Difference between revisions of "Eutrophication"

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Eutrophication is an important process involving enrichment of water by excess nutrients.  It can cause serious problems in the coastal zone through disturbance of ecological balances and fisheries, and through interference with recreational activities and quality of life.  
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{{Definition
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|title=
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Eutrophication
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|definition= (1) An increase in the supply of organic matter.<ref name="NIXON">Nixon, S. W. (1995) Coastal marine eutrophication: a definition, social causes, and future concerns. ''Ophelia'', 41, 199–219.[ISI]</ref> <br>
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(2) A condition in an aquatic ecosystem where high nutrient concentrations stimulate growth of [[algae]] which leads to imbalanced functioning of the system.<ref> HELCOM webpage, 2006 [http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/eutrophication/en_GB/front/]</ref><br>
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(3) The enrichment of water by [[nutrient]]s, especially nitrogen and/or phosphorus and organic matter, causing an increased growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce an adverse deviation in structure, function and stability of organisms present in the water and to the quality of water concerned, compared to reference conditions.<ref name="And">Andersen, J. H., Schlüter, L. and Ærtebjerg, G. (2006) Coastal eutrophication: recent developments in definitions and implications for monitoring strategies. ''J. Plankton Res''. 28(7): 621-628.</ref>
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__NOTOC__
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==Notes==
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High [[primary production]] boosted by eutrophication usually leads to oxygen depletion caused by decay of organic matter.
  
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==What is eutrophication about?==
 
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*It’s about '''increased productivity''' (conversion of light and carbon dioxide into living organic matter – a process being limited by ''nitrogen'' and/or ''phosphorus'') and unacceptable ecological effects as algal blooms, oxygen depletion, kills of benthic animals and fish
 
  
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*It’s caused by '''increased inputs''' of nutrients from
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==Articles on eutrophication==
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**point sources
 
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**activities in the upstream catchment (''e.g.'' losses from agriculture)
 
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**atmospheric deposition
 
  
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*And it’s about money!
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===Eutrophication processes===
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* [[Eutrophication in coastal environments]]
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* [[What causes eutrophication?]]
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* [[Nutrient conversion in the marine environment]]
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* [[Which resource limits coastal phytoplankton growth/ abundance: underwater light or nutrients?]]
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* [[Marine microorganisms]]
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* [[Marine Plankton]]
  
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===Eutrophication impacts===
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* [[Threats to the coastal zone]]
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* [[Coastal pollution and impacts]]
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* [[Possible consequences of eutrophication]]
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* [[Algal bloom]]
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* [[Algal bloom dynamics]]
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* [[Case studies eutrophication]]
  
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===What are we really talking about?===
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===Eutrophication monitoring===
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[[image:Baltic.jpg|thumb|right|Cyanobacteria bloom, Western Baltic, 1997]]
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* [[In situ monitoring of eutrophication]]
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;Eutrophication : “eu” = “well” or “good”
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* [[Plankton remote sensing]]
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:“trope” = “nourishment”
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* [[Plankton remote sensing North Sea]]
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* [[Real-time algae monitoring]]
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* [[Optical measurements in coastal waters]]
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* [[Nutrient analysers]]
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* [[Differentiation of major algal groups by optical absorption signatures]]
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* [[Sampling tools for the marine environment]]
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* [[FerryBox - Continuous and automatic water quality observations along transects]]
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* [[Detecting the unknown - novelty detection of exceptional water reflectance spectra]]
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* [[The Baltic Algae Watch System - a remote sensing application for monitoring cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic Sea]]
  
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===Eutrophication modelling===
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* [[Coupled hydrodynamic - water quality - ecological modelling]]
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* [[Nutrient loading of coastal waters]]
  
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But is “eutrophication” good?
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===Eutrophication policy===
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*In general: NO … it is actually ”bad” …
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* [[OSPAR and eutrophication]]
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*.Too many nutrients in wrong places may cause problems and result in changes in structure, function and stability of the marine ecosystems
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* [[OSPAR eutrophication assessment]]
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* [[European policy on eutrophication: introduction]]
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* [[European Context of Nutrient Dynamics]]
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* [[Eutrophication related monitoring tasks and WFD for coastal waters in Greece]]
  
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*Eutrophication is ”too much of a good thing”
 
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==Some definitions:==
 
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[[image:German Bight.jpg|thumb|right|Noctiluca milaris bloom, German Bight, 2000]]
 
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;Eutrophication : An increase in the supply of organic matter (Nixon 1995<ref>Nixon, S. W. (1995) Coastal marine eutrophication: a definition, social causes, and future concerns. Ophelia, 41, 199–219.[ISI]</ref>)
 
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: A condition in an aquatic ecosystem where high nutrient concentrations stimulate growth of algae which leads to imbalanced functioning of the system” (HELCOM)<ref> http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/eutrophication/en_GB/front/</ref>.
 
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;Alternative proposal : The enrichment of water by nutrients, especially nitrogen and/or phosphorus and organic matter, causing an increased growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce an unacceptable deviation in structure, function and stability of organisms present in the water and to the quality of water concerned, compared to reference conditions (Andersen et al. (2006)<ref>Andersen, J. H., Schlüter, L. and Ærtebjerg, G. (2006) Coastal eutrophication: recent developments in definitions and implications for monitoring strategies. J. Plankton Res. 28(7): 621-628.</ref>)
 
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==The process of eutrophication==
 
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The different processes and effects of coastal eutrophication are well documented (Cloern, 2001<ref>Cloern, J. (2001) Our evolving conceptual model of the coastal eutrophication problem. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 210, 223–253.[ISI]</ref> ; Conley et al., 2002<ref>Conley, D. J., Markager, S., Andersen, J. et al. (2002) Coastal eutrophication and the Danish National Aquatic Monitoring and Assessment Program. Estuaries, 25, 706–719.[Medline]</ref> ; Rönnberg and Bonsdorff, 2004<ref>Rönnberg, C. and Bonsdorff, E. (2004) Baltic Sea eutrophication: area-specific ecological consequences. Hydrobiologia, 514, 227–241.[CrossRef][ISI]</ref>). and it has been considered as one of the biggest threats to marinne ecosystem health for decades (Ryther and Dunstan, 1971<ref>Ryther and Dunstan, 1971</ref> ; Nixon, 1995<ref>Nixon, S. W. (1995) Coastal marine eutrophication: a definition, social causes, and future concerns. Ophelia, 41, 199–219.[ISI]</ref>; Elmgren, 2001<ref>NEED REF</ref> ; Bachmann et al., 2006<ref>Bachmann, R. W., Cloern, J. E., Heckey, R. E. et al. (eds) (2006) Eutrophication of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Limnol. Oceanogr., 51 (1, part 2), 351–800.</ref>.
 
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[[Image:eutrophicationflow.jpg]]
 
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Source: DHI, 2006 <ref>DHI. (2006) Andersen, J (DHI) and Pawlak, J (MEC), Nutrients and Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea – Effects, Causes, Solutions. Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. </ref>
 
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Effects of eutrophication on marine ecosystems are well known (DHI, 2006<ref>DHI. (2006) Andersen, J (DHI) and Pawlak, J (MEC), Nutrients and Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea – Effects, Causes, Solutions. Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference.</ref>):
 
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*algal blooms resulting in green water
 
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*reduced depth distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation
 
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*increased growth of nuisance macroalgae
 
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*increased sedimentation, increased oxygen consumption
 
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*oxygen depletion in bottom water, and
 
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*sometimes dead benthic animals and fish.
 
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[[image:schematic.jpg|400px|frame|centre|Eutrophication schematic. Source: DHI<ref>DHI. (2006) Andersen, J (DHI) and Pawlak, J (MEC), Nutrients and Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea – Effects, Causes, Solutions. Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. </ref>]]
 
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==European Coastal Areas==
 
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The main source of nitrogen to European coastal waters is agricultural runoff discharged into the sea via rivers, identified as originating from sources of ammonia evaporation in animal husbandry and partly from fossil fuel combustion in traffic, industry and households (EEA Topic report 7/2001<ref>Ærtebjerg, G. et al., Eutrophication in Europe’s Coastal Waters. Topic Report No 7/2001. European Environment Agency.  (http://reports.eea.europa.eu/topic_report_2001_7/en)</ref>). For phosphorus the major sources are treated and untreated discharges to the sea from households and industry as well as soil erosion (EEA Topic report 7/2001<ref>Ærtebjerg, G. et al., Eutrophication in Europe’s Coastal Waters. Topic Report No 7/2001. European Environment Agency.  (http://reports.eea.europa.eu/topic_report_2001_7/en)</ref>).
 
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===Baltic Sea in focus===
 
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Eutrophication seriously affects the Baltic sea marine environment, resulting in algal blooms, reduced water clarity, oxygen reduction and death of bottom animals. The causes behind this are well known (DHI 2006, <ref>DHI. (2006) Andersen, J (DHI) and Pawlak, J (MEC), Nutrients and Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea – Effects, Causes, Solutions. Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference.)</ref>: discharges, losses and emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus to the aquatic environment. Reductions of discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and industries have been in focus for many years as have losses and emissions of nitrogen compounds from agriculture and traffic.
 
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==Solutions==
 
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Nutrient inputs must be reduced to levels that do not put at risk target values for mitigation of eutrophication. Integrated management strategies should enable characterization of all pressures on water bodies in order to develop a coherent approach to deal with the pressures in a cost effective manner (DHI 2006, <ref>DHI. (2006) Andersen, J (DHI) and Pawlak, J (MEC), Nutrients and Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea – Effects, Causes, Solutions. Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference.</ref>
 
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==EU Directives:==
 
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*EC Urban Waster Water Treatment Directive [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-urbanwaste/directiv.html]
 
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*EC Nitrates Directive [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/directiv.html]
 
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*EU Water Framework Directive [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html]
 
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*Marine Strategy Directive [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine.html]
 
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==See also==
 
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Wikipedia: Eutrophication article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication]
 
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==External links==
 
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*Nutrients and Eutrophication in Danish Marine Waters [http://www2.dmu.dk/1_Viden/2_Miljoe-tilstand/3_vand/4_eutrophication/definition.htm]]
 
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*National environment research institute (DK) (''but this particular page is news'') [http://www.dmu.dk/International/News/Source+apportionment.htm]
 
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*BERNET: Baltic Eutrophication Regional Network [[http://www.bernet.org/wm125051]]
 
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*(Source appointments of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs into the aquatic environment: article not referenced (and not allowed to reproduce) [http://reports.eea.europa.eu/eea_report_2005_7/en/EEA_report_7_2005.pdf)]
 
  
  
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<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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[[Category:Eutrophication]]
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Authorship
 
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''02/01/2007, Karen Edelvang (kae@dhigroup.com) Caitlin Pilkington (caitlin.pilkington@gmail.com), DHI Water Environment Health.''
 

Latest revision as of 15:15, 14 February 2024

Definition of Eutrophication:
(1) An increase in the supply of organic matter.[1]

(2) A condition in an aquatic ecosystem where high nutrient concentrations stimulate growth of algae which leads to imbalanced functioning of the system.[2]

(3) The enrichment of water by nutrients, especially nitrogen and/or phosphorus and organic matter, causing an increased growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce an adverse deviation in structure, function and stability of organisms present in the water and to the quality of water concerned, compared to reference conditions.[3]
This is the common definition for Eutrophication, other definitions can be discussed in the article


Notes

High primary production boosted by eutrophication usually leads to oxygen depletion caused by decay of organic matter.


Articles on eutrophication

Eutrophication processes

Eutrophication impacts

Eutrophication monitoring

Eutrophication modelling

Eutrophication policy


References

  1. ↑ Nixon, S. W. (1995) Coastal marine eutrophication: a definition, social causes, and future concerns. Ophelia, 41, 199–219.[ISI]
  2. ↑ HELCOM webpage, 2006 [1]
  3. ↑ Andersen, J. H., Schlüter, L. and Ærtebjerg, G. (2006) Coastal eutrophication: recent developments in definitions and implications for monitoring strategies. J. Plankton Res. 28(7): 621-628.
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