Ecotoxicology of pesticides on the Great Barrier Reef for guideline development and risk assessments (NESP TWQ 3.1.5)

Over 50 land-sourced pesticides have been detected in waters of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and its catchments. Previous studies on the risks posed by pesticides have focused on five priority PSII herbicides. However, other pesticides are increasingly being used, for which there are few fate, persistence and toxicity data. In order to improve water quality guidelines and assessments of the potential risks posed by these alternate pesticides to GBR and its catchments, this project quantify their toxicity to freshwater and marine species.

Laboratory experiments were conducted in 2018-2019 to determine the effects of Photosystem II (PSII) and alternative herbicides on marine and freshwater species of algae, microalgae, plants and invertebrates (such as coral larvae).

The aim of this project were generate toxiciy data that can be used to to improve water quality guidelines and subsequent risk assessments for pesticides in tropical freshwater and marine ecosystems.

This project was completed in collaboration with partners at James Cook University and the University of Queensland. 17 datasets have been created and published and can be found on the eAtlas project site linked below. 

Toxicity of eleven herbicides and one fungicide to the marine alga Tisochrysis lutea (Haptophyta) (NESP TWQ 3.1.5, AIMS)

Toxicity of three insecticides and two fungicides to Acropora tenuis coral larvae (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS)

Toxicity of nine herbicides to coral endo-symbiotic algae Cladocopium goreaui (Symbiodiniaceae) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Toxicity of the insecticide imidacloprid to marine larvae of the hermit crab Coenobita variabilis (Arthropoda/Crustacea) (NESP TWQ 3.1.5, AIMS)

Toxicity of eight herbicides to the marine alga Tetraselmis sp.(Chlorophyta) (NESP TWQ 3.1.5, AIMS)

Toxicity of the insecticide imidacloprid and the fungicide propiconazole to the marine barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite (Arthropoda/Crustacea) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the diatom Chaetoceros muelleri (Ochrophyta) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the microalgae Rhodomonas salina (Cryptophyceae) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the green algae Raphidocelis subcapitata (Chlorophyta) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth of the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanophyta) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the lesser duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis (Tracheophyta &ndash; Liliopsida) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth of the stonewort Ceratophyllum demersum (Tracheophyta &ndash; Magnoliopsida) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the green algae Desmodesmus asymmetricus (Chlorophyta) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the microalgae Chlorella sp. (Chlorophyta) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the aquatic fern Azolla pinnata (Pteridophyta) (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Effects of herbicide exposure on growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea maremetens (NESP 3.1.5, AIMS and JCU)

Adjusting tropical marine water quality guideline values for elevated ocean temperatures (NESP TWQ Project 2.1.6, NESP TWQ Project 5.2 and NESP TWQ Project 3.1.5)

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network