Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets for the central Great Barrier Reef Shelf

Abstract

Shelf-scale budgets were developed for the nutrient elements nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the central Great Barrier Reef between Cape Tribulation (I 60 S} and Dunk Island (ca. 18°S). The intent was to quantify: I} stocks of nutrients (nitrogen (N). phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si}) naturally occurring in central Great Barrier Reef waters; 2) natural gradients and variability in water column nutrient concentrations; 3} natural fluxes of nutrients into and out of shelf waters for comparison with anthropogenic or anthropogenically affected nutrient sources.