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Issue: Contributions and pressures between the land and the ocean - Pressures of land changes on the coasts and oceans

This is an issue under the Land theme of the Data Reporting System.

Why we need to know about this issue

The land contributes inputs from terrestrial species and climatic factors to biodiversity at the interface between the land and the ocean and can place direct pressure on interface species from sediments and acid sulphate soils which can be toxic to marine organisms. Pressures from the land may affect the quality of estuarine and coastal waters and ultimately the condition of marine species.

While most of the substances that are potentially lethal to marine life that are being discharged into coastal waters from land sources are the waste products of human settlements themselves, the disturbance of original habitat with human structures also causes soil itself to drain into coastal waters. Any increase in suspended sediments can place pressure on marine life, starving or suffocating it, or benefitting some species at the expense of others. However, Australia’s coastal soils are rich in acid sulphates and these are particularly toxic to marine life.

Indicators

• CO-29 Change in area of coastal potential acid sulphate soils under development for human use 
  Much of the soil around Australia’s coastline is highly acidic. While it is primarily the disturbance of acid sulphate soils by human development that causes these soils to enter coastal waters, flooding and sea surge events can also transport acidic soils to coastal waters. Changes in area of potential acid sulphate soils encroached by human development is indicative of the length of coastline at risk of acid sulphate contamination from land disturbance.
• IW-12 Catchment nitrogen and phosphorus load 
  Agricultural land use disturbs soils and can change loads of nitrogen and phosphorus entering inland waters and ending up in coastal waters where in can place pressure aquatic and estuarine species as well as on other coastal species that rely on the water source. Quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrating in surface water catchments are a direct measure of this pressure.
• IW-13 Catchment sediment load 
  Agricultural land use disturbs soils and can change loads of sediment entering inland waters and ending up in coastal waters where in can place pressure aquatic and estuarine species as well as on other coastal species that rely on the water source. Quantities of sediment concentrating in surface water catchments are a direct measure of this pressure.

Related issues

• Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and land- Effects of changes in the land on the oceans 
• Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and inland water- Effect of changes in inland waters on the coasts and oceans