Historic Environmental Changes and Present-day Nutrient Release from Sediments in Stokes Inlet and Wellstead Estuary, South-western Australia

This report presents the results of a study by Geoscience Australia of Stokes Inlet and Wellstead Estuary, located in southwestern Western Australia, based on data collected during surveys in March 2006 and May 2007. It includes the present day rates of organic matter breakdown in the sediments of these estuaries, sediment and porewater properties, sedimentation rates, and an account of the historical environmental changes to these estuaries based on the sediment record. In the report you will find: 1. Purpose and background 2. Environmental Setting 3. Methods 4. Benthic Chambers 5. Sediment Cores and Grabs 6. Results and Discussions 7. Environmental conditions during the survey 8. Present-day nutrient dynamics in Stokes Inlet 9. Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction 10. Key conclusions