Effects and consequenses

Overloading with nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter can result in a series of undesirable effects. The major impacts of eutrophication include changes in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems and reduction of biodiversity.

NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS
Eutrophication as nutrient enrichment means elevated and/or increased trends in inputs of nutrients from land, atmosphere or adjacent seas. And consequently elevated dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations during winter.

CHANGES IN N:P:SI RATIO
The optimal DIN:DIP ratio (N/P-ratio) for phytoplankton growth is 16:1 (based on molar concentrations) and called the Redfield ratio. Significant lower deviations of the N/P-ratios indicate potential nitrogen limitation and higher N/P-ratios potential phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton primary production. Deviations from the Redfield ratio limit phytoplankton primary production, and affect phytoplankton biomass, species composition and consequently food web dynamics. Redfield ratios for diatoms for Si:N and Si:P ratios are 1:1 and 16:1, respectively (based on molar concentrations), and the abundance of silicate relative to nitrogen and phosphorus effect the growth of diatoms.

PHYTOPLANKTON PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND BIOMASS
Primary production is most often limited by the availability of light and nutrients. Nutrient enrichment will therefore increase phytoplankton primary production. Consequently there will be an increase in phytoplankton biomass. Elevated phytoplankton production and biomass will increase sedimentation of organic material. Changes in the pelagic ecosystem could enhance the sedimentation. See microbial loop below.

MICROBIAL LOOP AND THE PELAGIC SYSTEM
The microbial loop may be enhanced by changes in the species composition and functioning of the pelagic food web when growth of small flagellates rather than diatoms is stimulated. The shift in phytoplankton cell size leads to lower grazing by copepods and possibly an increased sedimentation. The smaller cells will on the other hand increase the relative importance of grazing by ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates. A larger fraction of the primary production is consequently channelled through the protozooplankton before it is available to the copepods. The general responses of pelagic ecosystems to nutrient enrichment can in principle be a gradual change towards:

1. Increased planktonic primary production compared to benthic primary production.
2. Microbial food webs dominate versus linear food chains.
3. Non-siliceous phytoplankton species dominate versus diatom species.
4. Gelatinous zooplankton (jellyfish) dominate versus crustacean zooplankton.

LIGHT AND SEDIMENTATION
The Secchi depth, a measure of the turbidity and light penetration in the water column, is negatively affected by chlorophyll. Increased trends in inputs of nutrients increase phytoplankton biomass and reduce the Secchi depth. This decreases the colonisation depths of seagrasses and macroalgae.

OXYGEN CONCENTRATIONS
Increased animal and bacterial activity at the bottom due to increased amounts of organic matter settling to the bottom increases the total oxygen demand. The increase can lead to oxygen depletion and release of H2S from the sediment. This will induce changes in community structure or death of the benthic fauna. Bottom dwelling fish may either escape or die.

SEASONAL SIGNALS
Many of the eutrophication effects as well as some of the driving forces have a pronounced seasonal variation. Freshwater run-off, temperature and salinity have a strong seasonal signal. The same is the case for inorganic nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton primary production, chlorophyll a concentrations, phytoplankton biomass and oxygen concentration in bottom water. The seasonal variations are illustrated in Figure 1.2. This assessment report will, as mentioned in the preface, neither analyse the role of eutrophication on the seasonal succession in these parameters nor the changes in turnover or fluxes of nutrients during spring, summer and autumn.

SEDIMENTS
In the Danish marine areas a significant portion of the primary production during the spring sediments to the sea bottom. An increase in primary production means that the sediment will experience elevated inputs of organic material. This leads to increased bacterial activity, hence an increase in oxygen demand.

SUBMERGED AQUATIC VEGETATION
Eutrophication in general affects submerged vegetation in two different ways. Reduced light penetration and shadowing effect from phytoplankton can reduce the depth distribution, biomass, composition and species diversity of the plant community. Increased nutrient levels favour opportunistic macroalgae species. The stimulated growth of filamentous and annual nuisance species at the expense of perennials will result in a change in macroalgae community structure with reduced species diversity and reduced nurseries for fish. The dominance of filamentous macroalgae in shallow sheltered areas will increase the risk of local oxygen depletion.

BENTHIC FAUNA
The increased load of organic material to the bottom affects the macrozoobenthic community. The enrichment will enhance growth and increase species diversity and biomass. A change in community structure will follow favouring suspension and burrowing detritus feeders. Reduction in species diversity and biomass will follow at progressively higher levels of organic load, and opportunistic species will be favoured. Oxygen depletion will lead to a further reduction in species diversity, and mass mortality of most organisms, especially due to production of H2S in sediments.

SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES
Reductions in dermersal fish and shellfish due to oxygen depletion and harmful algal blooms will reduce harvests. In the case of commercial fisheries these changes have large economic implications. The increased risk of toxic and harmful blooms will also affect mariculture, which can also be influenced by oxygen depletion. Another consequence of toxic algal blooms is the risk of shellfish poisoning of humans by algal toxins. The recreational value of beaches especially for swimming is reduced due to reduced water quality induced by discoloration and foam formation by algal blooms or decaying rotting macroalgae. This could particularly impact tourism at beaches.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF EUTROPHICATION
Figure 1.3 illustrates in a simplified way the effects and consequences of nutrient enrichment and eutrophication in the marine environment.

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Danish Environmental Protection Agency & National Environmental Research Institute • updated: