n t o f rtmeaDep nt of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Innovations inurbanfishhabitatmanagement:balancing Urban fishhabitatmanagement[UFHM] the needsofcommunityandfisheriesresources research program

© The State of , Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2010.

Published 2005 as Urban fish habitat management [UFHM] research program 2005/6 and beyond; revised March 2007, March 2008, March 2009, March 2010.

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Contents

Contents 1

Overview 1

UFHM Research Program objectives 2

Table 1 UFHM Research Program research streams 3 Stream 1 – Fish habitat utilisation 4 Stream 2 – Impacts on fish habitats 4 Stream 3 – Intertidal and subtidal structures as fish habitats 4 Stream 4 – Rehabilitation of fish habitats 5 Seagrass research priorities 5

Benefits of marine fish habitat research 5

Communication of research outcomes 5

References 5

Appendix 1 Examples of projects 7 Stream 1 – Fish habitat utilisation 7 Stream 2 – Impacts on fish habitats 10 Stream 3 – Intertidal and subtidal structures as fish habitats 15 Stream 4 – Rehabilitation of fish habitats 16

Appendix 2 Summaries of completed projects 20 Acid sulfate soil status of selected intertidal habitats within the Caboolture River section of the Deception Bay Fish Habitat Area 20 Are mangrove faunal communities affected by sinking centre dieback in Moreton Bay? 20 Community structure and ecology of mangrove-associated epiphytic algae: A Moreton Bay case study 21 Duplication of Houghton/Hornibrook Highway – saltmarsh rehabilitation 21 Effects of Acid Sulfate Soils Remediation on Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality at East Trinity, North Queensland 22 Fish and other aquatic fauna use of restored fish habitats (Bulimba Creek Oxbow) 23 Halophyte vegetation distribution in a sub-tropical saltmarsh 24 Impervious coverage and land-use characteristics surrounding Lakes Weyba and Coombabah, south east Queensland 24 Louisa Creek mangrove health audit 25 Recent severe dieback of mangroves - Is ‘sinking centre’ dieback contributing to serious loss of fish habitat? 26 The effects of environmental factors on Caulerpa taxifolia growth in Moreton Bay, Australia 26 The impact of existing boat moorings on seagrass communities in Moreton Bay, Australia 27 The role of herbivorous fish in regulating algal and coral dynamics in high latitude coral reef systems 27 The suitability of native mangroves as hosts for the lantana bug Aconophora compressa 28 Trophic exchange in estuarine landscapes: the influence of different habitat mosaics on the diet of fish and prawns 28 Use of commercial product “A-Jacks” as artificial reef in front of mangroves 29

Acronyms 30

UFHM research program - Revised March 2010

Overview Fisheries Queensland, a service of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), manages the State’s fisheries under the principles of ecologically sustainable developmenti to ensure long-term environmental, economic and social benefits.

The protection of fish habitats is one of the key elements of the Queensland Fisheries Strategy 2009-14, including through:  protection of marine plants  declaration and management of Fish Habitat Areas (FHAs)  management of waterway barriers and fish passage  restoration of disturbed habitats.

The Marine Fish Habitat Unit, Fisheries Queensland, has identified a number of fish habitat management issues relevant to urban areas within coastal Queensland. Research directions have been developed to address and prioritise these issues within the framework of the Urban Fish Habitat Management (UFHM) Research Program.

The Research Program identifies potential and completed research projects within the prioritised areas of fish habitat research. Typical projects that have been conducted are listed in Appendix 1 with summaries of several completed projects provided in Appendix 2.

Key elements of the Marine Fish Habitat Research Strategic Plan 2000-2002 (Kirkwood 2000) and recommendations from recent reviews, e.g. Cappo et al. (1998), are incorporated to the research streams and priorities of the Program. Within the program the term ‘fish’ is used in its broadest sense, as defined in the Fisheries Act 1994 and includes finfish, crustaceans and molluscs.

The UFHM Research Program builds on the following Habitat and Assessment Priorities:  characterisation of critical habitats for juvenile stages of key fish species  proportion of habitat requiring protection through declared Fish Habitat Areas to maintain stocks  fish friendly designs to incorporate into development  quantification of the ecological, economic and social values of re-creating and rehabilitating fish habitats.

The UFHM Research Program provides a mechanism to link smaller projects to a larger research program. It provides a research framework and direction for individual projects to integrate available funds and project objectives and timing. It also brings an opportunity to link with the Marine Fish Habitat Communication Strategy in promoting research results to key stakeholders and in exchanging information across projects.

Ideally, projects may be augmented through co-operation and collaboration with other research funding programs such as Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Smart State PhD funding program, This approach highlights the links with industry, research providers and stakeholder organisations.

Projects meeting the objectives of the UFHM Research Program may be eligible for support from Honours scholarships under the DEEDI (Fisheries Queensland) Marine Fish Habitat Scholarships Program, established in 2005 to enhance knowledge of these habitats for fisheries management. Eligible students may apply for scholarships.

i Fisheries Act 1994 and its Regulation 2008.

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The objectives and structure of the UFHM Research Program are described in this document, as are links to projects, existing and proposed. The UFHM Research Program is dynamic and is regularly updated in terms of both broad objectives and individual projects.

Administration and delivery of the UFHM Research Program are undertaken by Fisheries Queensland such as directing research priorities, negotiating funding, facilitating formal agreements, budgets and acquittals, and promoting the Program and its outcomes. Where appropriate, consultation with key external researchers will occur to ensure successful project selection and outcomes. Projects may be linked to offsets required where fish habitat removal cannot be avoided. Offsets are negotiated through development application assessment and are included as a condition of a development approval issued under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and Fisheries Act 1994. Monitoring projects are not suitable for offset funding.

The UFHM Research Program falls within the government Q2 vision of a strong and green state and contributes to the DEEDI strategic outcome of environmentally and socially responsible development. It promotes ecosystem-based management of fisheries systems.

UFHM Research Program objectives The Program’s objectives are to: 1. promote development and improvement of best practice ‘habitat-sensitive’ technologies that will minimise the effects of urban development on fish habitats and support protecting and managing fish habitats 2. improve understanding of the impacts of urban activities on fish habitats and fishery species 3. improve understanding of the relationships between fish species and fish habitats. 4. foster post-graduate fish habitat research project opportunities with Queensland Universities. 5. articulate research priorities for the development of research projects for Honours research by Queensland Universities participating in the DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat Scholarships Program, and specifically for those research projects to:  address marine plants (including mangroves, seagrasses, saltmarsh vegetation) and/or declared Fish Habitat Areas (Fisheries Act)  enhance knowledge of marine fish habitat functions and contributions to fisheries productivity in Queensland  promote the importance of marine fish habitats to Queensland’s fisheries through publicly available documented research  provide research information to assist DEEDI and/or other stakeholders to manage and maintain healthy marine fish habitats which sustain fisheries productivity in Queensland.

The UFHM Research Program is integrated to address and direct research into impacts on fish habitats throughout Queensland. The focus has been on fish habitat management in urban areas but there is also scope for looking at less urbanised/impacted areas for comparison and in setting a baseline to assess future impacts. The program also invites participation of stakeholders to address advances in technology and to contribute to research, proposed or underway, which will lead to outcomes that avoid or minimise impacts of development on fish habitats (see objective 1 above). An example of this is the adoption of management outcomes developed in conjunction with Marine Plant Management Strategies (MPMS). MPMS are in place (in Bundaberg), are due to commence (in Cairns) and are under development (in ).

Fisheries Queensland’s fish habitat management objectives are reflected under the Program’s four (4) research streams addressing the principal processes affecting coastal fish habitats and fisheries productivity (Table 1). The research streams are discrete but linked for improved fish habitat management outcomes.

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Table 1 UFHM Research Program research streams Research streamii Priority H = High M = Medium L = Low 1.Fish habitat utilisation 1a. - M a. Relative productivity of adjacent fish habitats 1b. - M b. Importance of fish habitat connectivity 1c - M c. role of habitat mosaics 1d - M d. ecosystem services 2. Impacts on fish habitats 2a. - M a. Size and management of buffers 2b. - M b. Acid sulfate soil runoff 2c. – M c. Sewage discharge 2d. - M d. Catchment development and runoff 2e - H e. Climate induced community changes 2fI. - H f. Mangrove 2fII. - H I. Trimming 2gI. - M II. Dieback 2gII. - M g. Saltmarsh 2gIII. - L I. Burning 2hI. – M II. Mowing 2hII – H III. Grazing 2iI – M h. Seagrass I. Smothering II. Scouring i. Algae I. Fisheries impacts, benefits and management 3. Intertidal and subtidal structures as fish habitats 3a. - H a. Human access – jetties, piers, pontoons 3b. - M b. Fish access – culverts, crossings, floodgates 3c. - M c. Stabilisation – banks, levees; groynes 3d. - M d. Discharge – stormwater and sewage outlets 3e. - L e. Flow – dams, weirs 3f. - L f. Grazing - ponded pastures 3g. – L g. Pest control – runnels 3h - H h. Reduced impacts - moorings 4. Rehabilitation of fish habitats 4a. - H a. Habitat mosaic 4b. - H b. Marine plants 4c. - M c. Shallow intertidal flats 4d. - M d. Rocky reefs 4e. - L e. Yabby banks

ii Research streams are modified from Kirkwood (2000).

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Stream 1 – Fish habitat utilisation Management objectives – relative importance of fish habitats and nature and extent of fish habitats to be protected  To determine utilisation patterns of different fish habitats.  To determine the relative productivity of adjacent fish habitats.  To identify the importance of fish habitat connectivity and availability. Possible projects  Productivity levels of different fish habitats.  Importance of habitat linkages and fish access.  Habitats used by fish at different times and life cycle stages.  Relative importance of the saltmarsh, mangroves, and seagrass mosaic.  Importance of unvegetated tidal areas.  Changes in fish habitats influence changes in fish populations.  Monitoring and mapping of fish habitats.  Monitor and evaluate fish habitat status and function.  Evaluate ecosystem services.

Stream 2 – Impacts on fish habitats Management objectives – impacts of human activities or natural events on fish habitats  To determine the impacts of runoff from land use activities onto fish habitats.  To identify opportunities for beneficial use of treated waste water.  To review criteria for buffer design and location.  To develop criteria for limited modification of marine plants to minimise impacts to fish habitats.  To document the capacity of marine plants to recover from modification or natural events.  Impacts of oil spills and marine debris on fish habitats.  Discerning human activity impacts from natural events. Possible projects  Optimal size and management of buffers.  Mitigating the effects of ASS runoff.  Mitigation of sewage outfall impacts.  Beneficial uses of aquaculture discharge on productivity of marine plants.  Implications of herbicide runoff for marine plant communities  Effects of mangrove trimming on fish production.  Effects of grazing on saltmarsh vegetation.  Saltmarsh modification and its impacts.  Cause and recovery of mangrove dieback.  Recovery of seagrass after smothering by silt from flooding.  Landward and poleward migration of marine plant communities in relation to sea level.  Algal communities – responses, impacts, benefits and management.

Stream 3 – Intertidal and subtidal structures as fish habitats Management objectives – sympathetic structures within fish habitats  To investigate the use of structures as artificial fish habitats.  To improve best practice in design and construction of structures to enhance their fish habitat functions, including reduced impacts on natural fish habitats. Possible projects  Optimising design of access structures - jetties, piers, pontoons, moorings, etc., to reduce the effects of shading on and physical disturbance to the substrate.  Optimising design of structures to provide artificial habitats for fish.

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 Development of fish-friendly culverts, floodgates and other waterway barriers.  Use of marine plants to stabilise banks, levees and groynes.  Optimal levee and bank design to promote littoral fauna and flora communities.  Implications of downstream flows on fish habitats.  Impacts of marinas and canals on fish assemblages.  Recruitment and recovery rate of marine plants on removal of structures.

Stream 4 – Rehabilitation of fish habitats Management objectives – effective rehabilitation measures  To improve best practice in rehabilitation technology.  To develop criteria for making decisions about rehabilitation (e.g. rehabilitation vs. natural regeneration). Possible projects  Relative merits of transplanting versus natural regeneration of marine plants.  Specific post-restoration survival of marine plants.  Sediment accretion by mangroves relative to flood levels.  Rehabilitation of fish habitat mosaics.  Rehabilitation of specific fish habitats (e.g. recovery of mangrove and saltmarsh communities following reintroduction of tidal flows).  Success of replacement fish habitats – yabby banks, rocky reefs, shallow intertidal flats.  Benefits and issues associated with rehabilitation projects.

Seagrass research priorities Priority areas for seagrass research have been developed by the Marine Ecology Group within Fisheries Queensland. The priority seagrass projects are designed to fill specific information requirements of the department. Priorities are reviewed annually. Benefits of marine fish habitat research Direct benefits recognised for the fishing sectors, local governments and the community as a whole include:  essential information for fish habitat management  improved understanding of the roles of fish habitats in supporting fisheries  knowledge on the impacts of human activities on fish habitats  improved understanding of connectivity between habitats and the function of habitat mosaics  better assessment of impacts of development applications on fish habitats  support for ecological sustainable development of Queensland’s fisheries  safeguarding healthy estuarine and marine ecosystems  addressing fishing sectors’ and community concerns about habitat degradation and fisheries production. Communication of research outcomes Research outcomes of all projects included in the UFHM Research Program are disseminated by a summary of each research outcome (see Appendix 2), and through newsletters and media releases. Leaders of projects within the UFHM Research Program are advised of outcomes of related projects. References Cappo M, Alongi, DM, Williams, DMcB and Fitzpatrick, RW 1998, A review and synthesis of Australian fisheries habitat research: major threats, issues and gaps in knowledge of marine and

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coastal fisheries habitats, A prospectus of opportunities for the FRDC ‘Ecosystem Protection Program’, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Cape Ferguson, Queensland, February 1998.

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation 2009 Priority Funding Areas for Seagrass Research Projects, Fisheries Queensland a service of DEEDI, 9 pp. (refer to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_16783.htm)

Kirkwood, J 2000, Marine Fish Habitat Research Strategic Plan 2000-2002 – a whole of ecosystem approach, QDPI Information Series QI00064, pp.1-10.

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Appendix 1 Examples of projects Examples of projects within each Research Stream as at March 2010. An asterisk (*) indicates a monitoring, maintenance or rehabilitation project that also provide opportunities for further research.

Stream 1 – Fish habitat utilisation Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Saltmarsh Halophyte Vegetation UQ Brisbane Determine seasonal variation in Increased knowledge of productivity and Distribution in a Sub-Tropical Jock Airport, Tinchi saltmarsh production and biomass. subtropical saltmarsh biomass Saltmarsh Mackenzie Tamba and systems and processes Boondall Wetlands See project summary (Appendix 2). Mangrove Community structure and UQ Moreton Bay Evaluate the influence of Increased knowledge of ecosystem ecology of mangrove- Lucy Hurrey environmental factors on epiphytic subtropical mangrove-algal productivity associated epiphytic algae – / Dr algae communities on mangrove assemblages. A Moreton Bay case study Catherine pneumatophores. Lovelock See project summary (DPI&F) Marine Fish Habitat Map the species distribution of (Appendix 2). Scholarship award, 2005/6) epiphytic macroalgae.

Determine algal biomass and seasonal/site variation in nutrient levels.

Produce a faunal catalogue of the algal primary consumer community. Resources utilisation by JCU Hinchinbrook Determine which species or size Better understanding of the tropical estuary fish in Murray Channel classes of fish enter mangroves resources that tropical mangrove habitats Bower / Dr primarily for feeding and which enter estuary fish use when they Marcus primarily for refuge enter mangrove habitats (DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat Sheaves Scholarship award, 2009/10) For those fish that enter mangroves to feed, determine the importance of the

UFHM research program - Appendix 1 7

Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits foods consumed in the mangrove habitats as sources of nutrition

Determine which predators feed most heavily on (a) fish that enter mangroves primarily to feed and (b) on those that enter primarily for refuge

Determine whether predation does focus on times when fish cannot access mangrove habitats

Determine the extent to which predators preying on fish that utilise mangroves to feed rely on nutritional support from mangrove habitats

Algal growth The effects of environmental UQ Moreton Bay Quantify the relationship between Better understanding of factors and factors on Caulerpa taxifolia Jessica nutrients and C. taxifolia growth. environmental drivers and infauna growth in Moreton Bay, Street / Dr fisheries values of Australia Catherine Quantify the relationship between C.taxifolia within fish Lovelock sediment grain size and habitats in Moreton Bay. (DPI&F Marine Fish Habitat growth. Scholarship award 2006/7) See project summary Quantify environmental conditions in (Appendix 2). Moreton Bay C. taxifolia meadows.

Compare benthic infaunal communities in seagrass and C. taxifolia meadows. Seagrass Value of small patches of GU Gold Coast To evaluate the role of seagrass in Better understanding of the seagrass to juvenile nekton: Broadwater modifying the physical environment role of seagrass in a physical perspective available to juvenile fish. supporting fish stocks and fisheries productivity. Mangrove Are mangrove faunal UQ Moreton Bay Investigate/ establish correlations Improved understanding of

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits dieback communities affected by Honours between faunal community fish habitat function in sinking centre dieback in Project composition and health conditions in mangrove dieback areas. Moreton Bay? Cassandra affected areas Dover / Dr Norm Duke Identify whether seasonality influences composition patterns. Fish habitat Trophic exchange in UQ Moreton Bay Provide information on the diet of fish Better understanding of the mosaics estuarine landscapes: the Ashleigh using different combinations of role of habitat mosaics in influence of different habitat Fowler estuarine habitats, in winter and supporting fish stocks and mosaics on the diet of fish summer. fisheries productivity. and prawns Examine whether the diet of these See project summary (DPI&F Marine Fish Habitat species changes in relation to (Appendix 2). Scholarship award 2007/8) variation in the spatial arrangement of different habitats and whether this variation in diet is related to the relative abundance of key prey species.

Determine whether degradation of estuarine habitats, or loss of structural complexity, affects feeding of these species.

Impact of fish The role of herbivorous fish UQ Moreton Bay Identify fish biomass and diversity Better understanding of the herbivory on in regulating algal and coral Patrick coral reefs role of fish herbivory in high algal and coral dynamics in high latitude Gartrell / Dr Determine the impact of fish herbivory latitude coral reef systems dynamics coral reef systems Ian Tibbetts within Moreton Bay See project summary (DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat (Appendix 2). Scholarship award 2008/9) Are coral reefs in Moreton UQ Moreton Bay Determine the relative strength of fish Better understanding of Bay protected from algal James coral reefs herbivory and nutrient limitation in regulating processes in high overgrowth by the topdown Brown / Dr regulating algal growth on coral reefs latitude coral reef systems process of grazing or the Ian Tibbetts

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits bottom-up process of nutrient availability?

2010 DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat Scholarship award Artificial Value of artificial waterways GU Gold Coast To evaluate the nursery significance Better understanding of the waterways as nurseries for juvenile Professor canals of the urban waterways. role of artificial waterways in estuarine nekton Joe Lee supporting fish stocks and To track the movement of juvenile fisheries productivity. crabs and fish in artificial waterways (budget permitting).

Remnant aquatic vegetation GU Gold Coast To investigate how fish use small as fish habitat in artificial Professor canals patches of remnant vegetation in waterways Joe Lee artificial waterways.

Stream 2 – Impacts on fish habitats Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Effect of pruning Effects of different pruning Bundaberg Sites in To determine the effects of different Councils will have access to of mangroves on regimes on the management City Council Burnett River levels of mangrove trimming on: emerging best practice as fisheries of mangroves and fish  the fish habitat values of the part of a marine plant productivity habitat in the Burnett River* surrounding substratum management strategy.  the survival, growth and health of trimmed trees  the rate of growth of mangroves (i.e. to determine how frequently maintenance trimming is required). Effects of pruning Mirvac Effect on flower and fruit production, Understanding pruning mangroves on fish habitat effects on benthic fauna effects including mangrove productivity recruitment/fish habitat productivity.

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Effect of crown Trimming trial - crown lifting Southbank Southbank, To determine the effects of crown lifting mangroves of mangroves* Corporation Brisbane River lifting on mangrove survival. on fisheries productivity Investigation of Investigation of mangrove PoBC Whyte Island, To determine the causes of and Improved understanding of the physiology dieback Moreton Bay solutions for mangrove dieback at the causes of and solutions and recovery of Whyte Island. for mangrove dieback. mangrove Investigation of mangrove DPI&F Pioneer River, To determine the causes of and dieback in dieback Mackay solutions for mangrove dieback in the Queensland Pioneer River. Investigation of mangrove BCC Luggage Point Luggage Point STP outfall, Brisbane dieback STP outfall, Brisbane Sinking centres in Moreton UQ Moreton Bay To map mangrove areas affected by Bay mangroves: a project to Norm Duke sinking centres dieback showing map current areas of extent and area of damaged and unusual anoxic ponds and undamaged tidal wetlands. mangrove dieback in tidal wetlands of the bay area Linked to other ‘sinking centres’ projects. Recent severe dieback of UQ Moreton Bay Assess the extent and structure of mangroves - Is ‘sinking Marine the mangrove dieback in Moreton centre’ dieback contributing Blancher / Bay. to serious loss of fish Dr Norm habitat? Duke Establish correlations between the elevation profile and the canopy/ soil (DPI&F Marine Fish Habitat condition from healthy to sunken Scholarship award 2007/8) areas in Moreton Bay’s mangroves.

Determine past and actual dieback and sinking processes.

Develop a conceptual model predicting the potential for mangrove recovery.

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Vessel mooring The impact of existing boat UQ Moreton Bay Map the distribution of vessel Improved understanding of impacts on moorings on seagrass Kate moorings and estimate area of the impacts of vessel seagrass communities in Moreton Bay, Maguire / damage to seagrass using remote moorings on fish habitats. Australia Assoc. sensing. Professor Links to trials of (DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat Greg Ground truth estimates using field environmentally-friendly Scholarship award 2008/9) Skilleter surveys. moorings (Stream 3).

Determine potential impacts of vessel See project summary moorings on seagrass in Moreton (Appendix 2). Bay.

Assess the role of moorings in a broader regional context as a source of disturbance compared to other sources.

Insect control The suitability of native NRW Brisbane River To determine the suitability of two Better understanding of measures and mangroves as hosts for the native mangrove species as hosts for potential implications of bio- their implication lantana bug Aconophora an introduced bio-control agent. control agents and their for marine compressa release on non-target plants. marine plants.

See project summary (Appendix 2). Impacts of Impervious coverage and GU Coombabah To determine the change in Enhanced understanding of coastal land-use characteristics Ruth Young Lake declared catchment development and its runoff coastal catchment development on surrounding Lakes Weyba / Professor FHA, Gold impacts on the fisheries values of the development and declared FHAs and Coombabah, South East Joe Lee, Dr Coast and receiving lakes. management of Queensland John Lake Weyba downstream lake systems. Beumer declared FHA, Noosa. See project summary (Appendix 2). Impacts of Acid sulphate soil status of DNRW Deception Bay To determine the relative impacts of Improved understanding of coastal selected intertidal habitats coastal development on intertidal coastal soil processes and

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits development on within the Caboolture River habitats within and adjacent to their implications for declared FHAs. section of the Deception Bay declared FHAs through: declared FHAs. declared FHA*  improved resolution of ASS mapping in the Caboolture River See project summary section of the Deception Bay (Appendix 2). declared FHA  gaining a better understanding of ASS issues in intertidal areas. Impacts of Louisa Creek mangrove Babcock & Louisa Creek, To undertake a structured program of Better understanding of coastal health audit* Brown Hay Point fisheries resources monitoring which direct and indirect development on Infrastructur will provide: implications of coastal fisheries e  An assessment of the current development on fisheries resources and (Dalrymple ecological health of Louisa resources and fish habitats. fish habitats Bay Coal Creek, its mangroves and Terminal) associated faunal communities See project summary  A statistically rigorous baseline (Appendix 2). data set against which future changes can be assessed. Fisheries monitoring DEEDI / Boat Haven To undertake a structured program of Better understanding of program in Boathaven Bay. JCU Bay, Airlie fisheries resources monitoring in the direct and indirect Beach Boathaven Bay which will: implications of coastal Characterise baseline fisheries development on fisheries resources of the development site resources and fish habitats.

Monitor these resources during and after the development phase

Determine changes in these resources over time

Describe impacts on the resources attributable to the development against a nearby undeveloped/reference site

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Identify consequences of impacts on associated fisheries. Impact of urbanisation on the GU Gold Coast To investigate how the trophic trophodynamics of estuarine Professor Broadwater structure and pattern of essential sand flats Joe Lee nutrient (C, N) flow on estuarine sand flats may be affected by urbanisation Impact of sediment JCU Cleveland Bay, To undertake fundamental research Better understanding of the resuspension events on Gavin Townsville on the growth response of tropical relationship between local seagrass to natural light variation with; tropical coastal seagrass Coombes / wave-driven resuspension  regular and opportunistic surveys beds - light attenuation and Dr Peter of seagrass demographic rates of sediment and reduced subsequent seagrass growth Ridd  continuous monitoring of light intensity on tropical responses. environmental parameters. coastal seagrass beds.

(DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat To develop, test and validate Scholarship award parametric and non-parametric 2009/2010) statistical models to predict light levels on seagrass beds in relation to wave energy and water depth.

To provide a comparison of these contrasting statistical approaches and an assessment of the likelihood these models could distinguish natural resuspension events from anthropogenic events. Use of created Value of created mangrove GU Gold Coast To evaluate the efficacy of planted Better understanding of the fish habitats to wetland for urban Professor Broadwater mangroves as a filter for stormwater- use of planted mangroves manage land use stormwater purification Joe Lee (Southport borne pollutants. as a filter for urban impacts Parklands stormwater runoff control Project site)

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Stream 3 – Intertidal and subtidal structures as fish habitats Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Installation of Enhancing fish passage and Mathew Maroochy To monitor the impacts of self- Sugar cane industry, local fish friendly water quality* Johnston, River regulated floodgates for fish passage governments, Main Roads, floodgates DEEDI catchment and water quality etc to incorporate fish friendly floodgates in waterway barriers and related structures to optimise fish passage and enhance water quality. Use of Environmentally-friendly SEQ Moreton Bay To trial and assess the effectiveness Information for vessel environmentally- mooring trials in Moreton Catchments of environmentally-friendly buoy owners, boating industry, friendly buoy Bay / DEEDI / mooring designs in: managers and planners on moorings for DERM safely securing vessels and demonstrated suitability of vessels reducing disturbance of fish habitats innovative technology to safely moor vessels in Queensland waters while reducing impacts on fish habitats. Use and Hand-placement of rocks Brisbane Brisbane Boys To determine if an arrangement of Councils will have access optimum around mangroves* Boys Rowing Club, gabions in front of fringing mangroves to emerging best practice arrangement of College Keith St., St. would: and will have the ability to different Lucia,  provide some protection to the incorporate this into DA materials for Brisbane mangroves from further erosion conditions. bank  achieve design objectives from stabilisation. an engineering viewpoint. Gabions in continuous line in BCC Rotary Park, To determine if an arrangement of front of mangroves* Park St., St. gabions in front of fringing mangroves Lucia, would: Brisbane  provide some protection to the mangroves from further erosion  impact upon the mangroves behind the gabions by scouring  achieve design objectives from

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits an engineering viewpoint. Gabions with gaps, in front BCC Guyatt Park, To determine if an arrangement of of mangroves* St. Lucia, gabions in front of fringing mangroves, Brisbane with gaps between gabion blocks, would:  reduce ponding and stagnation of water  reduce trapping of fish at low tide  impact upon the mangroves behind the gabions by scouring or excessive deposition of fines  achieve design objectives from an engineering viewpoint. Use of geo-fabric to stabilise Max Oyster Cove, To determine whether geo-fabric bare foreshores* Winders Pty Hope Island meshed into the substratum will be Ltd effective in reducing erosion on the foreshores of Saltwater Creek. Use of commercial product GU Public park, To determine which arrangement of “A-Jacks” as artificial reef in Hope Island “A-Jacks” and other erosion control See project summary front of mangroves* structures in front of fringing (Appendix 2) mangroves, will:  impact upon trapping of fish at low tide  impact upon the mangroves by scouring or excessive deposition of fines  achieve design objectives from an engineering viewpoint.

Stream 4 – Rehabilitation of fish habitats

Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Value of Fish use of restored fish Greening Oxbow, To determine the habitat use by local Assessment of the extent of

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits rehabilitated habitats. Australia Bulimba fish and aquatic invertebrates in and utilisation of rehabilitated habitats to fish Creek, adjacent to the Bulimba Creek Oxbow fish habitats. and other Brisbane Rehabilitation Site aquatic fauna. Includes fish habitat utilisation (Stream 1) information

See project summary (Appendix 2).

East Trinity acid sulfate soils DEEDI East Trinity, Assess the effectiveness of special Documented recovery of rehabilitation program: Cairns flood gates allowing rehabilitation and fish and crab populations monitoring the recovery of restoration of tidal flow to parts of a and of the recolonisation of fish habitats and associated 700 hectare tidal wetland at East the marine plant community fisheries values Trinity in north Queensland by following controlled return determining the value of rehabilitated of tidal regime. fish habitats after ASS remediation the recovery of marine plant Includes fish habitat communities after ASS remediation. utilisation (Stream 1) information

See project summary (Appendix 2).

Optimum Restoration of Bremner Rd. Sean Galvin , To rehabilitate a degraded coastal Stakeholders will have methods for salt marsh wetland SEQ Redcliffe wetland. access to best practice coastal wetland ecosystem within the Hays Catchments technology for fish habitat restoration Inlet wetland Key Coastal To monitor rehabilitation activities. rehabilitation. Site, SEQ*

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Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Duplication of the Hornibrook DTMR Rothwell Undertake transplantation for Highway* rehabilitation saltmarsh rehabilitation Includes fish habitat site utilisation (Stream 1) Monitor success of rehabilitation, information including fish habitat use See project summary (Appendix 2) Optimum Restoration of Bremner Rd. Sean Galvin Hays Inlet, To rehabilitate a degraded coastal Stakeholders will have methods for salt marsh wetland SEQ Redcliffe wetland. access to best practice coastal wetland ecosystem within the Hays Catchments To monitor rehabilitation activities. technology for fish habitat restoration Inlet wetland Key Coastal rehabilitation. Site, SEQ.* Townsville Port Access DTMR Ross River Establish and manage a 530 ha Road and required funding with environmental Reserve on the South Biodiversity Management EPA as bank of Ross River Plan for Environmental trustee of Reserve 2009 - 2014 (EPBC new Nature Undertaking rehabilitation and Act Requirement) Conservatio restoration: n Reserve  periodic rubbish removal by TCC, NC Act Port of Townsville, DEEDI and DNRW.  Weed management actions  Fish passage in culvert designs Gateway Duplication Gateway Brisbane River Creation of offset areas in 2005 and project Motorway Royal vegetation of new areas with Alliance Queensland saltmarsh and samphire species to Golf Course complement the functionality of the Golf Course.

Expansion of mangrove habitat through bund wall removal Optimum Saltcouch transplanting to Greening Bulimba To establish best practice for Stakeholders will have methods for salt bare areas* Australia Oxbow, transplanting of saltcouch associated access to best practice couch Corporation Bulimba, with rehabilitation of tidal sites. technology for fish habitat transplantation Brisbane rehabilitation.

UFHM research program - Appendix 1 18

Component Title Leader Study site Research Objectives Management Benefits Saltcouch transplanting to DEEDI Brisbane To establish best practice for bare areas* Airport transplanting of saltcouch associated Corporation with rehabilitation of tidal sites. Optimum bank Reprofiling of ‘canal’ banks* GCCC Tidal canal To determine whether profiling of Councils will have access profiles for adjacent Lot drain to create profiles with a to emerging best practice drains to 50 RP810126, particular slope and width between and will have the ability to encourage Hawker St / HAT and MSL would promote incorporate this into DA colonisation by Judeller Rd., colonisation by mangroves. conditions. fringing Currumbin. mangroves. Reprofiling of existing drain* GCCC Drain through To determine whether profiling of Lot 2 drain to create profiles with a RP188929, particular slope and 10 m width Township Dr, between HAT and MSL would West Burleigh. promote colonisation by mangroves. Reprofiling of new drain* GCCC Drain To determine whether profiling of relocated drain to create profiles with a within Lot 1 particular slope and 20m width RP137859, between HAT and MSL would Steiglitz Wharf promote colonisation by mangroves. Rd. / Kleinsmidth Rd, Steiglitz.

.

UFHM research program - Appendix 1 19

Appendix 2 Summaries of completed projects Copies of full project reports are available from DEEDI on request (phone 13 25 23).

Acid sulfate soil status of selected intertidal habitats within the Caboolture River section of the Deception Bay Fish Habitat Area

Malcolm DT, Pointon SM, Manders JA and Hall IR. Department of Natural Resources and Water, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia, June 2006.

Population growth in south east Queensland has resulted in continuing pressure to develop low- lying coastal areas which may contain Acid Sulfate Soil (ASS). Release of sulfuric acid and metal ions from disturbed ASS can cause serious environmental impacts, including long-term harm to fish and fish habitats.

In 2005/2006, the Department of Natural Resources and Water (DNRW) investigated the occurrence of ASS within the Caboolture River section of the declared Deception Bay Fish Habitat Area (FHA). The project, funded through the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ (DPI&F) Urban Fish Habitat Management Research Program (UFHMRP), aimed to:  improve the resolution of ASS mapping in the Caboolture River area  gain a better understanding of ASS issues in intertidal areas.

Sites were sampled from just above Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) to Low Water Mark (LWM) in the upper, mid and lower reaches of the Caboolture River. ASS were recorded from almost every site, including locations above HAT and covered by several metres of non-ASS sediment. The ASS found were predominantly Potential Acid Sulfate Soils (PASS); however, evidence of Actual Acid Sulfate Soils (AASS) was present in the form of jarosite, indicating that oxidation of sulfides had occurred in the area previously. In addition, an area of monosulfide oxidation near Beachmere was identified which, in combination with water ponding, may have contributed to local mangrove dieback at the mouth of the Caboolture River.

The study recommended that:  further ASS investigation should be an important component of the future management of potential development impacts on the Deception Bay FHA  areas with evidence of AASS and the Beachmere monosulfide area should be regarded with particular concern  ASS disturbance should be minimised to avoid impacts on sensitive environmental areas.

Are mangrove faunal communities affected by sinking centre dieback in Moreton Bay?

Cassandra Dover University of Queensland, 2008.

Mangrove epifaunal communities were investigated along a progressive habitat gradient to determine whether sinking centres are affecting their compositions. The study identified that crustacean and mollusc species richness, density and biomass is significantly reduced in areas impacted by sinking centres. Reductions in species richness, density and biomass are linked directly to the loss of physical habitat and food availability. The mollusc species Salinator solida

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 20

had significantly higher abundance and biomass in sinking centres which was linked to the increased algae growth occurring in these areas.

Publications resulting from this project Dover, C 2008, Are epifaunal community composition affected by ‘sinking centre’ dieback in Moreton Bay mangroves? Honours thesis, University of Queensland.

Community structure and ecology of mangrove-associated epiphytic algae: A Moreton Bay case study (DPI&F Marine Fish Habitat Scholarship award, 2005/6)

Lucy Hurrey University of Queensland, November 2006.

Mangroves are critical for sustaining coastal productivity. An important component of mangrove ecosystems is the epiphytic algae group which attaches to mangrove pneumatophores. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors controlling the biomass and distribution of epiphytic mangrove macroalgae in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. As coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by nutrient enrichment, the study aimed to determine the algal community response to variation in nutrient availability. An additional objective was to produce a faunal catalogue of the algal primary consumer community.

In order to determine the effects of nutrient availability on the pneumatophore algal community, variation in epiphytic algal biomass as well as the relative abundance of the component species was examined at nine sites within Moreton Bay. The role of nutrients in stimulating growth rates of the algal community was also examined in the laboratory and the field. Fauna were collected from in and around the mangrove algal community.

Geomorphological setting played a significant role in structuring algal communities. Similarities in algal biomass, frequency and relative abundance were observed across sites belonging to the same mangrove setting. Relative growth rates within the laboratory were variable with species and nutrient concentration. Cladophoropsis sundanensis had the highest relative growth rates, suggesting nutrient limitation. However, in the field, no nutrient limitation was observed. Tissue nutrient content varied over time and with species as did the N:P ratio. Mangrove-algal fauna were most diverse in tide dominated settings. Burrowing crustaceans and tree-climbing molluscs dominated in river settings, while carbonate island sites had few fauna. This study provides the first assessment of the potential importance of the epiphytic algal community within Moreton Bay and the effects of nutrient enrichment on the epiphytic community.

Publications resulting from this project Hurrey, L 2006, Epiphytic algae in Moreton Bay: the influence of mangrove environment and nutrient availability on community structure and growth, Honours thesis MARS 6028, University of Queensland.

Duplication of Houghton/Hornibrook Highway – saltmarsh rehabilitation

Department of Transport and Main Roads

The duplication of the () by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR), resulted in the disturbance of some patches of saltmarsh. There has been little work transplanting saltmarsh in south east Queensland, and little is known regarding the cost

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 21

or best techniques to use. A site was identified on Bremner Road, Rothwell that needed rehabilitation, and saltmarsh plants were transplanted here from the DTMR site. A variety of techniques for transplanting saltmarsh species were trialed, to significantly add to this knowledge base.

In March 2008 we transplanted four saltmarsh species using hand and mechanical techniques. The four species transplanted were: Sporobolus virginicus (marine couch), Sesuvium portulacastrum (sea purslane), Suaeda australis (Australian seablite) and Sarcocornia quinqueflora (common samphire).

After 12 months, many of the hand transplanted plants were surviving well, especially S.quinqueflora, and all species had improved in condition. While survival of S.quinqueflora was higher, the condition of S. portulacastrum and S. australis plants was generally better than S. quinqueflora. Many of the hand transplanted plants that remained damp or were in wet areas had died, whereas plants that were slightly elevated survived well. Saltmarsh plants in organic geotextile matting also survived better than those without.

After 12 months, the mechanically transplanted plants continued to improve in overall condition. Over this period canopy height increased in these plots, and total cover remained above 50%.

Twelve months after transplanting, the total area rehabilitated mechanically was 193 m2, compared to 4.8 m2 rehabilitated by hand. In terms of transplanting effort (man hours) and survival, mechanical transplanting was more efficient (1.538 m2/man-hour) than transplanting by hand (0.044 m2/man-hour).

There was also a significant increase in the habitat value of the rehabilitated area after 12 months, with the number of crab burrows, gastropods and other terrestrial fauna (ants, grubs, spiders, mites and beetles) in the rehabilitated area significantly higher than in control areas and than in the same area before rehabilitation.

The rehabilitated areas will be monitored again after 18 and 24 months to assess survival and growth, and so that corrective action can be taken as needed should there be any problems.

Publications resulting from this project FRC Environmental 2009, Houghton Highway saltmarsh rehabilitation trials: 12 month monitoring event - March 2009, report to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, FRC Environmental, Wellington Point, Queensland, March 2009.

Effects of Acid Sulfate Soils Remediation on Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality at East Trinity, North Queensland

D. J. Russell and K. M. Preston Sustainable Fisheries Program Animal Science, Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns

Reclamation of about 700 ha of mostly tidal wetlands in at East Trinity in north Queensland in the early 1970s disturbed potential acid sulfate soils resulting in acid and associated heavy metals leaching into coastal waterways. The wetlands were isolated from tidal inundation through the construction of a levee with tidal gates on the major creeks. The purchased the East Trinity site in 2000 and a management plan involving reintroduction of tidal flows and strategic application of agricultural lime was subsequently developed to remediate the acid sulfate soils. The fish, crustaceans and water quality in the bunded area of Hills and Firewood

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 22

creeks at East Trinity and a control creek were monitored monthly over a 16-month period to quantify differences that occurred following these changes to onsite management practices.

The semi-impounded reaches of both Firewood and Hills creeks now support healthy populations of fish and crustaceans. When the species diversity of fish caught in gill nets was compared between Hills, Firewood and the control creek no large differences were found. Overall, 38 fish species were sampled in the semi-impounded reaches of the East Trinity creeks, compared to 33 sampled in a similar study in 2002/03. The abundance of smaller and juvenile fish caught in cast net sampling in Firewood and Hills creeks was higher downstream than above the bund wall. Semi-impounded reaches of both creeks had healthy populations of mostly juvenile male mud crabs, and tagging studies showed little evidence of crabs moving between creeks although they appear to roam within the same creek.

There were no fish kills observed during this study and both pH and dissolved metals including iron and aluminium were lower than has been recorded in past surveys. The average pH (7.15) in Firewood Creek was lower than those in the other two systems and the minimum value was 5.6. The concentrations of some trace elements in the transplanted oysters initially increased two months after deployment and then subsequently fell between the second and third months, suggesting that they were capable of metal depuration.

The reintroduction of tidal flows to the upstream reaches of Firewood and Hills creeks increased the upstream distribution of mangrove propagules thereby promoting recolonisation of the stream banks and adjacent low lying areas. Remnant mangroves stands are also contributing mangrove recolonisation of the site. Management strategies that are currently being implemented at East Trinity appear to be enhancing the fisheries productivity of the area.

Publications resulting from this project

Russell, DJ and Preston, KM 2005 Effects of Acid Sulfate Soils Remediation on Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality at East Trinity, North Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, QI05060, 131 pp.

Fish and other aquatic fauna use of restored fish habitats (Bulimba Creek Oxbow)

Paul Whatmore Greening Australia Queensland Incorporated, February 2006.

The abstract of Paul Whatmore’s 2006 Report (Preliminary nekton survey of the Bulimba Creek Oxbow (Paul Whatmore, February 2006)) is provided below:

“Originally heavily polluted with industrial waste, in 2003 the Bulimba Creek Oxbow (BCO) was the focus of major ecological refurbishment efforts. In October and November 2005, nekton species were collected from the BCO using a variety of sampling techniques. Species richness, diversity and proportionality were recorded and compared by sampling technique. In general, species richness and diversity were high, considering the prior state of the BCO, indicating refurbishment efforts were successful. With increasing public, commercial and political focus on the conservation and economic value of estuaries, projects like the BCO are of continued and increasing importance.”

Following the success of wetland rehabilitation projects at Bulimba Creek Oxbow, Department of Primary industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) provided funding to Greening Australia Queensland Incorporated (GAQ) for fisheries research in 2005/2006. Information on the value of rehabilitated

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 23

habitats to fish and other aquatic fauna and fish and other aquatic fauna use of restored fish habitats at the Bulimba Creek Oxbow was required. DPI&F provided $14,300 (GST inclusive) to GAQ specifically for survey design and background research and monitoring, sampling and analyses. GAQ awarded the total DPI&F funds to a nekton survey of fauna in the oxbow water column and a study of the success of the remodelling of the eco hydrological functions of the Oxbow site (conducted by researcher Paul Whatmore, University of Queensland).

Results from sampling during October and November 2005 are available in a Report of the Preliminary nekton survey of the Bulimba Creek Oxbow (Paul Whatmore, February 2006). Sampling was conducted at the main channel outlet (a culvert) to Bulimba Creek. Comparisons of catch were made based on types of sampling gear and different mesh sizes used in the study (seine nets, gill nets and traps). Findings were: juveniles dominated total catch; and tidal range was reduced and may restrict movement and recruitment of fish into and within the Oxbow due to the reduced tidal flow. Tidal flow into and out of the Oxbow relies on external tides greater than 1.85 m (Whatmore, 2006). Factors such as the importance of tidal flow in influencing ecological health at the Oxbow are discussed in the Report.

The preliminary nekton survey identifies re-establishment of tidal flow to the Oxbow as the most important factor in rehabilitation of the Oxbow (Whatmore, 2006) and the important role of the culvert in providing passage for fish and macroinvertebrates.

Additional nekton sampling is planned for the future by the chief researcher, Paul Whatmore, to examine temporal and spatial comparisons and is to be advised further.

Halophyte vegetation distribution in a sub-tropical saltmarsh

Jock Mackenzie University of Queensland and Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, Australia, February 2006.

Halophyte species distribution and plant cover in sub-tropical varies along an increasing elevation gradient. Salinity, tide and soil moisture content were significantly associated with halophyte distribution and were directly related to the presence of species at different elevation ranges. Other factors such as biotic interactions and tide force also have significant influence on halophyte distribution. The presence of mangrove forests at the lower limit of sub-tropical saltmarsh is an important factor that distinguishes these saltmarshes from those elsewhere. Combining halophyte distribution data with abiotic associations is indicative of influential physical and biological processes present in sub-tropical saltmarsh. These are examined and discussed. This information is synthesised in a conceptual framework and diagram. This conceptual framework of saltmarsh processes will enable more informed decision making with regard to saltmarsh ecology and management in the future.

Impervious coverage and land-use characteristics surrounding Lakes Weyba and Coombabah, south east Queensland

Ruth Young and Joe Lee Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, September 2005.

As a result of increasing urbanisation pressures on Southeast Queensland’s coastal wetlands, a quantitative measure of urbanisation to be applied to wetland urban impact studies is needed. Impervious cover e.g. road surfaces, roofs, parking areas, within a catchment is strongly correlated

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 24

with the amount of urbanisation in the catchment. The extent of impervious cover may be a suitable measure of urbanisation.

A Griffith University study compared the surrounding land-use characteristics and percent catchment impervious cover between two coastal wetland systems in South East Queensland, moderately urbanised and less urbanised. Lake Coombabah, Cold Coast, the moderately urbanised wetland had 33.44% of its catchment designated fur urban land-use. For the less urbanised wetland, Lake Weyba, Noosa, 12.54% of its catchment is urban. Lake Coombabah had a significantly higher mean percent of catchment impervious cover than that of Lake Weyba. Both lakes are declared Fish Habitat Areas.

Percent catchment impervious cover is therefore a quantitative measure of urbanisation in future wetland urban impact studies. A standard method of documenting this measure can now be developed to identify urban impacts on declared FHAs and manage coastal urbanisation in an ecologically sustainable manner.

Publications resulting from this project Young, RA 2008, Biotic responses to urbanisation in mangrove dominated estuaries, PhD thesis, Griffith University.

Louisa Creek mangrove health audit

Babcock & Brown Infrastructure, September 2007.

The mangrove communities lining Louisa Creek were dominated by R. stylosa and C. tagal, however they were diverse assemblages of mangroves containing 19 species. The ecological health of the mangrove forests was primarily fair to good, with relatively small areas of poor to very poor health. Low ecological health was associated with dead and dying mangroves and dumped household refuse; together with elevated levels of nutrients in the sediment and water column, and elevated hydrocarbon contaminants in the sediment.

Of the sites quantitatively surveyed, communities near the creek mouth, adjacent to Timberlands residential estate and at the upstream extremity of the estuary appeared to provide the best habitat for fauna and be of highest value to estuarine fisheries. Mangrove communities adjacent to the ‘unofficial’ boat ramp, near the township of Louisa Creek, and the Sarina Rubbish Dump provided fair habitat and were likely to be of moderate value to fisheries.

The sediment near Timberlands was in poorer condition than that adjacent to the boat ramp, in terms of nutrient and THP hydrocarbon concentrations. Adjacent to Timberlands, TN and TP concentrations were higher than those recorded at nearby Gregory River and several sites in moderately eutrophic Moreton Bay. Concentrations of TPH hydrocarbons C29-36 fraction were slightly elevated adjacent to Timberlands compared to the guidelines and five (out of five) Moreton Bay sites. An oily slick was evident on water slowly flowing to the creek near Timberlands and the Sarina Rubbish Dump.

Nutrient concentrations at both of the survey sites were very high at the time of sampling. As with concentrations of nutrients and contaminants in the sediment, the concentrations of nutrients in the water column tended to be higher adjacent to Timberlands than the boat ramp. High levels of inorganic oxidised nitrogen indicate that a proportion of these nutrients may be derived from human sources.

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The elevated results obtained in this study are likely to have been associated with runoff from nearby residential estates, together with upstream catchment land uses such as agriculture and farming. Heavy rainfall occurred prior to, and during, the sampling event and is likely to have flushed hydrocarbons and nutrients into Louisa Creek.

Publications resulting from this project

FRC Environmental 2007, Ecological surveys of mangrove communities lining Louisa Creek, Dalrymple Bay, report prepared for Connell Hatch, September 2007.

Recent severe dieback of mangroves - Is ‘sinking centre’ dieback contributing to serious loss of fish habitat? (DPI&F Marine Fish Habitat Scholarship award, 2007/8)

Marine Blancher University of Queensland, May 2008

An unusual form of mangrove dieback, linked to unprecedented large areas of soil subsidence defined as 'sinking centres', is currently taking place in the , Queensland, Australia. Sinking centres are shallow pools characterised as hypersaline and alkaline environments, where high amounts of ammonium accumulate. As shown in an explanatory conceptual diagram, soil redox potential was lower in new sinking areas and higher in older sinking areas. Possible in situ causes investigated included higher soil biodegradation in areas of mangrove dieback and a decline in living root biomass in mangrove soil. It was found that only the death of the larger roots, positively correlated with the lack of burrowing animals for soil aeration and the increase of salinity, contributes to soil subsidence in Moreton Bay. Within the bay, Whyte Island and Boondall Wetlands were identified as restoration priorities, in terms of sinking and recovery risk.

Publications resulting from this project Blancher, M 2008, Description of soil collapse associated with current severe mangrove dieback in Moreton Bay: investigation of causes and impacts, Honours thesis, University of Queensland.

The effects of environmental factors on Caulerpa taxifolia growth in Moreton Bay, Australia (DPI&F Marine Fish Habitat Scholarship award, 2006/7)

Jessica Street University of Queensland, May 2007.

Seagrasses are an important habitat in Moreton Bay, Queensland. However, seagrass distribution is decreasing and the distribution of Caulerpa taxifolia increasing. Nine C. taxifolia beds across Moreton Bay were surveyed to determine environmental factors influencing growth and distribution. Light and nutrient availability were identified as the main factors and were tested in two experiments. The results indicated that light availability was the key factor, with a decrease in light resulting in taller fronds. Nutrients had no effect on growth, frond height or biomass. Benthic infaunal communities of adjacent C. taxifolia and seagrass beds, and bare sediment were also identified to determine the effects the presence of C. taxifolia has. Overall, seagrass had significantly greater species richness, with C. taxifolia providing a poor habitat.

Publications resulting from this project

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 26

Street, J 2007, Environmental drivers of Caulerpa taxifolia growth and shifts in benthic infauna communities, Moreton Bay, Australia, Honours thesis, University of Queensland.

The impact of existing boat moorings on seagrass communities in Moreton Bay, Australia (DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat Scholarship award, 2008/2009)

Kate Maguire University of Queensland, January 2010

This study examined the regional impact of recreational boat moorings on subtidal soft sediment communities within Moreton Bay, Australia. The localised effects of boat moorings were assessed in two habitats commonly encountered in boat mooring areas: seagrass meadows and unvegetated sediments. Within these habitats, detailed ecological sampling quantified the differences in habitat structure and macrofaunal assemblages in the sediment directly adjacent to boat moorings to that in two different control treatments; the first of which was located within the boundary of the boat mooring area but away from the disturbance of the mooring chain, and the second of which was located outside the boundary of the mooring area. The average area of substratum perturbed around individual boat moorings was estimated at a single mooring area by visually tracing around barren seagrass “haloes” in ArcGIS. This estimate was then used to determine the total area of substratum affected by boat moorings within Moreton Bay. It found that the presence of boat moorings had a significant impact on the composition of macrobenthic assemblages and habitat characteristics in seagrass habitats, but not unvegetated habitats. Although boat moorings were a significant source of disturbance to seagrass communities on a local scale, the fact that the total aerial coverage of boat mooring areas within Moreton Bay is such a negligible proportion of the Marine Park means that they are unlikely to be a considerable source of disturbance within a regional context.

Publications resulting from this project Maguire, K 2010, Assessing regional impacts of recreational boat moorings on soft sediment communities, Honours thesis, University of Queensland.

The role of herbivorous fish in regulating algal and coral dynamics in high latitude coral reef systems (DEEDI Marine Fish Habitat Scholarship award, 2008/2009)

Patrick Gartrell University of Queensland, December 2009

Herbivory has been shown to be an extremely important process on reef ecosystems worldwide by regulating algal abundance and determining processes of benthic community succession. Comparatively little work has been conducted on high latitudinal reefs such as Moreton Bay in regard to herbivory. Moreton Bay is an essential resource for both tourism and fisheries that rely on the coral reef framework of the ecosystem. The objective of this study was to 1) quantify the biomass of the reef grazing community in Moreton Bay, and (2) quantify the amount of grazing contributed to ichthyofaunal communities. I conducted underwater visual surveys to identify herbivorous fishes present and estimated their length to determine biomass from length-weight relationships. Algal settlement tiles placed in exclusion cages were deployed to experimentally quantify the proportion of grazing attributable to large roving herbivores. Five families of herbivorous fishes were found with Moreton Bay (rabbitfish, damselfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish and

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 27

blennies) however, rabbitfish and damselfish were dominant. Data analysis indicated that Peel Island and Myora Reef only had significance over time whereas Green Island had significant difference over time, exclusion treatments and interaction between both parameters (P>0.05).

Publications resulting from this project Gartrell, P 2009, Grazers and Grazing in a high latitude coral reef systems (Moreton Bay) Honours thesis, University of Queensland.

The suitability of native mangroves as hosts for the lantana bug Aconophora compressa

K. Dhileepan and Elizabeth L. Snow Alan Fletcher Research Station, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, PO Box 36, Sherwood, Qld 4075, Australia, June 2006.

Aconophora compressa (Hemiptera: Membracidae) a biological control agent introduced against the weed Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) has since then been observed on several non-target plant species, including a native mangrove Avicennia marina (Avicenniaceae). Though all stages of A. compressa were evident on A. marina, only L. camara and Citharexylum spinosum (Verbenaceae) an introduced non-target ornamental seemed to sustain A. compressa populations on their own in the field. It is speculated that the incidence of A. compressa on A. marina was due to spill-over from either C. spinosum or L. camara. In this study we evaluated the potential of A. marina and Aegiceras corniculatum (Mysinaceae), two non-target native mangrove species to sustain A. compressa populations on its own using field cages. The results obtained in this study are in contrast to previous glasshouse and quarantine trials and provide evidence that the two non- target mangrove species could sustain the development and survival of A. compressa under field conditions. While it has been shown that development can occur on these mangrove species, the long-term suitability of mangroves has only partially been determined in this study, emphasising the need for long-term field studies on the abundance of A. compressa on both mangrove species.

Trophic exchange in estuarine landscapes: the influence of different habitat mosaics on the diet of fish and prawns (DPI&F Marine Fish Habitat Scholarship award, 2007/8)

Ashleigh Fowler University of Queensland, 2008.

Research has demonstrated that the spatial arrangement of different habitat types influences the distribution and abundance of many different animals in terrestrial and marine systems. This study investigated how variations in the proximity and density of intertidal seagrass beds to adjacent mangrove forests influenced the abundance and composition of nekton assemblages and how the diet of fish changed as a function of these mosaics. This study found that connectivity between seagrass beds and mangrove forests was important in terms of overall abundance of nekton, with dense seagrass beds close to mangrove forests supporting greater numbers of fish and prawns than dense seagrass further away from the mangroves. When seagrass beds were sparse, however, the reverse was found, with distal seagrass beds supporting more individuals of fish and prawns than proximal seagrass beds. While the responses of nekton to different combinations of seagrass-mangrove mosaics are species specific, the findings of this study suggest that they result from a trade-off between the risk of predation during movement and the benefits from being able to access a range of different resources. This study highlights the importance of habitat connectivity

UFHM research program - Appendix 2 28

and the need to conserve habitat mosaics instead of individual habitats irrespective of the surrounding matrix.

Publications resulting from this project Fowler, A 2008, Trophic exchange in estuarine landscapes: the influence of different habitat mosaics on the diet of fish, Honours thesis, University of Queensland.

Use of commercial product “A-Jacks” as artificial reef in front of mangroves

Grant Gabriel Griffith University (initial assessment report, 2004)

Three styles of erosion protection were installed adjacent to the erosion prone Charles Holm Park on the Gold Coast: traditional rock riprap, geo-textile bags (not assessed in this report) and A- Jacks concrete armour units.

Riprap and A-Jacks were both effective in controlling erosion; however, riprap had greater environmental impacts.

While every care was taken for existing mangroves when installing riprap with hand placement around tree bases, subsequent recruitment of mangroves is prevented due to the hard armouring of the foreshore. The A-Jacks units were installed seaward of the foreshore and pose very little threat to existing marine vegetation, apart from removal of large fallen trees in the works area, The major environmental issue with the A-Jacks units is its tendency to become a natural fish and rubbish trap. The edges of the wall quickly accumulated sand and silt. This caused the substrate at the landward edges of the structure to rise forming a pool. This was expected to happen and measures were taken to allow fish to escape from the pool by means of "fish pipes". However, these were not installed low enough for fish to escape, were not long enough to be completely effective and there were not enough of them.

The methods used in this trial minimised the damage that was caused on the foreshore of the river by using a barge, thereby avoiding damage to the river banks by operation of heavy machinery. It is recommended that a 3-year study is completed so that the effects of the erosion control devices can be more fully understood.

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Acronyms

AASS – Actual Acid Sulfate Soil

ASS – Acid Sulfate Soil

BCC – Brisbane City Council

DEEDI – Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

DERM – Department of Environment and Natural Resources

DPI&F – (the former) Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries

DTMR – Department of Transport and Main Roads (the former Department of Main Roads)

EPA – (the former) Environmental Protection Agency

EPBC (Act) – Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

FHA – Fish Habitat Area

GAQ – Greening Australia Queensland

GCCC- Gold Coast City Council

GU – Griffith University

HAT – Highest Astronomical Tide

JCU – James Cook University

LWM – Low Water Mark

MSL – Mean Sea Level

NC (Act) – Nature Conservation Act 1992

NRW – (the former) Department of Natural Resources and Water

PASS – Potential Acid Sulfate Soil

PoBC – Port of Brisbane Corporation

SEQ – South East Queensland

TCC – Townsville City Council

UFHM – Urban Fish Habitat Management

UQ – University of Queensland

UFHM research program - Revised March 2010 30