Portal:Eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication is the enrichment of water as a result of an increase in nutrients, which can have a negative impact on the marine and coastal environment. The negative effects of eutrophication on marine ecosystems includes: algal blooms, increased growth of macroalgae, increased sedimentation and oxygen consumption, oxygen depletion in the bottom water and sometimes the death of benthic animals and fish. Coastal European areas in particular the Baltic Sea provides an indication as to the negative affects that eutrophication can have including: the presence of blue-green algae which is potentially harmful to humans as well as the presence of large mats of drifting algae that get deposited along the shorelines and decay. In order to reduce the negative effects of eutrophication nutrient inputs need to be reduced and an integrated management strategy needs to be employed.
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Eutrophication
