Eutrophication: impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 100; no. 1; pp. 179 - 196
• Main Authors: Smith, V.H., Tilman, G.D., Nekola, J.C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-01-1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; aquatic environment; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Carbon cycling; ecosystems; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Eutrophication; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Global environmental pollution; Marine; Nitrogen; Nutrient loading; nutrients; Phosphorus; Pollution; water pollution; Phosphorus; Nutrient loading; Nitrogen; Carbon cycling; Eutrophication; Terrestrial environment; Statistical analysis; Pollution prevention; Regression analysis; Biogeochemical cycle; Multiple regression; Disturbed ecosystem; Case study; Freshwater environment; Marine environment; Pollution; Environment impact; Critical load; Nutrient; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00091-3

In the mid-1800s, the agricultural chemist Justus von Liebig demonstrated strong positive relationships between soil nutrient supplies and the growth yields of terrestrial plants, and it has since been found that freshwater and marine plants are equally responsive to nutrient inputs. Anthropogenic inputs of nutrients to the Earth's surface and atmosphere have increased greatly during the past two centuries. This nutrient enrichment, or eutrophication, can lead to highly undesirable changes in ecosystem structure and function, however. In this paper we briefly review the process, the impacts, and the potential management of cultural eutrophication in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. We present two brief case studies (one freshwater and one marine) demonstrating that nutrient loading restriction is the essential cornerstone of aquatic eutrophication control. In addition, we present results of a preliminary statistical analysis that is consistent with the hypothesis that anthropogenic emissions of oxidized nitrogen could be influencing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide via nitrogen stimulation of global primary production.