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Media Release

Corals to help scientists track changes
in Darwin Harbour

February 5, 2003

Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Northern Territory University are set to use coral colonies in Darwin Harbour to give them a better picture of the impact of human activity on the marine environment.

They are now seeking investment in a long-term biomonitoring program aimed at providing better information for the environmental management of the Harbour ecosystem.

Coral skeletons reflect the composition of the surrounding seawater at the time of their formation, and provide a record of river run-off, sedimentation patterns, changing salinity, temperature and turbidity.

AIMS researchers have developed considerable expertise over the past decade in using coral cores to trace climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, and now want to collaborate with NT scientists to apply this knowledge to Darwin Harbour.

Hard corals are relatively common in sub-tidal and reef flats in the Darwin area, with 123 species recorded. At Channel Island, about 15km inside the harbour, a diverse and abundant coral community exists despite environmental conditions regarded as unconducive to coral growth. At other sites in the middle and outer harbour, environment conditions are less extreme, and several massive coral bommies can be found, some reaching 4 metres in diameter.

"The length of environmental records contained in such specimens may extend from several decades to centuries, depending on growth rates," said NTU environmental chemist Dr Niels Munksgaard.

AIMS marine biologist Dr Mark Meekan is excited at the prospect of collaboration with NTU, and says AIMS has expertise in dating coral growth bands and interpreting the data provided in their skeletal structure.

"This project aims to assess the suitability of corals in Darwin Harbour as bio-monitors and archives of environmental conditions, particularly with respect to any changes in river run-off and heavy metal concentrations," he said.

New technology now being installed at NTU will enable the scientists to scan a laser beam over coral specimens and potentially "read" information as fine as weekly coral growth.

Furthermore, sampling and analysis of seawater, suspended particle matter and sediment will be conducted at all coral sampling sites in Darwin Harbour, and this comparative data will help establish the relation between coral, seawater and sediment compositions.

Dr Niels Munksgaard, Environmental Analytical Chemistry Unit
Northern Territory University
Telephone: 08 89466784 
Email: Niels.Munksgaard@ntu.edu.au 

Theresa Millard, AIMS Science Communication Manager
Telephone: 07 47534250, 0409596271
Email: t.millard@aims.gov.au

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Last updated - January 30, 2003

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