1. Summary Report for Objective 3: Coral Reefs Impact of tsunami-deposited sediment contaminants on the health & long-term viability of coral reefs & associated fisheries Ron Szymczak Leader, Marine Systems Analysis Task ANSTO Institute for Environmental Research

2. Impact of sediment-derived contaminants on coral reefs Sediment-derived contaminants / impacts include; - nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) - heavy metals (and others eg. REEs) - agricultural supplements (pesticides & herbicides) - particulate organic material (POM) - sediments (light reduction a combination of above?)

3. Impact of sediment-derived contaminants on coral reefs Enhanced heavy metal levels - “largely unexplored” but potential long-term damage due to persistence & bioaccumulation - reduced photosynthesis (photoinhibition) - loss of algae (bleaching) - reduced disease resistance - reduced fertility & larval survival

4. Impact of sediment-derived contaminants on coral reefs Sedimentation (all of the above ?) - reduced photosynthesis (photoinhibition) - loss of algae (bleaching) - reduced linear extension - partial coral mortality - reduced species diversity - altered community structure

5. Impact of sediment-derived contaminants on coral reefs Synthesis of direct effects of the 4 main parameters of terrestrial runoff on coral growth, survival, reproduction and recruitment from Fabricus, 2005 Growth & survivalReproduction & recruitment

6. Methodology development Representatives form several RCA countries attended an RTC on Establishment of Transfer Factors and Dose Assessment for Marine Organisms from Contaminants released from Nuclear Activities for the Project RAS/7/016 Establishing a Benchmark for Assessing the Radiological Impact of Nuclear Power Activities on the Marine Environment in the Asia-Pacific region, 18-29 Feb 2008 in Cheju, Republic of Korea. This related activity provided training in techniques applicable to our proposed coral heavy metal uptake studies. Radioecology experiment protocols established & distributed

7. Methodology development (THA) Relocation of activities in Thailand from the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) to the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) has resulted in cessation of established radioecology facilities at Bangkok and relocation at Ongkharak. Effective liaison has been established between TINT, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP) and the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) plans for experiment in early 2009. Coral core sampled collected for oxygen isotopes, trace element and radionuclide signatures associated with deepwater intrusions resulting form tsunami impact.

8. Methodology development (MAL) Establishment of radioecology facilities in University of Terengganu is progressing, albeit slowly. Experimental aquaria for maintaining corals have been established and several corals are being acclimated. Acquisition of gamma spectrometry instruments is underway with a tender issued for procurement. During a visit to Malaysia in June 2008, Mr Szymczak (ANSTO) and Dr Warnau (La Rochelle, France) provided advice of protocols for radiotracer laboratory requirement and experiments. Further interaction/visits in 2009 are planned to initiate studies.

9. Methodology development (INS) Metals content of corals by NAA in 4 species - concentration of zinc varied between Acropora/Pocillopora - concentration of zinc varied within Acropora sp. - elevated Zn (& Cr) Coral aquarium set up but no experiments started

10. Coral Skeletons - analytically difficult (and expensive) - international transport restrictions (by convention) - oxygen isotope ratios d 18 O (d 17 O) - better resolution chronological than sediments (approx 1 cm / year) - easy to date (over short time scales) - valuable data if we can do it

11. Plan for 2009 - uptake experiments on coral reef organisms (not just corals) 65-Zn, 109-Cd, (59-Cr) - coral skeleton analyses oxygen isotope ratios  18 O trans-uranics (& Cd) - continue literature compilation on sediment ecotoxicology some coral information transpose ASEAN ecotoxicology database - ecological risk assessment on coral (& coastal) ecosystem need sediment data compiled on EXCEL spreadsheet - compile literature on coral & fish surveys on impacts of tsunami UNEP, Reef Check, James Cook University, GBRMPA, etc

12. Conclusions Coral samples for metals by NAA (INS) Coral skeleton sample from Phuket (THA) for oxygen isotopes & trans-uranics Coral & fish & water quality surveys in INS, IND, MAL, THA & SRI Defined elements of interest from sediment data (Zn, Cd & Cr) - compare sediment metals with Hong Kong ISQGs (& Aust/Canada) - compare pre & post tsunami total metals - particles liberated to water - compare pre & post clay fraction metals - desorbed to solution phase Ecotoxicology data complied for coastal/marine ecosystems (ASEAN & others) Risk assessment for impact of contaminants on coastal ecosystems (regional) In kind assistance for coral uptake experiments (AUL – ANSTO NaI detectors) Interest now also from IND, SRI & CHN

13. Thank You