Confluence of Ellen Brook and the Swan River, Perth.

Collaboration Project to Investigate Organic Nutrients in South-West WA

As urbanization and agricultural development puts increasing pressure on near-coast catchments and aquatic ecosystems, it is critical that we understand how major drivers of carbon and nutrient cycling will respond to associated environmental changes. A new collaboration project between CSIRO researchers in the Water for a healthy Country Flagship and The University of Western Australia will examine the ecological role of dissolved organic carbon and nutrients in catchments of the Swan-Canning river system that bisects Perth, WA.

This interdisciplinary group includes Dr. Pauline Grierson of the University of Western Australia and Dr. Kevin Petrone (CSIRO Forestry), who will work with university students and post-docs to complement ongoing hydrogeologic and geochemical research conducted by Drs. Olga Barron and Grant Douglas (CSIRO Land and Water).

Traditionally, catchment managers and researchers have focused on nitrate, ammonia and phosphorus as nutrient sources, but organic nitrogen and phosphorus, often the majority of total N and P in Australian waterways and estuaries, are now recognized as important components, if not dominant components, in many ecosystems. This study will use multiple isotope and chemical techniques combined with laboratory decomposition experiments to examine the source and fate of natural and anthropogenic sources of organic nutrients in catchments, wetlands and surface waters. Our final aim is to include organic matter in catchment/estuarine biogeochemical models to better target catchment management in WA and throughout Australia.

Contact:
Mike Grundy, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
Email: mike.grundy@csiro.au

IN THIS EDITION:

Update Home

Message from the Director

Novel new membrane could cut CO₂ emissions and purify water

MDB water assessment project in final stages

$50M Research Alliance tackles urban water sustainability

Tracking how groundwater goes with the flow

Research into water impacts on plantations leads to world-first policy change

Planning landscapes of the future

Economic assessment of acquiring water for environmental flows in the Murray Basin

Eastern Australian drought connected with El Nino

WA team makes a big splash in groundwater management

It's so good it's been bottled

Monitoring leaky landscapes

Thinking Water and Climate: Hydrological Consequences of Climate Change

What's in Our Water: The significance of trace organic compounds

Key Contacts

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