Bioindicators used to detect prawn Bioindicators used to detect prawn farm and sewage effluentfarm and sewage effluent

Adrian Jones, James Udy, Mark O’Donohue & William DennisonAdrian Jones, James Udy, Mark O’Donohue & William Dennison

Department of Botany, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaDepartment of Botany, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Marine BotanyMarine BotanyThe University of QueenslandThe University of Queensland

R C f

U AC U LT

E

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

• Brisbane River and Moreton Bay Brisbane River and Moreton Bay Wastewater Management Study (Task - Wastewater Management Study (Task - DIBM)DIBM)

• Ian McLeod & Tom Taranto - CSIRO Ian McLeod & Tom Taranto - CSIRO Marine ResearchMarine Research

AimsAims

• Develop bioindicators to identify Develop bioindicators to identify different biotic responses for prawn farm different biotic responses for prawn farm effluent versus sewage effluenteffluent versus sewage effluent

• Use bioindicator responses to determine Use bioindicator responses to determine the extent of prawn farm and sewage the extent of prawn farm and sewage impactsimpacts

Experimental DesignExperimental Design

• Develop bioindicators by comparing two Develop bioindicators by comparing two separate tidal creeks:separate tidal creeks:

- prawn effluent discharge only - prawn effluent discharge only - sewage discharge only- sewage discharge only

• Use the identified responses in the Use the identified responses in the bioindicators to detect sewage and prawn bioindicators to detect sewage and prawn effluent discharging into the same water effluent discharging into the same water bodybody

Water Quality ComparisonWater Quality Comparison

NNHH44++

((µµMM))NNOO33

--

((µµMM))PPOO44

33--

((µµMM))CChhll aa

((µµgg ll--11))TTSSSS

((mmgg ll--11))

PPrraawwnnEEfffflluueenntt 6600 11 00..99 110000 330000

SSeewwaaggeeEEfffflluueenntt 1166 116600 110055 00..22 1155

EEaasstteerrnnBBaayyWWaatteerr

11..11 00..11 00..22 00..55 1177

Study Sites - Two CreeksStudy Sites - Two Creeks

PrawnPrawnFarmFarm

STPSTP

Brisbane

MoretonBay

Logan R

ImpactedUnimpacted

Water Column NutrientsWater Column Nutrients

PrawnPrawnFarmFarm

STPSTP

Brisbane

MoretonBay

Logan R

NHNH44++ (µM) (µM)

NONO33--/NO/NO22

-- (µM) (µM)

POPO443-3- (µM) (µM)

130

1-25-10

10-20

Chlorophyll Chlorophyll a a (µg l(µg l-1-1))

PrawnPrawnFarmFarm

STPSTP

Brisbane

MoretonBay

Logan R

1-25-10

10-20

Phytoplankton Productivity (mg C mPhytoplankton Productivity (mg C m-3-3 h h-1-1))

Prawn FarmPrawn Farm

STPSTP

Brisbane

MoretonBay

Logan R

1-2020-50

50-100

Tissue %N - Seagrass

2.42.4

2.82.8

2.02.0

2.82.82.02.0

2.02.0

1.71.7

PrawnPrawnFarmFarm

STPSTP

Brisbane

MoretonBay

Logan R

1-1.51.5-2.0

2-3

Amino Acid Profile - Seagrass Amino Acid Profile - Seagrass Glutamine + Asparagine (nmol g-1 wet wt)Glutamine + Asparagine (nmol g-1 wet wt)

6060

2222

1717

2020

1919

1818

1010

PrawnPrawnFarmFarm

STPSTP

Brisbane

MoretonBay

Logan R

1515N - SeagrassN - Seagrass

7.17.1

6.86.8

5.05.0

7.87.8

8.08.0

5.65.6

4.74.7

PrawnPrawnFarmFarm

STPSTP

Brisbane

MoretonBay

Logan R

Study AreaStudy Area

Study SitesStudy Sites

Sewage EffluentSewage Effluent

Prawn Farm PlumePrawn Farm Plume

Prawn Farm PlumePrawn Farm Plume

Water Quality ComparisonWater Quality Comparison

NNHH44++

((µµMM))NNOO33

--

((µµMM))PPOO44

33--

((µµMM))CChhll aa

((µµgg ll--11))TTSSSS

((mmgg ll--11))

PPrraawwnnEEfffflluueenntt 6600 11 00..99 110000 330000

SSeewwaaggeeEEfffflluueenntt 1166 116600 110055 00..22 1155

EEaasstteerrnnBBaayyWWaatteerr

11..11 00..11 00..22 00..55 1177

Water Column NutrientsWater Column Nutrients

Chlorophyll Chlorophyll aa Map Map

Amino Acid Profile - Mangroves Amino Acid Profile - Mangroves Glutamine + Asparagine (nmol g-1 wet wt)Glutamine + Asparagine (nmol g-1 wet wt)

Macroalgal Macroalgal 1515N MapN Map

ConclusionsConclusions• Sewage effluentSewage effluent

– higher in dissolved nutrientshigher in dissolved nutrients

– proportionally more NOproportionally more NO33-- and PO and PO44

3-3-

• Prawn effluent Prawn effluent

– predominantly NHpredominantly NH44++

– higher in chlorophyll higher in chlorophyll aa and total suspended solids and total suspended solids

• Bioindicators were responsive to nutrients from both prawn and sewage Bioindicators were responsive to nutrients from both prawn and sewage effluent.effluent.

• Bioindicator parameters identified a greater geographical influence than Bioindicator parameters identified a greater geographical influence than traditional water qualitytraditional water quality

• Location of discharge may be important in controlling the impactsLocation of discharge may be important in controlling the impacts