TITLE:
Acid Sulfate Soil Induced Acidification of Estuarine Areas Used for the Production of Sydney Rock Oysters, Saccostrea glomerata
AUTHORS:
Michael C. Dove, Jesmond Sammut
KEYWORDS:
Estuarine Acidification; Acid Sulfate Soil; Sydney Rock Oyster; Saccostrea glomerata; New South Wales
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.5 No.3A,
March
28,
2013
ABSTRACT: This study investigated estuarine acidification, associated with drainage and excavation of acid sulfate soils, in areas used for commercial cultivation of Sydneyrock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata). Regular measurements of pH and electrical conductivity were collected in oyster cultivation areas and acidified reaches of the Hastings River estuary and Port Stephens estuary located on the mid north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Water quality information from acidified floodplain drains was also collected in theHastingsRiverfollowing heavy rainfall. Both estuaries experienced acidification of tributaries following periods of heavy rainfall. Drain outflow waters were acidic (pH