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Dr Ryan Turner
Dr

Ryan Turner

Email: 

Overview

Background

Associate Professor Ryan Turner is the Director of the Reef Catchments Science Partnership at the University of Queensland (a partnership with the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation). Ryan was previously the Department's Principal Scientist for Water Quality and Investigations and held an Adjunct Associate Professor role at Queensland University of Technology in the Managing for Resilient Landscapes, Institute for Future Environments. For 14 years, Ryan managed multimillion-dollar water quality monitoring programs assessing the impacts of sediments, nutrients, and pesticides in numerous catchments along the Queensland coast discharging to the Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay. Ryan has been on several steering committees and technical advisory panels, such as the Great Barrier Reef Foundations Technical Advisory Panel. He has published extensively (>80 papers and reports) and led several Queensland Government – Academic collaborative research projects. Ryan previously supervised analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratories in the private and public sectors. Ryan has developed numerous methodologies and standard operating procedures for analytical and monitoring techniques (water quality, sediments and soils). Ryan’s passion for the future of water security is what keeps him striving forward.

Availability

Dr Ryan Turner is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Works

Search Professor Ryan Turner’s works on UQ eSpace

46 works between 2011 and 2024

21 - 40 of 46 works

2019

Journal Article

A framework for automated anomaly detection in high frequency water-quality data from in situ sensors

Leigh, Catherine, Alsibai, Omar, Hyndman, Rob J., Kandanaarachchi, Sevvandi, King, Olivia C., McGree, James M., Neelamraju, Catherine, Strauss, Jennifer, Talagala, Priyanga Dilini, Turner, Ryan D. R., Mengersen, Kerrie and Peterson, Erin E. (2019). A framework for automated anomaly detection in high frequency water-quality data from in situ sensors. Science of the Total Environment, 664, 885-898. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.085

A framework for automated anomaly detection in high frequency water-quality data from in situ sensors

2019

Conference Publication

Towards ecologically relevant targets: Impact of flow and sediment discharge on seagrass communities in the great barrier reef

Lambert, V., Adams, M. P., Collier, C., Carter, A., Saunders, M., Brodie, J., Bainbridge, Z., Rasheed, M., Turner, R. and O'Brien, K. R. (2019). Towards ecologically relevant targets: Impact of flow and sediment discharge on seagrass communities in the great barrier reef. 23rd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation - Supporting Evidence-Based Decision Making: The Role of Modelling and Simulation, MODSIM 2019, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 1 - 6 December 2019. Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc. (MSSANZ). doi: 10.36334/modsim.2019.G1.lambert

Towards ecologically relevant targets: Impact of flow and sediment discharge on seagrass communities in the great barrier reef

2018

Journal Article

Transcriptomic, lipid, and histological profiles suggest changes in health in fish from a pesticide hot spot

Hook, Sharon E., Mondon, Julie, Revill, Andrew T., Greenfield, Paul A., Smith, Rachael A., Turner, Ryan D. R., Corbett, Patricia A. and Warne, Michael St J. (2018). Transcriptomic, lipid, and histological profiles suggest changes in health in fish from a pesticide hot spot. Marine Environmental Research, 140, 299-321. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.06.020

Transcriptomic, lipid, and histological profiles suggest changes in health in fish from a pesticide hot spot

2017

Journal Article

Hepatic transcriptomic profiles from barramundi, Lates calcarifer, as a means of assessing organism health and identifying stressors in rivers in northern Queensland

Hook, Sharon E., Kroon, Frederieke J., Greenfield, Paul A., Warne, Michael St J., Smith, Rachael A. and Turner, Ryan D. (2017). Hepatic transcriptomic profiles from barramundi, Lates calcarifer, as a means of assessing organism health and identifying stressors in rivers in northern Queensland. Marine Environmental Research, 129, 166-179. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.05.006

Hepatic transcriptomic profiles from barramundi, Lates calcarifer, as a means of assessing organism health and identifying stressors in rivers in northern Queensland

2017

Journal Article

An improved method for calculating toxicity-based pollutant loads: part 1. method development

Smith, Rachael A., Warne, Michael St J., Mengersen, Kerrie and Turner, Ryan D. R. (2017). An improved method for calculating toxicity-based pollutant loads: part 1. method development. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 13 (4), 746-753. doi: 10.1002/ieam.1854

An improved method for calculating toxicity-based pollutant loads: part 1. method development

2017

Journal Article

An improved method for calculating toxicity-based pollutant loads: part 2. application to contaminants discharged to the great barrier reef, Queensland, Australia

Smith, Rachael A., Warne, Michael St J., Mengersen, Kerrie and Turner, Ryan D. R. (2017). An improved method for calculating toxicity-based pollutant loads: part 2. application to contaminants discharged to the great barrier reef, Queensland, Australia. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 13 (4), 754-764. doi: 10.1002/ieam.1860

An improved method for calculating toxicity-based pollutant loads: part 2. application to contaminants discharged to the great barrier reef, Queensland, Australia

2017

Other Outputs

Environmental implications of greywater irrigation within an urban development

Turner, Ryan D. (2017). Environmental implications of greywater irrigation within an urban development. PhD Thesis, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology. doi: 10.5204/thesis.eprints.106951

Environmental implications of greywater irrigation within an urban development

2017

Journal Article

Global transcriptomic profiling in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from rivers impacted by differing agricultural land uses

Hook, Sharon E., Kroon, Frederieke J., Metcalfe, Suzanne, Greenfield, Paul A., Moncuquet, Philippe, McGrath, Annette, Smith, Rachael, Warne, Michael St. J., Turner, Ryan D., McKeown, Adam and Westcott, David A. (2017). Global transcriptomic profiling in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from rivers impacted by differing agricultural land uses. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 36 (1), 103-112. doi: 10.1002/etc.3505

Global transcriptomic profiling in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from rivers impacted by differing agricultural land uses

2016

Journal Article

Irrigated greywater in an urban sub-division as a potential source of metals to soil, groundwater and surface water

Turner, Ryan D. R., Warne, Michael St. J., Dawes, Les A., Vardy, Suzanne and Will, Geoffrey D. (2016). Irrigated greywater in an urban sub-division as a potential source of metals to soil, groundwater and surface water. Journal of Environmental Management, 183 (3), 806-817. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.09.021

Irrigated greywater in an urban sub-division as a potential source of metals to soil, groundwater and surface water

2016

Journal Article

Spatio-temporal assimilation of modelled catchment loads with monitoring data in the Great Barrier Reef

Gladish, Daniel W., Kuhnert, Petra M., Pagendam, Daniel E., Wikle, Christopher K., Bartley, Rebecca, Searle, Ross D., Ellis, Robin J., Dougall, Cameron, Turner, Ryan D. R., Lewis, Stephen E., Bainbridge, Zoe T. and Brodie, Jon E. (2016). Spatio-temporal assimilation of modelled catchment loads with monitoring data in the Great Barrier Reef. Annals of Applied Statistics, 10 (3), 1590-1618. doi: 10.1214/16-aoas950

Spatio-temporal assimilation of modelled catchment loads with monitoring data in the Great Barrier Reef

2016

Journal Article

Spatial and temporal variability in pesticide exposure downstream of a heavily irrigated cropping area: application of different monitoring techniques

O’Brien, Dominique, Lewis, Stephen, Davis, Aaron, Gallen, Christie, Smith, Rachael, Turner, Ryan, Warne, Michael, Turner, Scott, Caswell, Stewart, Mueller, Jochen F. and Brodie, Jon (2016). Spatial and temporal variability in pesticide exposure downstream of a heavily irrigated cropping area: application of different monitoring techniques. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 64 (20), 3975-3989. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04710

Spatial and temporal variability in pesticide exposure downstream of a heavily irrigated cropping area: application of different monitoring techniques

2015

Journal Article

Ecologically based targets for bioavailable (reactive) nitrogen discharge from the drainage basins of the Wet Tropics region, Great Barrier Reef

Wooldridge, Scott A., Brodie, Jon E., Kroon, Frederieke J. and Turner, Ryan D. R. (2015). Ecologically based targets for bioavailable (reactive) nitrogen discharge from the drainage basins of the Wet Tropics region, Great Barrier Reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 97 (1-2), 262-272. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.007

Ecologically based targets for bioavailable (reactive) nitrogen discharge from the drainage basins of the Wet Tropics region, Great Barrier Reef

2015

Journal Article

Altered transcription levels of endocrine associated genes in two fisheries species collected from the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon

Kroon, Frederieke J., Hook, Sharon E., Jones, Dean, Metcalfe, Suzanne, Henderson, Brent, Smith, Rachael, Warne, Michael St. J., Turner, Ryan D., McKeown, Adam and Westcott, David A. (2015). Altered transcription levels of endocrine associated genes in two fisheries species collected from the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon. Marine Environmental Research, 104, 51-61. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.01.002

Altered transcription levels of endocrine associated genes in two fisheries species collected from the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon

2014

Conference Publication

Reducing pesticide loads to help protect the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: An integrated endeavour to change land management practices on a massive scale

Warne, Michael, Smith, Rachael, Turner, Ryan, Waters, David, Ellis, Rob, Shaw, Mel, Silburn, Mark D., Carroll, Chris, Martin, Katherine, Mueller, Jochen, Schaffelke, Britta, McCosker, Kevin, Wallace, Rohan, Huggins, Rae, Tindall, Dan, Bennett, John, Chinn, Chris, Henry, Nyssa, Gale, Kevin, Honchin, Carol and Yorkston, Hugh (2014). Reducing pesticide loads to help protect the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: An integrated endeavour to change land management practices on a massive scale. 248th National Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), San Francisco, CA, United States, 10-14 August 2014. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society.

Reducing pesticide loads to help protect the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: An integrated endeavour to change land management practices on a massive scale

2013

Journal Article

Phosphorus as a limiting factor on sustainable greywater irrigation

Turner, Ryan D. R., Will, Geoffrey D., Dawes, Les A., Gardner, Edward A. and Lyons, David J. (2013). Phosphorus as a limiting factor on sustainable greywater irrigation. Science of the Total Environment, 456, 287-298. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.02.061

Phosphorus as a limiting factor on sustainable greywater irrigation

2013

Conference Publication

Water quality within the Herbert river catchment associated with specific land use

O'brien, Dominique, Davis, Aaron, Nash, Michael, Di Bella, Lawrence, Turner, Ryan, Reghenzani, John and Brodie, Jon (2013). Water quality within the Herbert river catchment associated with specific land use. 35th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Townsville, QLD Australia, 16-18 April 2013. Mackay, QLD Australia: Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.

Water quality within the Herbert river catchment associated with specific land use

2013

Conference Publication

Monitoring to enhance modelling - A loads monitoring program for validation of catchment models

Turner, R. D.R., Smith, R. A., Huggins, R. L., Wallace, R. M., Warne, M. St J. and Waters, D. K. (2013). Monitoring to enhance modelling - A loads monitoring program for validation of catchment models. 20th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, MODSIM 2013, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 1 - 6 December 2013. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Monitoring to enhance modelling - A loads monitoring program for validation of catchment models

2013

Other Outputs

Total suspended solids, nutrient and pesticide loads (2010-2011) for rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring 2010-2011

Turner, R., Huggins, R., Wallace, R., Smith, R., Vardy, S. and Warne, M. St. J. (2013). Total suspended solids, nutrient and pesticide loads (2010-2011) for rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring 2010-2011. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Queensland Government.

Total suspended solids, nutrient and pesticide loads (2010-2011) for rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring 2010-2011

2012

Journal Article

Large-scale pesticide monitoring across Great Barrier Reef catchments - Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program

Smith, Rachael, Middlebrook, Rachael, Turner, Ryan, Huggins, Rae, Vardy, Suzanne and Warne, Michael (2012). Large-scale pesticide monitoring across Great Barrier Reef catchments - Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 65 (4-9), 117-127. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.010

Large-scale pesticide monitoring across Great Barrier Reef catchments - Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program

2012

Journal Article

Estimates of sediment and nutrient loads in 10 major catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef during 2006-2009

Joo, Marianna, Raymond, Myriam A. A., McNeil, Vivienne H., Huggins, Raethea, Turner, Ryan D. R. and Choy, Satish (2012). Estimates of sediment and nutrient loads in 10 major catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef during 2006-2009. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 65 (4-9), 150-166. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.01.002

Estimates of sediment and nutrient loads in 10 major catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef during 2006-2009

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Project 4 - Human Dimensions (Reef Catchments Science Partnership funded project)
    Queensland Government Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    RCSP Project 3 - Reef Science Innovation
    Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    Project Bluewater II (GBRF - Reef Trust Partnership grant administered by Farmacist)
    Farmacist
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Ryan Turner is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Risk and hazard based projects

    Assessing the hazard and risk posed by nitrate in GBR freshwaters.

    Nutrient concentration data from the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program between 2006 and 2023 will be compared to appropriate water quality guidelines for ecosystem protection to assess the hazard and risk they pose to aquatic ecosystems.

    Hazard and risk assessment of metals in waters of the Burdekin river and estuary.

    Two-years of metal concentration data (July 2014 to June 2016) from samples collected in the Burdekin River and Barratta Creek estuaries were collected and a preliminary hazard assessment was conducted as part of a World Wildlife Fund sponsored project on turtles. This project will use that metal data and conduct hazard assessment using the newest water quality guidelines and conduct a probabilistic risk assessment for the individual metals and for metal mixtures to aquatic ecosystems.

  • Analysing temporal trends in data projects

    The Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program has been collecting pesticide concentration data between 2009 and 2021 and nutrient concentration data since 2006. To date, temporal trends have been estimated using very complex source catchment models. But with so much monitoring data it is possible to use this data to determine if concentrations have changed over time. To date, analysis for changes in concentration over time (temporal trend analysis) has only been conducted for using monitoring data for four pesticides (imidacloprid, diuron, imazapic and hexazinone) while over 90 are routinely monitored for. No trend analyses have been conducted on the nutrient monitoring data. These trend analysis projects will determine if the efforts/investments of the Australian and Queensland governments to improve land management practices and hence water quality have been successful. There are four priority projects on temporal trend analysis. These projects will be conducted in collaboration with staff from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the UQ School of Mathematics and Physics.

    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in nitrate loads in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)
    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in pesticide concentrations in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)
    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in sediment loads non-PSII herbicides in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)
    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in the toxicity of pesticide mixtures in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)

  • GIS-based projects - pesticides

    Using GIS techniques to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures for every one-kilometre reach of rivers that drain to the GBR (A priority project)

    The Partnership and the Qld Department of Environment and Science have developed relationships that use percent land use data to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures. Two waterways that drain to the GBR will be selected and divided into one-kilometre reaches. At the bottom of each reach, digital elevation maps will be used to determine the upstream catchment and combine that with land use maps to estimate the percent landuse upstream of each reach in the selected waterways. The percent land use data will then be used to estimate the toxicity of pesticide mixtures for each one-kilometre reach of the selected waterways.

    Using GIS systems to develop risk maps for pesticides

    This project will develop two GIS layers related to pesticide pollution. The first layer will combine land use data with information on the pesticides that can be applied to various agricultural practices and crops. This will identify the pesticides that could be expected to occur in the waterways. The second layer will present the spatial distribution of pesticides that have been detected in waterways that discharge to the GBR. These layers will help design pesticide monitoring programs and guide other research into the occurrence and risk posed by pesticides.

    Using GIS systems to develop maps for the potential occurrence of pesticides (based on land use and registered uses of pesticides)

    This project will use land-use maps (from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, DES)) and the PubCris database (of pesticides registered for agricultural crops and systems by the APVMA) to determine the pesticides that are applied to agricultural land and therefore the pesticides that will potentially be present in the waterways that drain the catchments. This project will be conducted in collaboration with staff from the Partnership and DES and potentially the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. It will provide information on what pesticides might occur in waterways and thus guide pesticide monitoring programs.

    Using GIS techniques to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures for any point on rivers that drain to the GBR

    This is like the previous project, except that the aim is to be able to predict the toxicity at any point in a waterway that discharges to the GBR. The project will use the relationships that use percent land use data to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures. In this project you will use digital elevation maps to determine the upstream catchment and combine that with land use maps to estimate the percent landuse upstream of any point in a selected waterway. This data will then be used to estimate the toxicity of pesticide mixtures at any point in the selected waterway. The outcomes of this project will provide the foundation to enable the calculation of the toxicity of pesticide mixtures at any point in any waterway that discharges to the GBR.

  • GIS-based projects - sediment

    Riparian vegetation and catchment sediment generation

    There are catchment-based targets in the Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan for improving catchment riparian conditions as well as water quality improvements. This project will look for correlations between earth observation measurements of riparian extent, riparian connectivity and water quality measured concentrations and loads of total suspended solids.

    Gully density and catchment sediment generation

    There are catchment-based targets in the Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan for improving catchment conditions as well as water quality improvements. This project will look for correlations between earth observation measurements of basin gully density and water quality measured concentrations and loads of total suspended solids.

  • Pesticide mixtures projects

    Calculating the pesticide mixture toxicity using historical pesticide monitoring data from the GBR lagoon and assessing the hazard they pose

    Between 2010 and 2020 the Reef Marine Monitoring Program has conducted pesticide analysis using passive samplers. But only two-years’ worth (2017/18 and 2018/19) of data had the toxicity of pesticide mixtures calculated using the multi-substance potentially affected fraction (msPAF) method that is now used to determine the risk posed by pesticide mixtures. This project will calculate the other years and then assess the risk that pesticide mixtures pose. Temporal analysis of the msPAF values will also be conducted.

    Analysis and write up of the 2+ years of orbitrap data collected by the GBRCLMP, including a statistical analysis of land-use relationships.

    The Queensland Department of Environment and Science has conducted non-targeted organic chemical analysis of rivers that discharge to the GBR for two years. This project will collate that data to determine what chemicals are present, how frequently each is detected, summary concentration statistics and determine if there are relationships between their occurrence and land-use. This project will help determine what chemicals are included in future chemical analysis of GBR waterways.

  • Maximising the value of real-time water quality monitoring projects

    Fingerprinting Water: Using Real-Time Spectra to Predict the Concentrations of Pesticides (A priority project)

    This project will attempt to use the spectra generated by TriOS OPUS probes (which currently provides real-time measurements on nitrate-nitrogen and total suspended solids) to predict concentrations of three pesticides (atrazine, diuron and imidacloprid) in a number of different rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef. Finding such relationships could enable real-time water quality monitoring of waterways for water quality parameters and would enable quicker and cheaper method of monitoring waterways within the Great Barrier Reef catchments.

  • Miscellaneous projects

    An analysis of the effect of holding time and temperature on nutrient sample preservation.

    Many of the sites sampled by the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program are in remote locations and getting the water samples to the laboratories and analysed within the holding times for nutrients can be problematic. This study would work with the staff from the Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (chemical laboratories) to determine the effect that prolonged holding times (prior to filtration and freezing) has on the accuracy of nutrient analysis and calculate correction factors or determine new holding times.

    Calculating real-time loads for nitrate and total suspended solids

    This project will look into the variability of real-time loads and tradition loads monitoring with discreet sampling.

  • Risk and hazard based projects

    Assessing the hazard and risk posed by nitrate in GBR freshwaters.

    Nutrient concentration data from the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program between 2006 and 2023 will be compared to appropriate water quality guidelines for ecosystem protection to assess the hazard and risk they pose to aquatic ecosystems.

    Hazard and risk assessment of metals in waters of the Burdekin river and estuary.

    Two-years of metal concentration data (July 2014 to June 2016) from samples collected in the Burdekin River and Barratta Creek estuaries were collected and a preliminary hazard assessment was conducted as part of a World Wildlife Fund sponsored project on turtles. This project will use that metal data and conduct hazard assessment using the newest water quality guidelines and conduct a probabilistic risk assessment for the individual metals and for metal mixtures to aquatic ecosystems.

  • Analysing temporal trends in data projects

    The Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program has been collecting pesticide concentration data between 2009 and 2021 and nutrient concentration data since 2006. To date, temporal trends have been estimated using very complex source catchment models. But with so much monitoring data it is possible to use this data to determine if concentrations have changed over time. To date, analysis for changes in concentration over time (temporal trend analysis) has only been conducted for using monitoring data for four pesticides (imidacloprid, diuron, imazapic and hexazinone) while over 90 are routinely monitored for. No trend analyses have been conducted on the nutrient monitoring data. These trend analysis projects will determine if the efforts/investments of the Australian and Queensland governments to improve land management practices and hence water quality have been successful. There are four priority projects on temporal trend analysis. These projects will be conducted in collaboration with staff from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the UQ School of Mathematics and Physics.

    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in nitrate loads in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)
    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in pesticide concentrations in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)
    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in sediment loads non-PSII herbicides in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)
    • Statistical analysis of temporal trends in the toxicity of pesticide mixtures in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (A priority project)

  • GIS-based projects - pesticides

    Using GIS techniques to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures for every one-kilometre reach of rivers that drain to the GBR (A priority project)

    The Partnership and the Qld Department of Environment and Science have developed relationships that use percent land use data to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures. Two waterways that drain to the GBR will be selected and divided into one-kilometre reaches. At the bottom of each reach, digital elevation maps will be used to determine the upstream catchment and combine that with land use maps to estimate the percent landuse upstream of each reach in the selected waterways. The percent land use data will then be used to estimate the toxicity of pesticide mixtures for each one-kilometre reach of the selected waterways.

    Using GIS systems to develop risk maps for pesticides

    This project will develop two GIS layers related to pesticide pollution. The first layer will combine land use data with information on the pesticides that can be applied to various agricultural practices and crops. This will identify the pesticides that could be expected to occur in the waterways. The second layer will present the spatial distribution of pesticides that have been detected in waterways that discharge to the GBR. These layers will help design pesticide monitoring programs and guide other research into the occurrence and risk posed by pesticides.

    Using GIS systems to develop maps for the potential occurrence of pesticides (based on land use and registered uses of pesticides)

    This project will use land-use maps (from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, DES)) and the PubCris database (of pesticides registered for agricultural crops and systems by the APVMA) to determine the pesticides that are applied to agricultural land and therefore the pesticides that will potentially be present in the waterways that drain the catchments. This project will be conducted in collaboration with staff from the Partnership and DES and potentially the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. It will provide information on what pesticides might occur in waterways and thus guide pesticide monitoring programs.

    Using GIS techniques to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures for any point on rivers that drain to the GBR

    This is like the previous project, except that the aim is to be able to predict the toxicity at any point in a waterway that discharges to the GBR. The project will use the relationships that use percent land use data to predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures. In this project you will use digital elevation maps to determine the upstream catchment and combine that with land use maps to estimate the percent landuse upstream of any point in a selected waterway. This data will then be used to estimate the toxicity of pesticide mixtures at any point in the selected waterway. The outcomes of this project will provide the foundation to enable the calculation of the toxicity of pesticide mixtures at any point in any waterway that discharges to the GBR.

  • GIS-based projects - sediment

    Riparian vegetation and catchment sediment generation

    There are catchment-based targets in the Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan for improving catchment riparian conditions as well as water quality improvements. This project will look for correlations between earth observation measurements of riparian extent, riparian connectivity and water quality measured concentrations and loads of total suspended solids.

    Gully density and catchment sediment generation

    There are catchment-based targets in the Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan for improving catchment conditions as well as water quality improvements. This project will look for correlations between earth observation measurements of basin gully density and water quality measured concentrations and loads of total suspended solids.

  • Pesticide mixtures projects

    Calculating the pesticide mixture toxicity using historical pesticide monitoring data from the GBR lagoon and assessing the hazard they pose

    Between 2010 and 2020 the Reef Marine Monitoring Program has conducted pesticide analysis using passive samplers. But only two-years’ worth (2017/18 and 2018/19) of data had the toxicity of pesticide mixtures calculated using the multi-substance potentially affected fraction (msPAF) method that is now used to determine the risk posed by pesticide mixtures. This project will calculate the other years and then assess the risk that pesticide mixtures pose. Temporal analysis of the msPAF values will also be conducted.

    Analysis and write up of the 2+ years of orbitrap data collected by the GBRCLMP, including a statistical analysis of land-use relationships.

    The Queensland Department of Environment and Science has conducted non-targeted organic chemical analysis of rivers that discharge to the GBR for two years. This project will collate that data to determine what chemicals are present, how frequently each is detected, summary concentration statistics and determine if there are relationships between their occurrence and land-use. This project will help determine what chemicals are included in future chemical analysis of GBR waterways.

  • Maximising the value of real-time water quality monitoring projects

    Fingerprinting Water: Using Real-Time Spectra to Predict the Concentrations of Pesticides (A priority project)

    This project will attempt to use the spectra generated by TriOS OPUS probes (which currently provides real-time measurements on nitrate-nitrogen and total suspended solids) to predict concentrations of three pesticides (atrazine, diuron and imidacloprid) in a number of different rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef. Finding such relationships could enable real-time water quality monitoring of waterways for water quality parameters and would enable quicker and cheaper method of monitoring waterways within the Great Barrier Reef catchments.

  • Miscellaneous projects

    An analysis of the effect of holding time and temperature on nutrient sample preservation.

    Many of the sites sampled by the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program are in remote locations and getting the water samples to the laboratories and analysed within the holding times for nutrients can be problematic. This study would work with the staff from the Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (chemical laboratories) to determine the effect that prolonged holding times (prior to filtration and freezing) has on the accuracy of nutrient analysis and calculate correction factors or determine new holding times.

    Calculating real-time loads for nitrate and total suspended solids

    This project will look into the variability of real-time loads and tradition loads monitoring with discreet sampling.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Land use change effects on sediment and nutrient dynamics: Fitzroy River catchment, Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn

  • Doctor Philosophy

    eDNA citizen science in Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Pesticide mixture toxicity at multiple spatial scales

    Principal Advisor

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Ryan Turner directly for media enquiries about:

  • Water quality

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au