Benthic light as ecologically-validated GBR-wide indicator for water quality: drivers, thresholds and cumulative risks (Old ID 22540)

Department of the Environment and Energy
Role

Principal Investigator

Description

The project will develop a water quality indicator based on benthic irradiance (the amount of light penetrating to the seafloor). Using experiments and field data we will develop irradiance thresholds for measures of ecosystem health, and develop prototype guideline values. We will develop a new remote sensing algorithm of benthic irradiance, validated against open-water irradiance data. We will quantify benthic irradiance through the GBR, near-daily over 14 years, and assess region-specific drivers of trends including river discharges. Ur indicator can directly feed into Reef Plan report cards, irradiance as a limiting factor, and about cumulative risks in the context of coral bleaching.

Date

01 Jan 2016 - 30 Mar 2019

Project Type

GRANT

Keywords

Water Quality Guidelines;Remote Sensing;benthic irradiance;Ecosystem Health;light thresholds

Funding Body

Department of the Environment and Energy

Amount

18000

Project Team

N/A