Water Nitrate

AUS-TMI-IND-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.062 mg/L
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0.062
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

A key study proposes an ecological threshold for the onset of eutrophication in coral reef communities where annual mean Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) concentrations are approximately 1 µM. This concentration is equivalent to approximately 0.062 mg/L NO₃.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold for nitrate concentration indicating onset of eutrophication in sensitive tropical marine ecosystems.

Benchmark Definition:

Threshold nitrate concentration beyond which eutrophication and ecological harm begin in tropical marine ecosystems.

Justification:

Scientific research on the Great Barrier Reef quantifies this threshold as the point where negative ecological consequences such as coral disease and algal overgrowth are likely.

Sources (1)

Preview of Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - ResearchGate,
Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - ResearchGate,

Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (32)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 1, 2025,
(PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

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Preview of (PDF) Revised method for deriving Australian and New Zealand water quality guideline values for toxicants - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,
(PDF) Revised method for deriving Australian and New Zealand water quality guideline values for toxicants - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

(PDF) Revised method for deriving Australian and New Zealand water quality guideline values for toxicants - ResearchGate, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of 2017/18 - Rio Tinto Australia Weipa (Queensland) - PFAS, accessed August 2, 2025,
2017/18 - Rio Tinto Australia Weipa (Queensland) - PFAS, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

2017/18 - Rio Tinto Australia Weipa (Queensland) - PFAS, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source
Preview of Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,
Assessing discharges from a uranium mine 14 case study - Water Quality Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...

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Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ...,
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ...,
Regulatory Framework Government

Australian Water Quality Guidelines For Fresh and Marine Waters (ANZECC) 2000. | PDF | Biodiversity | Aquatic Ecosystem - Scribd, accessed August 3, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Cadmium: advice for Christmas Island residents - WA Health, accessed August 2, 2025,
Cadmium: advice for Christmas Island residents - WA Health, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Cadmium: advice for Christmas Island residents - WA Health, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Preview of Christmas Island, accessed August 2, 2025,
Christmas Island, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Christmas Island, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Declining water quality - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 1, 2025
Declining water quality - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 1, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Denitrification in intertidal sediments of a tropical estuary subject to increasing development pressures - Northern Territory Government

View Source
Preview of Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Home - Water Quality Australia

View Source
Preview of Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Eutrophication and coral reefs-some examples in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - UQ eSpace, accessed August 2, 2025,
Eutrophication and coral reefs-some examples in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - UQ eSpace, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Eutrophication and coral reefs-some examples in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - UQ eSpace, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Eutrophication and Water quality - Global Coral Reef Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025
Eutrophication and Water quality - Global Coral Reef Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Eutrophication and Water quality - Global Coral Reef Alliance, accessed August 1, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - PubMed Central, accessed August 1, 2025
Evidence of Large-Scale Chronic Eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: Quantification of Chlorophyll a Thresholds for Sustaining Coral Reef Communities - PubMed Central, accessed August 1, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status, accessed July 18, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Highlights of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Highlights of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Regulatory Framework Government

Highlights of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Hydrology - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Hydrology - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,
Irrelevant

Hydrology - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,
Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support

Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region—A Review - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,
Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region—A Review - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region—A Review - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support

Nitrate - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrate limitation in early Neoproterozoic oceans delayed the ecological rise of eukaryotes, accessed August 2, 2025,
Nitrate limitation in early Neoproterozoic oceans delayed the ecological rise of eukaryotes, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate limitation in early Neoproterozoic oceans delayed the ecological rise of eukaryotes, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrient Cycling on Coral Reefs - The Fiore Lab, accessed August 2, 2025,
Nutrient Cycling on Coral Reefs - The Fiore Lab, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nutrient Cycling on Coral Reefs - The Fiore Lab, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Poor Water Quality - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 4, 2025,
Poor Water Quality - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Poor Water Quality - Great Barrier Reef Foundation, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program: Annual Report 2020-2021 - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 1, 2025,
Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program: Annual Report 2020-2021 - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of PORT OF ROCKHAMPTON WATER QUALITY MONITORING ..., accessed August 2, 2025,
PORT OF ROCKHAMPTON WATER QUALITY MONITORING ..., accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

PORT OF ROCKHAMPTON WATER QUALITY MONITORING ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

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Preview of Suitable Environmental Ranges for Potential Coral Reef Habitats in ..., accessed August 2, 2025,
Suitable Environmental Ranges for Potential Coral Reef Habitats in ..., accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Suitable Environmental Ranges for Potential Coral Reef Habitats in ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

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Preview of Surface Water - Aurukun Bauxite Project EIS - Glencore Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Surface Water - Aurukun Bauxite Project EIS - Glencore Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Surface Water - Aurukun Bauxite Project EIS - Glencore Australia, accessed July 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The Impact of Nitrogen Eutrophication on Caribbean Coral Reefs: A Review, accessed August 2, 2025,
The Impact of Nitrogen Eutrophication on Caribbean Coral Reefs: A Review, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support

The Impact of Nitrogen Eutrophication on Caribbean Coral Reefs: A Review, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Understanding nitrogen dynamics in coral holobionts: comprehensive review of processes, advancements, gaps, and future directions - Frontiers, accessed August 2, 2025,
Understanding nitrogen dynamics in coral holobionts: comprehensive review of processes, advancements, gaps, and future directions - Frontiers, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding nitrogen dynamics in coral holobionts: comprehensive review of processes, advancements, gaps, and future directions - Frontiers, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,
Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

View Source
Preview of Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,
Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water Quality Objectives for the Darwin Harbour Region - Background Document - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

View Source
Preview of What are Phytoplankton? - NASA Earth Observatory, accessed August 2, 2025,
What are Phytoplankton? - NASA Earth Observatory, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

What are Phytoplankton? - NASA Earth Observatory, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Preview of www.frontiersin.org, accessed August 2, 2025,
www.frontiersin.org, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

www.frontiersin.org, accessed August 2, 2025,

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 2
  • Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

Represents a conservative management target to prevent ecosystem decline.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-IND-WNI family.

0.035 mg/L Moderate
Industrial & Infrastructure Use ยท Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v1