Abstract Phytoplankton and benthic microalgae are critical to the ecosystem productivity of Moreton Bay. The Bay is oligotrophic for most of the year, with acute nutrient pulses delivered by high rainfall events. These nutrient pulses are important drivers of primary…
Abstract Seagrasses are a dominant feature in the seascape of Moreton Bay. They host numerous animals and provide the region with a wide range of ecosystem services that we are only beginning to better understand. In the past 20 years,…
Abstract The mangroves and saltmarshes of Moreton Bay comprising 18,400 ha are important habitats for biodiversity and providing ecosystem services. Government policy and legislation largely reflects their importance with protection provided through a range of federal and state laws, including…
Abstract Freshwater wetlands of the Moreton Bay Region and Bay islands are prominent landscape features of high biodiversity performing essential ecological functions and providing ecosystem services. This paper reviews the types, extent, biodiversity and ecology of freshwater wetlands in the…
Abstract Moreton Bay is a subtropical bay in south east Queensland that supports important populations of seabirds, marine mammals, reptiles and fish. Zooplankton, being small, are often overlooked, but are important nutrient cyclers and a critical link between primary producers…
Abstract The subtropical coral reefs of Moreton Bay support a rich diversity of corals and micro-benthic organisms. These high-latitude reef communities exist in marginal environments that include relatively cooler, more light-limited, and more variable environmental conditions than those in the…
Abstract Moreton Bay is a heterogeneous seascape containing a mosaic of habitats that support a diversity of fish. The fish fauna includes many species that are harvested by recreational and commercial fishers as well as numerous taxa that are of…
Abstract Six species of marine turtle from two families have been recorded foraging within the waters of Moreton Bay. Of those species, two (green turtle, Chelonia mydas and loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta) are resident in substantial foraging populations that contribute…
Abstract The subtropical waters of Moreton Bay support a diverse and abundant marine mammal fauna. Year-round residents include populations of dolphins and dugongs, and winter visitors include humpback and southern right whales. Due to its proximity to a major capital…
Abstract Tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds return to Moreton Bay each year from their breeding grounds in the Arctic. The Bay’s extensive tidal flats provide a rich feeding resource for the birds while they recuperate from their long migration…
