BACI/timeseries(?) design
impacts to mangrove nursery sites question:
'Does an increase of acid sulphate runoff water decrease the health (abundance) of intertidal vegetation in downstream intertidal estuary communities'

Survey method-
BACI

Risk posed

acid sulphate soils inundation /
desiccation cycles more eratic

sea level rise - increased salt water intrusion

flooding - increased from altered land use

altering habitats for fish nurseries

Select the site:
Known areas where ASS occurs

  • Richmond RIver
  • Brunswick River

statistical analysis - which test?

monitoring -

compare with water quality data;

  • flood records
  • water quality (pH.) from historical records

using aerial imagery

images collected historically
provide indication of species diversity

duration of study

long term

short term

5 years? (allows for historical flood data to be compared)

1 year (seasonal variation)

potential resources

setup of treatment in nursery with exposure to variable pH. water

setup of controls in nursery with 'normal water conditions

using NDVI spectral analysis software

Unknowns: Assumptions

  • natural fluctuations of these species occurs anyway

increase turbidity and freshwater are also factor that influence biota health

  • Mangroves / estuarine vegetation doesn't like acid runoff
  • it could be because more land is cleared within the catchment
  • water runoff is actually increase due to rainfall -