TY - JOUR
T1 - Periphyton indicate effects of wastewater discharge in the near-coastal zone, Perth (Western Australia)
AU - Cosgrove, J.
AU - Walker, Diana
AU - Morrison, P.
AU - Hillman, K.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Periphyton communities on artificial substrata were successfully utilised as a biological indicator of the potential eutrophic effects of wastewater discharge into coastal waters off Perth, Western Australia. Biomass and percentage carbonate content measurements of periphyton communities grown in situ indicated that the periphyton primary production (organic weight) was enhanced in the vicinity of the discharge outlets, with a significant negative correlation between distance north of the northern outlet in Whitfords Lagoon and periphyton organic weight (OW) observed in autumn at a depth of 4 m (r = −0.704, P <0.001). However, this response was primarily limited to the relatively calm autumn season and substrata at depths of 2 m and 4 m. Thus, in favourable conditions phytoplankton and high relief reef communities are more likely to exhibit a eutrophic influence (in the form of enhanced primary production) of the treated wastewater discharge. Laboratory studies confirmed that treated wastewater, diluted 100-fold to estimate surface concentrations above the wastewater outfalls in the field, stimulates periphyton growth above levels recorded in unpolluted seawater (F = 12.485; P = 0.0073).
AB - Periphyton communities on artificial substrata were successfully utilised as a biological indicator of the potential eutrophic effects of wastewater discharge into coastal waters off Perth, Western Australia. Biomass and percentage carbonate content measurements of periphyton communities grown in situ indicated that the periphyton primary production (organic weight) was enhanced in the vicinity of the discharge outlets, with a significant negative correlation between distance north of the northern outlet in Whitfords Lagoon and periphyton organic weight (OW) observed in autumn at a depth of 4 m (r = −0.704, P <0.001). However, this response was primarily limited to the relatively calm autumn season and substrata at depths of 2 m and 4 m. Thus, in favourable conditions phytoplankton and high relief reef communities are more likely to exhibit a eutrophic influence (in the form of enhanced primary production) of the treated wastewater discharge. Laboratory studies confirmed that treated wastewater, diluted 100-fold to estimate surface concentrations above the wastewater outfalls in the field, stimulates periphyton growth above levels recorded in unpolluted seawater (F = 12.485; P = 0.0073).
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecss.2004.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.ecss.2004.05.008
M3 - Article
VL - 61
SP - 331
EP - 338
JO - Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
JF - Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
SN - 0272-7714
IS - 2
ER -