The University of Sydney has an extensive data set covering multiple media from the harbour, including 403 samples of marine biota, mainly crustacea fish and molluscs. Functional groups include omnivores, herbivores, detritivores, benthic predators, predators, and omni/herbivores. Surficial sediments have been sampled at 41 sites throughout Sydney estuary. Water samples are available from passive sampling (SPMD) studies (9 sites) as well as bulk samples (5 sites).
The main goal of the project is to model bioaccumulation of dioxins in the food web, with the purpose of addressing two major objectives: i) to use existing data to develop a food web bioaccumulation model to determine the sediment concentrations necessary to reduce tissue levels to acceptable levels and ii) to identify sediment remediation targets for protecting the health of fish consuming humans and wild life in the Sydney estuary.
The project is in collaboration with Gavin Birch, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, who has been responsible for the contaminant surveys of sediments, water and food web components.
Supervisors:
Tom Andersen tom.andersen@ibv.uio.no and Katrine Borg? katrine.borga@ibv.uio.no