Assessment of the eutrophication status of transitional, coastal and marine waters within OSPAR

Claussen, Ulrich; Zevenboom, Wanda; Brockmann, U. H.; Topcu, Dilek; Bot, P.

doi:10.1007/978-90-481-3385-7_5

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Marine eutrophication is mainly caused by the input of nutrients from land sources, so eutrophication generally occurs in shallow coastal seas and bays, especially in estuaries where rivers flow into the sea. Eutrophication in estuaries, bays, and coastal waters has become a prominent ecological environmental issue worldwide (Karlsson et al, 2008;Claussen et al, 2009;Håkanson and Bryhn, 2011). Eutrophication has a significant impact on the cycling of marine nutrients (C, N, P, S, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative metagenomic analysis of microbial community compositions and functions in cage aquaculture and its nearby non-aquaculture environments

Liu,

Wang,

et al. 2024

Front. Microbiol.

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In the context of burgeoning global aquaculture, its environmental repercussions, particularly in marine ecosystems, have gained significant attentions. Cage aquaculture, a prominent method, has been observed to significantly influence marine environments by discharging substantial amounts of organic materials and pollutants. It is also one of the important reasons for water eutrophication. This study investigated the impacts of cage aquaculture on microbial diversity and functional potential using metagenomics. Specifically, a comparison was made of the physicochemical indicators and microbial diversity between three grouper aquaculture cage nets in Lingshui Xincun Port and three nearby non-aquaculture area surface waters. We found that compared to non-aquaculture areas, the eutrophication indicators in aquaculture environments significantly increased, and the abundances of Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas in aquaculture environments significantly rose. Additionally, microbial functional genes related to carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolisms were also found to be significantly affected by aquaculture activities. The correlation analysis between microbial populations and environmental factors revealed that the abundances of most microbial taxa showed positive correlations with dissolved inorganic nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus, NH4+, and negative correlations with dissolved oxygen. Overall, this study elucidated the significant impacts of aquaculture-induced eutrophication on the diversity and functions of planktonic bacterial communities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative metagenomic analysis of microbial community compositions and functions in cage aquaculture and its nearby non-aquaculture environments

Liu,

Wang,

et al. 2024

Front. Microbiol.

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“…sewage) but less so for nitrogen (caused mainly by diffuse sources, e.g. agriculture) (Claussen et al, 2009;Conley et al, 2009). As a result, though eutrophication effects have declined since their 1980's peak, they are even now persistent in many western European coastal areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deriving pre-eutrophic conditions from an ensemble model approach for the North-West European seas

et al. 2023

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The pre-eutrophic state of marine waters is generally not well known, complicating target setting for management measures to combat eutrophication. We present results from an OSPAR ICG-EMO model assessment to simulate the pre-eutrophic state of North-East Atlantic marine waters. Using an ecosystem model ensemble combined with an observation-based weighting method we derive sophisticated estimates for key eutrophication indicators. Eight modelling centres applied the same riverine nutrient loads, atmospheric nutrient deposition rates and boundary conditions to their specific model set-up to ensure comparability. The pre-eutrophic state was defined as a historic scenario of estimated nutrient inputs (riverine, atmospheric) at around the year 1900, before the invention and widespread use of industrial fertilizers. The period 2009-2014 was used by all participants to simulate both the current state of eutrophication and the pre-eutrophic scenario, to ensure that differences are solely due to the changes in nutrient inputs between the scenarios. Mean values were reported for winter dissolved inorganic nutrients and total nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) and the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio, and for growing season chlorophyll, chlorophyll 90th percentile, near-bed oxygen minimum and net phytoplankton production on the level of the OSPAR assessment areas. Results showed distinctly lower nutrient concentrations and nitrogen to phosphorus ratio’s in coastal areas under pre-eutrophic conditions compared to current conditions (except in the Meuse Plume and Seine Plume areas). Chlorophyll concentrations were estimated to be as much as ~40% lower in some areas, as were dissolved inorganic phosphorus levels. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen levels were found to be up to 60% lower in certain assessment areas. The weighted average approach reduced model disparities, and delivered pre-eutrophic concentrations in each assessment area. Our results open the possibility to establish reference values for indicators of eutrophication across marine regions. The use of the new assessment areas ensures local ecosystem functioning is better represented while political boundaries are largely ignored. As such, the reference values are less associated to member states boundaries than to ecosystem boundaries.

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“…Phosphorus reductions have been mainly due to the improvement of municipal treatment plants and the replacement of phosphorus in detergents (Emeis et al, 2015). However, reductions in nitrogen input have not been comparable, leading to imbalances between nitrogen and phosphorus ratios (OSPAR, 2003b(OSPAR, , 2008bClaussen et al, 2009;Burson et al, 2016Burson et al, , 2018Grosse et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A first ecological coherent assessment of eutrophication across the North-East Atlantic waters (2015–2020)

Devlin,

Prins,

Enserink

et al. 2023

Front. Ocean Sustain.

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This paper presents the outcomes of the fourth application of the Common Procedure for the Identification of the Eutrophication Status of the OSPAR Maritime Area (the “Common Procedure”), conducted for the period 2015–2020 for the North East Atlantic. Previously, OSPAR has assessed eutrophication based on national assessment areas and disparate approaches lacking a transparent and comparable basis. A more harmonized approach has now been achieved through development of ecologically relevant assessment areas defined by oceanographic criteria rather than international boundaries, allowing for consistent assessments across exclusive economic zones and acknowledging that eutrophication is a transboundary problem. Thresholds that were specific for those harmonized assessment areas and eutrophication parameters have been derived primarily from an ensemble modeling approach to determine pre-eutrophic conditions. Common assessment areas and harmonized thresholds have enabled, for the first time, an objective and comparable assessment of the eutrophication status of the whole OSPAR Maritime Area. This establishes a level playing field for managing eutrophication and a solid basis for deriving OSPAR nutrient reduction targets as a prerequisite for targeted and successful regional eutrophication management. This assessment shows that eutrophication problem areas persist, in particular along the continental coasts from France to Denmark/Sweden and in the Greater North Sea and the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast. The main areas affected by eutrophication are the plumes and adjacent coastal areas in the Greater North Sea and Bay of Biscay/Iberian Coast, with riverine nutrient inputs remaining the major source of nutrient pollution. Approximately 6% (152,904 km2) of the OSPAR Maritime Area is eutrophic, with the impacted area supporting many important ecosystem services. Fifty-eight percent of river plume areas (eight assessment areas out of 14), 22% (five of 27) of the coastal areas and 10% (three of 17) of the shelf areas were classified as problem areas. Application of the current assessment process to historical data from the previous three OSPAR assessment periods shows a gradual improvement since 2000. However, the OSPAR 2010 objective “to combat eutrophication, with the ultimate aim of achieving and maintaining a healthy marine environment where anthropogenic eutrophication does not occur” has not yet been fully achieved. Further measures to reduce nutrient loads are needed to ensure long-term sustainability of our coastal waters.

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Assessment of the eutrophication status of transitional, coastal and marine waters within OSPAR

Cited by 8 publications

References 12 publications

Comparative metagenomic analysis of microbial community compositions and functions in cage aquaculture and its nearby non-aquaculture environments

Comparative metagenomic analysis of microbial community compositions and functions in cage aquaculture and its nearby non-aquaculture environments

Deriving pre-eutrophic conditions from an ensemble model approach for the North-West European seas

A first ecological coherent assessment of eutrophication across the North-East Atlantic waters (2015–2020)

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