Studies on Australian and Pacific Island lagoons and estuaries
Coastal lagoons and estuaries are critical environments in both Australia and the Pacific Islands. In both locations, these water bodies are sites of major populations centres and areas where significant urban expansion is currently occurring with the associated potential environmental impacts. In addition, these water bodies are also the focus of significant tourism activities so their protection is also seen as a critical issue for local communities (Morrison et al, 1997; Morrison and Naqasima, 1999). Research in this area has focussed on identifying anthropogenic impacts on the water bodies, the potential impacts on human and ecosystem health and mechanisms to mitigate such impacts. Initially the research focussed on contamination assessments (e.g., Morrison et al, 1996; He and Morrison, 2001; Morrison et al, 2001), but more recently greater attention has been paid to the processes involved in transport and transformation of contaminants including the major nutrient elements nitrogen and phosphorus (Morrison, 1999; Qu et al 2005). This latter aspect includes investigation of the link between microbial and chemical indicators of changes caused by eutrophication (Morrison and West, 2004), including historical trends. The NSW South Coast Region is ideal for such studies with a wide range of estuaries of varying degrees of eutrophication.
References
R.J. Morrison, N.L. Harrison and P. Gangaiya, 1996. Organochlorines in the estuarine and coastal marine environment of the Fiji Islands. Environmental Pollution, 93, 159-167.
R.J. Morrison, P. Gangaiya, M. Naqasima and R. Naidu, 1997. Trace metal studies in the Great Astrolabe Lagoon, Fiji, a pristine marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin., 34, 353-356.
R.J. Morrison, 1999. Chemical issues in the management of estuaries. Chemistry in Australia, 66(5), 6-9.
R.J. Morrison and M.R. Naqasima, 1999. Fiji's Great Astrolabe Lagoon: Baseline study and management issues for a pristine marine environment. Ocean and Coastal Management, 42, 617-636.
Zhijia He and R.J. Morrison. 2001. Changes in the marine environment of Port Kembla Harbour, NSW, Australia, 1975-1995: A Review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42, 193-201.
R.J. Morrison. S.P. Narayan and P. Gangaiya. 2001. Trace metal studies in Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42, 397-404.
R.J. Morrison and R.J. West, 2004. The health of Lake Illawarra – a status report. Wetlands (Australia), 21, 290-303.
Wenchuan Qu, R.J. Morrison, R.J. West and Chenwei Su, 2005. Diagenetic stoichiometry and benthic fluxes at the water-sediment interface of Lake Illawarra, Australia. Hydrobiologia, 537, 249-264.
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