Abstract: An updated assessment of nutrient related impacts in US estuaries was completed in 2007. This assessment evaluates three components for each estuary: the influencing factors (e.g. land use, nutrient loads), the overall eutrophic condition (e.g. chlorophyll a, presence of nuisance/toxic algae and macroalgae, extent of dissolved oxygen problems, loss of submerged aquatic vegetation), and future outlook. Eutrophication is a widespread problem with 65% of assessed systems showing moderate to high level problems. The most impacted region was the mid-Atlantic. The majority of estuaries assessed, with the exception of North Atlantic systems (Cape Cod north to Maine), are highly influenced by human related activities that contribute to land-based nutrient loads. Conditions were predicted to worsen in 65% and to improve in 19% of the assessed estuaries in the future. Analysis of the extent of change from the early 1990s to the early 2000s, for those systems for which sufficient data were available, shows that conditions mostly remained the same (32 of 58 systems) though changes were observed in several smaller systems; 13 systems improved and 13 systems worsened. Chlorophyll a and HAB impacts have increased in the mid-Atlantic region, the only region with data adequate for comparison. These symptoms are more prevalent in systems with longer residence times, such as coastal lagoons. The successful restoration of seagrass in Tampa Bay is encouraging though future management to sustain the recovery will be difficult given expected population increases. This national assessment illustrates the need for coordinated and integrated action that balances management action, efficient monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the management, focused research, and a communication campaign aimed at engaging the broader community.

Abstract: An extensive and diverse assemblage of seagrass habitats exists along the tropical and subtropical coastline of north east Australia and the associated Great Barrier Reef. In their natural state, these habitats are characterised by very low nutrient concentrations and are primarily nitrogen limited. Summer rainfall and tropical storms/cyclones lead to large flows of sediment-laden fresh water. Macro grazers, dugongs (Dugong dugon) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are an important feature in structuring tropical Australian seagrass communities. In general, all seagrass habitats in north east Australia are influenced by high disturbance and are both spatially and temporally variable. This paper classifies the diversity into four habitat types and proposes the main limiting factor for each habitat. The major processes that categorise each habitat are described and significant threats or gaps in understanding are identified. Four broad categories of seagrass habitat are defined as \'River estuaries\', \'Coastal\', \'Deep water\' and \'Reef\', and the dominant controlling factors are terrigenous runoff, physical disturbance, low light and low nutrients, respectively. Generic concepts of seagrass ecology and habitat function have often been found inappropriate to the diverse range of seagrass habitats in north east Australian waters. The classification and models developed here explain differences in habitats by identifying ecological functions and potential response to impacts in each habitat. This understanding will help to better focus seagrass management and research in tropical habitats.

Abstract: Nitrogen loading to aquatic ecosystems from sewage is recognised worldwide as a growing problem. The use of nitrogen stable isotopes as a means of discerning sewage nitrogen in the environment has been used annually by the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program in Moreton Bay (Australia) since 1997 when the technique was first developed. This (“sewage plume mapping”) technique, which measures the δ¹⁵N isotopic signature of the red macroalga Catenella nipae after incubation in situ, has demonstrated a large reduction in the magnitude and spatial extent of sewage nitrogen within Moreton Bay over the past 5 years. This observed reduction coincides with considerable upgrades to the nitrogen removal efficacy at several sewage treatment plants within the region. This paper describes the observed changes and evaluates whether they can be attributed to the treatment upgrades. (c) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of the process of developing, producing, and releasing an ecological forecast, which is supported by statistical analysis and models that underpin forecasts (see Chapters 8 and 9). Areas discussed in this chapter include why you may consider conducting ecological forecasting, some of the essential elements of a forecasting program, and some of the challenges you may face. Forecasting dissolved oxygen conditions in Chesapeake Bay, which aims to pull together all the essential elements of an effective forecasting program, is used as a case study. Ecological forecasting in this chapter is addressed as an operational component of ecosystem management and not as an exercise in analysis and modeling.

Abstract: Pulsed turbidity events caused by factors such as flooding rivers have the potential to seriously impact seagrass communities by depriving the plants of all available light. The effects of light deprivation was investigated on the survival, morphology and physiology of the tropical seagrasses Halodule pinifolia and Halophila ovalis growing in the South-East Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, a region where pulsed flood events are common. Additionally, physiological:and morphological responses to light availability along natural gradients were examined. Responses to both experimental and natural light gradients were investigated for their potential use as indicators of impending seagrass loss during pulsed turbidity events. H. pinifolia was deprived of light for 80 days using in situ shade screens and the following parameters measured at three depths and under the shade screens: biomass, shoot density, canopy height, amino acid content, chlorophyll content, delta(13)C signature, %C and sugar concentration, The quantity of light was extremely variable, with mean daily irradiances between 9-12 mol photons m(-2) day(-1), and a range of 0.05-42 mol photons m(-2) day(-1) . H. pinifolia leaf amino acid content increased with increased water depth (from 8 to 18 mu mol g fresh wt.), chlorophyll a to b ratio decreased (from 2.4 to 2.1) and delta(13)C values became more negative (from -9 to -12). H. ovalis displayed little tolerance to light deprivation, with plant death occurring after 38 days in the dark. H. pinifolia showed a high degree of tolerance to light deprivation with no biomass loss before day 38 and complete die-off predicted after 100 days. Shoot density, biomass and canopy height all declined after 38 days. Physiological parameters that responded significantly to the light deprivation were the amino acids which increased (from 20 to 80 mu mol g fresh wt.), the chlorophyll 8 to b ratio which decreased (from 2.5 to 2.1) and the values which became more negative (from -9 to -10). Changes in leaf physiology (e.g. amino acid content, chlorophyll content and delta(13)C) occurred before morphological changes (e.g, biomass, shoot, density, canopy height) or die-off, and were thus considered to be potential indicators of impending seagrass die-off during light deprivation. In conclusion, only long duration (>38 days) pulsed turbidity events would have a detrimental impact on H. pinifolia growing in the Gulf of Carpentaria and that by assessing specific physiological responses, seagrass loss during pulsed turbidity events can predicted. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.