Transport and fate of metal contamination in estuaries: Using a model network to predict the contributions of physical and chemical factors

Estuaries are among the most important coastal features, both ecologically and with respect to human settlement and use (Ryan, 2003; Schneider et al., 2015a). Along with tropical rainforests and coral reefs, estuaries rank as the world's most productive ecosystems, more productive than both the rivers and the oceans that influence them (Harvey et al., 1998). Nevertheless, coal-fired power stations are often established on the shores of estuarine lakes in Australia where they may represent a threat to these environments (Batley, 1987; Schneider et al., 2015b)