Cate Macinnis-Ng

Besides being a good excuse for spending time at some fabulous coastal locations around Sydney, studying the toxicological impact of pollutants on seagrass in situ provides more ecologically relevant data than laboratory based studies. Indeed, estuarine environments are highly complex, physically, chemically and biologically. To fully understand how different pollutants are impacting on this seagrass, intact samples are dosed while still in their natural habitat.

Using PAM fluorometry and specially developed PIE (Portable In situ Experimental) chambers, we have been able to expose Z. capricorni to a variety of pollutants (including herbicides, heavy metals and petrochemicals) in the field, while monitoring the toxic response and recovery. Comparisons with more conventional laboratory trials suggest that the in situ samples have a much better capacity for recovery after a short exposure period. None-the-less, anthropogenic pollutants certainly have the capacity to impact on seagrass physiology, even in acute exposure events.

To date, these experiments have been carried out at Paradise Beach, Pittwater (Northern Sydney). The next step is to look more closely at the mechanisms of toxicity and determine whether seagrasses from different estuaries (Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay) will respond to pollutants in the same way.

Want to know more? Send me an email:Cate.Macinnis@uts.edu.au