Eutrophication in peel inlet—II. Identification of critical uncertainties via generalized sensitivity analysis

A generalized sensitivity analysis was carried out on a phosphorous based model of cultural eutrophication processes in the Peel Inlet of Western Australia. The object of the analysis was to identify critical uncertainties in present knowledge of the system for the direction and planning of future research. The main hypothesis suggested by the results is that the nuisance alga, Cladophora aff. battersii, have access to nutrients in the interstitial water of the sediments in the Inlet and that a significant quantity of nutrient is deposited in the major area of Cladophora growth by river-borne sediment. Suggested areas for future research include investigation of mechanisms of deposition, release and remineralization of nutrients in the sediment, and of certain aspects of the physiology of Cladophora.