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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}}
  
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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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[[image:Baltic.jpg|thumb|right|Cyanobacteria bloom, Western Baltic, 1997]]
 
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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 point sources, activities in the upstream catchment (''e.g.'' losses from agriculture) and atmospheric deposition.
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==Articles on eutrophication==
  
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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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;Eutrophication : “eu” = “well” or “good”
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* [[In situ monitoring of eutrophication]]
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:“trope” = “nourishment”
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* [[Plankton remote sensing]]
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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<ref name="NIXON">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<ref> HELCOM webpage, 2006 [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<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<ref>Cloern, J. (2001) Our evolving conceptual model of the coastal eutrophication problem. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 210, 223–253.[ISI]</ref> <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> <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<ref>Ryther and Dunstan, 1971</ref> <ref name="NIXON"/> <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|600px|centre|Source: HELCOM, 2006 <ref name="HELCOM">HELCOM, (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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]]
 
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Effects of eutrophication on marine [[ecosystems]] are well known<ref name="HELCOM"/>:
 
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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:koncept.jpg|200px|frame|centre|Eutrophication schematic. Source:HELCOM, 2006 <ref name="HELCOM"/>]]
 
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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<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<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<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<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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*[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-urbanwaste/directiv.html EC Urban Waster Water Treatment Directive]
 
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*[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/directiv.html EC Nitrates Directive]
 
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*[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html EU Water Framework Directive]
 
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*[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine.htm Marine Strategy Directive]
 
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==See also==
 
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Wikipedia: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication Eutrophication article]
 
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==External links==
 
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*[http://www.BSPC.net Baltic Sea Parlimentary Conference ]
 
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*[http://www.bernet.org/wm125051 BERNET:] Baltic Eutrophication Regional Network
 
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*[http://www.BONUSportal.org BONUS] for the future of the Baltic Sea
 
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*[http://www.EEA.europa.eu European Environment Agency ]
 
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*[http://www.HELCOM.fi HELCOM ]
 
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*HELCOM Indicator fact sheets: [http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/ifs2005/en_GB/inflow water exchange], [http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/ifs2005/en_GB/winternutriets winter nutrient concentrations], [http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/ifs2005/en_GB/transparency water clarity], [http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/ifs2005/en_GB/blooms algal blooms], [http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/ifs2005/Chlorophyll-a/en_GB/chlorophyll chlorophyll-a concentrations], [http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/ifs2005/en_GB/oxygen_deepbasins hydrography and oxygen in the deep basins]
 
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*[http://www.MARE.su.se MARE] Research program on Baltic Sea environmental issues
 
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*[http://www.dmu.dk/International/Water/ National Environment Research Institute (DK) Aquatic page]
 
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*[http://www2.dmu.dk/1_Viden/2_Miljoe-tilstand/3_vand/4_eutrophication/definition.htm Nutrients and Eutrophication in Danish Marine Waters]
 
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*[http://www.OSPAR.org OSPAR] For the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic
 
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*[http://www.waterforecast.com/defaultUK.asp The Water Forecast]
 
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*[http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/what_we_do/baltics/our_work/index.cfm WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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[[Category:Eutrophication]]
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Authorship
 
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''02/01/2007, Jesper Andersen (jha@dhigroup.dk), DHI Water Environment Health.''
 
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(Caitlin 09:31, 18 January 2007 (Romance Standard Time))
 

Latest revision as of 16:15, 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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