2005 Reef Beat posters 1-8 in Cairns Post.pdf - Great Barrier Reef ...

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8reef beatriver to reefALL plants and animals& nutrients are What sediments?need nutrients to grow, however inexcessive amounts nutrients can be harmfulto marine life. There are two main types of nutrientsnitrogen and phosphorous and these exist in several formsin marine waters. Other types of nutrients include potassiumand sulphur. Sediments are fi ne particles of soil, sand and otherminerals or organic matter that is eroded from land and carried insurface waters. Sediment occurs naturally in the Great Barrier Reef,however human activities and land uses have caused excessiveamounts of sediments to be discharged to the Reef. Around fourtimes as much sediments and nutrients are nowdischarged to the Great Barrier Reef asoccurred before settlement.NUTRIENTS enterthe marine environment throughcreeks, rivers and estuaries. A largeamount of nutrients are discharged to the GreatBarrier Reef during floods, but they can also bedischarged to the Reef at all times of the year throughrun-off, wastewater, stormwater and sewage discharge.How do they reach the Great Barrier Reef?How do they reach the Great Barrier Reef?Human activities such as urban development, agricultureand aquaculture are all contributors of sediment andnutrient discharges to the Great Barrier Reef. Themost common way for sediment to reach thewaters of the Great Barrier Reef is throughrun-off and soil erosion.EXCESSIVE inputsof sediment from the landto the Great Barrier Reef can lead toreef destruction through burial, disruptionof breeding habits and harmful shifts in coralcommunities. Sediment affects coral by •smotheringthem when particles settle out (sedimentation)• reducing light availability (turbidity) • potentiallyreducing coral photosynthesis and growth. Elevatedsediment and nutrient concentrations in severe fl oodscan even be harmful to seagrass beds as they cancause a dramatic reduction of light availability,which limits the seagrasses ability toPRIOR tomanufacture food.European settlement over150 years ago, the Great BarrierReef was not nutrient rich. Coralsprefer to live in waters with low amountsof nutrients and sediments, as theyneed clear water and sunlight to survive.The excess nutrients and sedimentsrunning into our waterways and theGreat the on Barrier impact reef?they do HowGreat Barrier Reef are impacting onthe health of reefs and otherimportant habitats.sedimentsof Impactsnutrientsof ImpactsHIGH nutrientconcentrations result in a rangeof impacts on coral communities and underextreme situations can cause coral reef communitiesto collapse. Excess nutrients in the Great Barrier Reefcontribute to declining water quality and can severely harmcorals by: • promoting phytoplankton (microscopic floating plants)growth, which in turn supports increased numbers of fi lter feedingorganisms such as tubeworms, sponges and bivalves that competewith coral for space • causing macroalgal blooms, which mayovergrow coral structures, out-competing coral for space andshading coral colonies from sunlight • causing excessivephosphorus concentrations, which weakens the skeletonsof hard corals • inhibiting breeding in somecoral species and reducing recruitment tothe population.YOU can do yourbit to help decrease theamount of nutrients and sedimentsentering the Great Barrier Reef by • Usingit!after look to bit your Doingphosphate-free and biodegradable products• Planting ground cover and trees over areaswith exposed soil • Planting garden bedsand vegetation strips around your yardor school grounds to help minimiserun off.30 The Cairns Post, Tuesday, April 26, 2005
8reef beatriver to reefsomewhere!goes all ItMany daily activities have the potential to upset thedelicate ecological balance of our waterways.When in thewater, try not toWhether you live in a major city, smalltown or in the country, what you doat home, work and school in thegrazing and cropping.To make space for these agriculturalactivities, large areas of native vegetation havestir up sedimentor disturb coral.Great Barrier Reef catchment can affect thebeen cleared. This, along with over-stocking onquality of water in the Reef.farms, has caused widespread soil erosion inMany of your daily activities may increase thelevels of nutrients, sediments and chemicalsbeing discharged to the Great Barrier Reef.FROM THE CITY TO THE SEANutrients, sediments and other pollutants canreach our Great Barrier Reef through a numbersome parts of the Great Barrier Reef Catchment.This has led to the increased dischargeof eroded material such as nutrients andsediments to the Great Barrier Reef.The discharge of these pollutants occursmainly during times of heavy rainfall.Sweep your driveway andpatio areas instead ofhosing to prevent waterfrom carrying pollutants tostormwater drains.of sources. One of the main sources is throughIn areas where cropping occurs, thestormwater and wastewater that is dischargedapplication of fertilisers and pesticides mayfrom our towns and cities.be necessary. Fertilisers are taken up by theEverything we pour down the sink, dropcrop to help them grow, while pesticideson our streets and put in our drains has thehelp maintain crop health by minimising thepotential to reach our waterways and the Greatimpact of pests. However, a significant portionWhen snorkelling or diving,Barrier Reef.may also end up in nearby waterways anddo not rest or stand onWastewater is the water that goes downthe sinks and drains inside your home. Waterfrom the toilet, the bath, the shower, the sink,the dishwasher and the laundry is knownas wastewater. Wastewater from your homecoastal waters, particularly if there is a creekor river close by.ON THE WATERMany activities take place in the Great BarrierReef Marine Park including boating, fi shing,When visiting islands,do not use detergentsclose to any waterwaysincluding the ocean.coral and avoid touchinganything with your fins.is treated at a treatment station before it isdiving, snorkelling and shipping. Every time wedischarged to creeks or rivers or reused overenter the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, weland. At the treatment station, some (but nothave the potential to impact on it.all) of the impurities are removed from theSome of the activities that take place on thewater so the health of the water is improved.Stormwater is rainwater that ends up in astormwater drain system after it has fallen onyour roof, driveway, lawn or on the road.The water in the stormwater drain system isnot treated, therefore any chemicals or rubbishleft in a stormwater drain can fl ow into a creekor river, especially during heavy rainfall.Wastewater and stormwater is oftendischarged through drains into creeks andrivers, which often fl ow directly into thewater may contribute to the declining waterquality of the Great Barrier Reef.For example, sewage discharged from vesselsinto the Reef’s waters can contain largeamounts of nutrients and sediments and litterthrown overboard can harm or even kill marineanimals. Shipping can also impact on waterquality especially during an oil or chemicalspill from a ship.Shipping spills and groundings have thepotential to cause serious environmentalTravel slowly in yourboat near islands andthe mainland to minimisebank erosion and sedimentdisturbance fromboat wash.Compost and use garden bedsor vegetation strips aroundyour home to capture rainwaterand minimise runoff.Great Barrier Reef.damage to the marine environment. However,The water quality in an estuary, river, streamwaste products and garbage from theor creek may impact on the quality of water inday-to-day operation of a ship can also pollutethe Great Barrier Reef.FROM THE LAND TO THE REEFToday, 80 per cent of the land adjacent tothe Great Barrier Reef Marine Park supportsthe waters of the Great Barrier Reef.These wastes may include oils, chemicals,sewage, garbage, and toxic compoundsreleased from anti-fouling paints andUse less water by fi xing leaking taps,keeping showers to a minimum andwashing your car with a bucket.agriculture production such as beef cattleballast water.46 The Cairns Post, Tuesday, May 3, 2005
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2005 Reef Beat posters 1-8 in Cairns Post.pdf - Great Barrier Reef ...

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