Testing the waters: impacts of contaminants on ecosystem structure and function in urban waterways

Project Member(s): Doblin, M.

Funding or Partner Organisation: University of Sydney (University of Sydney - funding source)
Australian Research Council (ARC Linkage Projects)
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO (Project))
National University of Singapore
Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Managment Authority (Hawkesbury Napean Catchment Management Authority)
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage)

Start year: 2013

Summary: Urban waterways are modified and contaminated at levels that cause concern to governments, environmental managers and the general public. Identifying the ecological consequences of contamination is key to managing and restoring these important systems.This project will use cutting edge 'omic technologies in combination with conventional biomonitoring approaches to establish the direct and indirect effects of storm water constituents on ecosystem structure and function. Results and outcomes from this research will feed directly into ecological response models that prioritise management actions for government agencies. We will also train the next generation of scientists in cutting-edge ecological research within a multidisciplinary context.

Keywords: ecosystem function, contaminants, microbiology, marine ecology, estuary, coastal management

FOR Codes: Environmental Impact Assessment, Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments, Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology), Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity, Environmental assessment and monitoring, Coastal or estuarine biodiversity, Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.