Eutrophication Eutrophication 11Definition and HistoryDefinition and History

Alice NewtonAlice NewtonUniversity of AlgarveUniversity of Algarve

Research ProjectsResearch Projects LOICZ (Land-Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone)LOICZ (Land-Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone) IMBER (Integrated Marine Biochemistry and Ecosystem IMBER (Integrated Marine Biochemistry and Ecosystem

Research)Research) GEOHAB (Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful GEOHAB (Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful

Algal Blooms)Algal Blooms) National Estuarine Assessment, NOAA (USA)National Estuarine Assessment, NOAA (USA) EU projects EU projects http://http://europaeuropa..eueu..intint//commcomm/research//research/eloiseeloise//eloiseeloise

-p.html-p.html NationalNational

INAG/IMAR: Identification of Sensitive Areas and Vulnerable Zones in INAG/IMAR: Identification of Sensitive Areas and Vulnerable Zones in Four Portuguese EstuariesFour Portuguese Estuarieswww.www.inaginag.pt.pt www.www.imarimar.pt.pt

RegionalRegionalMARE (Marine Research on Eutrophication) Programme (funded by the MARE (Marine Research on Eutrophication) Programme (funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research) Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research) http://www.mare.su.sehttp://www.mare.su.se

EuropeanEuropeanOAERREOAERREhttp://tejo.dcea.fct.unl.pt/oaerre/http://tejo.dcea.fct.unl.pt/oaerre/http://www.http://www.oaerreoaerre..napiernapier.ac..ac.ukuk//

LinksLinks Agriculture Agriculture Fertilizer use Fertilizer use

Domestic Animal WastesDomestic Animal Wastes

Atmospheric pollutionAtmospheric pollutionPhotochemical smogPhotochemical smog

Acid RainAcid RainGreenhouse effectGreenhouse effect

Water qualityWater quality impairmentimpairment

Oxygen Oxygen BODBOD

HypoxiaHypoxia

PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton HABHAB

MacrophytesMacrophytes

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Eutrophication

AquacultureAquaculture

TourismTourism

FisheriesFisheries

Biogeochemical Biogeochemical cyclescycles

Links to Other TopicsLinks to Other TopicsAgriculture Agriculture

http://www.fertilizer.org/http://www.fertilizer.org/ifaifa// http://www.tfi.org/http://www.tfi.org/

Fertilizer use Fertilizer use Input of N & P > outputs from cropsInput of N & P > outputs from crops Domestic Animal Wastes Domestic Animal Wastes

manure production>>use manure production>>use XS N &P reaches aquatic ecosystemXS N &P reaches aquatic ecosystemXS N also volatilizedXS N also volatilized

Water quality impairmentWater quality impairmentAtmospheric pollutionAtmospheric pollution

Photochemical smog (Nitric Oxide, NO)Photochemical smog (Nitric Oxide, NO) Acid Rain (Nitric Acid)Acid Rain (Nitric Acid) Greenhouse effect (Nitrous Oxide, NGreenhouse effect (Nitrous Oxide, N22O) O)

Soil and ErosionSoil and Erosion Nitrates leach Ca, Mg & K from soilNitrates leach Ca, Mg & K from soil

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Biogeochemical cyclesBiogeochemical cycles::N, P and C. Redfield ratio. SiN, P and C. Redfield ratio. Si

OxygenOxygen in the marine in the marine environment, Primary Production, environment, Primary Production, Respiration, BOD, HypoxiaRespiration, BOD, Hypoxia

http://192.168.1.102/hypox5.pdfhttp://192.168.1.102/hypox5.pdf PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton and harmful algal and harmful algal

blooms (HAB)blooms (HAB)ioc.unesco.org/hab/ioc.unesco.org/hab/

Defining EutrophicationDefining Eutrophication

Some etymology…Some etymology…

EuEu: Greek prefix “good” and “well”: Greek prefix “good” and “well”TrophTroph: Greek “nourishment” : Greek “nourishment”

“nutrition” “feeding”“nutrition” “feeding”

EutrophicEutrophic: Positive connotation : Positive connotation EutrophicationEutrophication: Negative : Negative

connotationconnotation

DefinitionDefinitionEutrophicationEutrophication: nutrient : nutrient

enrichment of natural watersenrichment of natural watersNaturalNatural eutrophication in regions eutrophication in regions

of upwelling: cold, deep, nutrient-of upwelling: cold, deep, nutrient-rich waters rise to surface rich waters rise to surface eg eg Chile Chile

AnthropogenicAnthropogenic eutrophication is eutrophication is result of nutrient pollution of result of nutrient pollution of natural waters natural waters eg eg lakes, rivers, lakes, rivers, aquifers, estuaries, bays, coastal aquifers, estuaries, bays, coastal waterswaters

Scientific definition of Scientific definition of Eutrophication…the Eutrophication…the goodgood??

““Stimulation of algal growth by Stimulation of algal growth by enrichment of the aquatic enrichment of the aquatic environment with mineral nutrients” environment with mineral nutrients” ((RichardsonRichardson, 1989), 1989)

NaturalNatural processes are the agents of processes are the agents of enrichment: includes naturally enrichment: includes naturally eutrophic coastal waters, such as eutrophic coastal waters, such as upwelling regions upwelling regions

Variation in the Productivity of Variation in the Productivity of the Oceansthe OceansPrimary Productivity using global monthly SeaWiFS data of chlorophyll (Nov Primary Productivity using global monthly SeaWiFS data of chlorophyll (Nov 77-Oct 99) and the vertically generalised production model from Behrenfeld 77-Oct 99) and the vertically generalised production model from Behrenfeld & Falkowski (1977)& Falkowski (1977)

Courtesy of Gay Mitchelson–JacobCourtesy of Gay Mitchelson–Jacob

Atlantic is much nutrient-rich and more Atlantic is much nutrient-rich and more productive than the Mediterraneanproductive than the Mediterranean

Mediterranean Chlorophyll CZCS compositeMediterranean Chlorophyll CZCS composite Courtesy of Gay Mitchelson–JacobCourtesy of Gay Mitchelson–Jacob

Upwelling regions are especially Upwelling regions are especially productive productive such as the coast of Chilesuch as the coast of Chile

SeaWiFS Chlorophyll, 18 Jan 2000 ChileSeaWiFS Chlorophyll, 18 Jan 2000 Chile Courtesy of Gay Mitchelson–Courtesy of Gay Mitchelson–JacobJacob

Coastal Upwelling

Chlorophyll Concentrations (CZCS), Cape Verde IslandsChlorophyll Concentrations (CZCS), Cape Verde Islands Courtesy of Gay Courtesy of Gay Mitchelson–JacobMitchelson–Jacob

Coastal Coastal UpwellinUpwelling g off off W. AfricaW. Africa

Management definition of Management definition of Eutrophication… the Eutrophication… the BadBad??

Anthropogenic EutrophicationAnthropogenic Eutrophication: mankind is : mankind is the agent responsible for nutrient the agent responsible for nutrient enrichmentenrichment

European Environment Agency European Environment Agency definitiondefinition: “Enhanced primary production : “Enhanced primary production due to excess supply of nutrients from due to excess supply of nutrients from human activitieshuman activities, independent of the , independent of the natural productivity level for the area in natural productivity level for the area in question”question”

UK EA definitionUK EA definition

““The The enrichmentenrichment of waters by inorganic plant of waters by inorganic plant nutrientsnutrients which results in the stimulation of which results in the stimulation of an array of symptomatican array of symptomatic changeschanges. .

These include the These include the increased productionincreased production of of algaealgae and/or other aquatic plants, affecting and/or other aquatic plants, affecting the the quality of thequality of the waterwater and disturbing the and disturbing the balance of organisms presentbalance of organisms present within it. within it.

Such changes may be Such changes may be undesirable undesirable and and interfereinterfere with water uses.”with water uses.”

Nutrients & Nutrients & Eutrophication, EEAEutrophication, EEAThe The mainmain nutrients causing eutrophication are nutrients causing eutrophication are

NN in the form of nitrate, in the form of nitrate, nitrite or ammonium nitrite or ammonium and and PP in the form of ortho-phosphate.in the form of ortho-phosphate.

In addition,In addition, supply of supply of bioavailable organicbioavailable organic PP and and NN cause eutrophication cause eutrophication

SilicateSilicate is essential for diatom growth, but it is essential for diatom growth, but it is is assumedassumed that that silicate input is not silicate input is not significantly influenced by human activity. significantly influenced by human activity.

EEnhancednhanced primary productivity may exhaust primary productivity may exhaust silicate and change the phytoplanktonsilicate and change the phytoplankton community from diatoms to flagellates.community from diatoms to flagellates.

Eutrophication process Eutrophication process UK EAUK EA

Early Eutrophication ModelEarly Eutrophication Model

Nutrient loading

Responses: Changes in

ChlorophyllPrimary ProductionSystem Metabolism

Oxygen

Early conceptual models focused on direct responses of coastal waters, such as stimulation of phytoplankton blooms.

Contemporary conceptual Contemporary conceptual modelmodel

Nutrient loading Filter

DirectResponses Chlorophyll

Primary ProductionMacroalgal biomass

Sedimentation of O CSystem MetabolismPhyto. community

Si:N N:P Oxygen

HAB

IndirectResponses

Benthic biomassPelagic biomassVascular plants

Habitat diversityWater transparency

O C in sedimentsSediment biogeochemistry

Bottom-water oxygenSeasonal cycles

MortalityBiodiversity

Cloern J.E. 2001

Contemporary conceptual Contemporary conceptual modelmodel

Growing awareness of the complexity of the problem

Attributes of specific bodies of water create enormous variations in their responses

Cascade of direct and indirect effects Appropriate management actions to

reduce nutrient inputs can reverse some of the degradation caused by enrichment.

History of EutrophicationHistory of Eutrophication

History of FertilizerHistory of FertilizerHistorical fertilizer Historical fertilizer

shortage shortage 1818thth Century England Century England

“mined” “mined” battlefields and battlefields and catacombscatacombs

1919thth Century USA used Century USA used bones bones from buffalo killing from buffalo killing fieldsfields

Guano deposits mined Guano deposits mined egeg Navassa guano Navassa guano trenchtrench

Haber-Bosch ProcessHaber-Bosch Process

Fritz HaberFritz Haber (Nobel prize winner) (Nobel prize winner) described chemical described chemical process to produce process to produce NHNH33 from N from N22 & CH & CH44

Carl BoschCarl Bosch (Nobel prize winner) (Nobel prize winner) perfected commercial perfected commercial manufacture manufacture

Industrial N fixationIndustrial N fixationNN22 from atmosphere from atmosphere

mixed with CHmixed with CH44 and and heated under pressure heated under pressure with a metallic with a metallic catalizer produces COcatalizer produces CO2 2

and NHand NH3 3 (82%N)(82%N)Mean plant production Mean plant production

is 1.5 million kg is 1.5 million kg ammonia per dayammonia per day

History of EutrophicationHistory of EutrophicationEutrophication first noticed in Eutrophication first noticed in

lakes lakes where P is the main problemwhere P is the main problemAlso noticed in Also noticed in riversriversEstuariesEstuaries: : egeg Chesapeake bay Chesapeake bayBaysBays and and coastal waterscoastal waters affected: affected:

egeg Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico70 % of world population lives in 70 % of world population lives in

coastal plains, increasing pressurecoastal plains, increasing pressure