Background
Dr Melanie Trenfield is a Research Scientist with the Water and Sediment Quality (WASQ) team.
The WASQ team uses an integrated creek monitoring program to predict and measure the potential impacts from mine-water discharges. This involves the use of field-based biomonitoring tools to assess the impacts of mine-water discharges from the Ranger mine and the derivation of water/sediment quality standards using laboratory toxicity tests and field-based observations. The latter includes continuous monitoring of water chemistry for upstream and downstream sites, which uses in-situ sondes and autosamplers, complimented by routine grab-sampling.
The WASQ team also develops new standardised biological toxicity tests and leading-edge tools for biomonitoring, such as genomics and videography. In addition to her experience with freshwater systems, Melanie has also worked in collaboration with Charles Darwin University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science to study contaminants of concern for an alumina refinery in a tropical marine environment.
Areas of expertise and research interests
Aquatic ecotoxicology and aquaculture (freshwater and marine). Specialising in the monitoring and assessment of metal toxicity and bioavailability, development of standardized toxicity testing protocols and site-specific water quality guideline values.
Key publications
Authorship of 41 peer-reviewed publications (h-index = 11, Google scholar). Please see ORCiD profile.