Nutrients and Eutrophication

Abstract Excess nutrientsfrom fertiliser application, pollution discharge and water regulations outflow through rivers from lands to oceans, seriously impact coastal ecosystems. Terrestrial runoff of waters polluted with nutrients (primarily nitrogen [N] phosphorus [P] compounds) point source/s, such as sewage treatment plant (STP) discharges, diffuse sourcesvia river losses, are having devastating adverse effects in marine ecosystems globally (Carpenter et al., Ecol Appl 8:559–568, 1998; Halpern Science 319:948–952, 2008; Crain Lett 11:1304–1315, Smith Schindler, Trends Evol 24:201–207, 2009). The can be dissolved nitrate Phosphate typically discharged STPs or agricultural a particulate form, often associated soil erosion.