Sediment Contaminants and Infauna Associated with Recreational Boating Structures in a Multi-Use Marine Park

Abstract

Multi-use marine parks achieve conservation through spatial management of activities. Zoning of marine parks in New South Wales, Australia, includes high conservation areas and special purpose zones (SPZ) where maritime activities are concentrated. Although such measures geographically constrain anthropogenic impacts, we have limited understanding of potential ecological effects. We assessed sediment communities and contaminants adjacent to boating infrastructure (boat ramps, jetties and a marina) in a SPZ from the Clyde Estuary in Batemans Marine Park. Metal concentrations and fines content were elevated at boating structures compared to reference sites. Species richness was higher at sites with boating structures, where capitellid polychaetes and nematodes dominated the communities. Changes associated with boating structures were localised and did not extend beyond breakwalls or to reference sites outside the SPZ. The study highlights the benefits of appropriate zoning in a multi-use marine park and the potential to minimise stress on pristine areas through the application of spatial management.

Metal contamination in harbours impacts life-history traits and metallothionein levels in snails

“…The harbours investigated in this study had sediment Cu and Zn levels similar to other marinas around the world, e.g., Cu: 16 μg/g TS [40], 63 mg/kg TS [41] and 210 mg/kg [42], Zn: 94 mg/kg TS [41] and 53 mg/kg TS [40]. Reference 1 also had high levels of Cu in the sediment, which was unexpected, since the values previously reported for that site were 4-fold lower [43].…”

Towards an urban marine ecology: characterizing the drivers, patterns and processes of marine ecosystems in coastal cities

“…One of the best examples of complex interactions and feedbacks among the drivers of marine urbanization and ecosystems is the relationship between habitat conversion, contaminants and invasion risk. Artificial structures associated with port infrastructure and shoreline protection tend to both concentrate environmental contaminants by altering hydrodynamic patterns and reducing water movement (Waltham et al 2011, Rivero et al 2013, and by facilitating increased contaminant influx, for instance from antifouling paints (Schiff et al 2004, Warnken et al 2004, Sim et al 2015. Copper emissions from antifouling paints then have both direct and indirect consequences for marine organisms (Rygg 1985, Perrett et al 2006.…”

Fine-Scale Effects of Boat Moorings on Soft Sediment Communities Masked in Large-Scale Comparisons

“…Here they contrasted macrofauna across 11 transects with proximities of 1,3,5,10,15,25,50,100,150,200, and 250 m from each side of the groin. Similarly, Rivero et al (2013) and Sim et al (2015) investigated changes in epifaunal and infaunal communities, respectively, with distance from boating structures finding patterns in larval recruitment, reduced flow, and increased contamination closest to boating structures. Yet, despite the obvious benefits of understanding the scale of impact, rather than just testing if an impact occurs, studies such as these are relatively rare.…”

“…Coastal developments that require EcIAs include the local and regional installation of infrastructure such as groins and breakwaters. These are relatively well studied (Connell and Glasby, 1999;Connell, 2001;Martin et al, 2005;Bulleri and Chapman, 2010;Johnston et al, 2011;Rivero et al, 2013;Clark et al, 2015;Sim et al, 2015), but there a paucity of research exists on the ecological and environmental changes associated with estuarine recreational boating infrastructure, such as swing moorings. The small body of research that does exist has primarily focused on seagrass communities (Walker et al, 1989;Hastings et al, 1995;Demers et al, 2013).…”