communities, particular, branching corals calcareous encrusting organisms, critical future survival ecosystems. These findings highlight importance curtailing pollution catchment based protecting for future.