From Australian Oceans Data Network
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Levels of organochlorine pesticides in corals, fish and molluscs from the Great Barrier Reef

Created 23/06/2025

Updated 23/06/2025

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Corals, fish and molluscs were collected from twenty inner marginal shelf reefs of the Great Barrier Reef between September 1976 and June 1977. The reefs sampled were Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Green Island, Scott Reef, Howie Reef, Ellison Reef, Otter Reef, Britomart Reef, Bramble Reef, Keeper Reef, Wheeler Reef, Davies Reef, Broadhurst Reef, Old Reef, Gould Reef, Bait Reef, Parker Reef, Bushy Island, Masthead Island and Wistari Reef. The distance between the mainland and these reefs ranged from 11 to 93 km. The reefs were located between 26 and 222 km from major river estuaries within sugar cane growing regions of Queensland.Specimens of two species of fish, Plectropoma maculatum (coral trout) and Scarus fasciatus (surf parrot fish), two scleractinian corals, Fungia sp. (Fungia fungites type) and Acropora sp. (Acropora acuminata type) and one bivalve mollusc, Tridacna crocea were collected from each reef. Fish were collected by spearing and corals and clams were collected on SCUBA. All specimens were wrapped in aluminium foil and frozen immediately on dry ice.Liver and dorsolateral muscle tissue from the fish, subsamples of homogenised clams and ground corals were used for analyses. Samples were extracted using 1:1 by volume hexane/acetone. Part of the extract from each sample was used for gravimetric lipid determination. The remainder was cleaned up using gel permeation chromatography prior to pesticide residue determination using gas-liquid chromatography.A selection of samples was subjected to a micro scale alkali dehydrochlorination derivatisation procedure for confirmation of lindane. This study was undertaken to determine the degree to which selected corals, fish and molluscs from the Great Barrier Reef had been exposed to organochlorine pesticides and to provide a baseline for future assessment of changes in organochlorine exposure levels. The rivers within sugar cane growing regions are the Endeavour River, Daintree River, Barron River, Mulgrave River, Johnstone River, Liverpool River, Tully River, Herbert River, Burdekin River, Ross River, Haughton River, Don River, Pioneer River, Proserpine River, Kolan River, Fitzroy River and Calliope River.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Levels of organochlorine pesticides in corals, fish and molluscs from the Great Barrier Reef
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/0cccad75-e133-4563-bc41-fbf447b1de0c
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
reception@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 20/11/2017
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    151.8817,
    -23.47196
  ],
  "type": "Point"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Levels of organochlorine pesticides in corals, fish and molluscs from the Great Barrier Reef". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/levels-of-organochlorine-pesticides-in-corals-fish-and-molluscs-from-the-great-barrier-reef1