Developing light thresholds for tropical seagrasses and applying them in real time management of dredging
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Seagrasses are key sensitive receptor habitats that frequently interact with coastal development and ports and dredging activity. Their prevalence in sheltered coastal environments and soft sediment areas in which ports are established makes them particularly susceptible to interactions with development including dredging activity. This is especially true for the tropical ports of Queensland where a range of different seagrass community types often occur directly adjacent to port infrastructure and facilities. A concerted effort in research and management over the last decade has gone into developing ecologically relevant light thresholds for seagrasses in Queensland to ensure their protection during coastal developments. These have been applied successfully in real time management of dredging operations and are becoming routine in regulatory conditions for new projects where there is the potential for the light environment to be modified. Here we present the science and management steps that have led to this successful approach and the tools that have been developed to be practically applied from this research. We also identify areas of future research required for the approach to be fully realised.
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AMSA 2019: Annual Conference of the Australia Marine Sciences Association
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1
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Fremantle, WA, Australia
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Australia Marine Sciences Association
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Fremantle, WA, Australia
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