Nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems

Aquatic ecosystems respond variably to nutrient enrichment and altered nutrient ratios, along a continuum from fresh water through estuarine, coastal, and marine systems. Although phosphorus is considered the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton production in freshwater systems, the effects of atmospheric nitrogen and its contribution to acidification of fresh waters can be detrimental. Within the estuarine to coastal continuum, multiple nutrient limitations occur among nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon along the salinity gradient and by season, but nitrogen is generally considered the primary limiting nutrient for phytoplankton biomass accumulation. There are well-established, but nonlinear, positive relationships among nitrogen and phosphorus flux, phytoplankton primary production, and fisheries yield. There are thresholds, however, where the load of nutrients to estuarine, coastal and marine systems exceeds the capacity for assimilation of nutrient-enhanced production, and water-quality degradation occurs. Impacts can include noxious and toxic algal blooms, increased turbidity with a subsequent loss of submerged aquatic vegetation, oxygen deficiency, disruption of ecosystem functioning, loss of habitat, loss of biodiversity, shifts in food webs, and loss of harvestable fisheries.     

Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico

Seasonally severe and persistent hypoxia, or low dissolved oxygen concentration, occurs on the inner- to mid-Louisiana continental shelf to the west of the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River deltas. The estimated areal extent of bottom dissolved oxygen concentration less than 2 mg L-1 during mid-summer surveys of 1993-2000 reached as high as 16,000 to 20,000 km2. The distribution for a similar mapping grid for 1985 to 1992 averaged 8000 to 9000 km2. Hypoxia occurs below the pycnocline from as early as late February through early October, but is most widespread, persistent, and severe in June, July, and August. Spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of hypoxia exists and is, at least partially, related to the amplitude and phasing of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya discharges and their nutrient flux. Mississippi River nutrient concentrations and loadings to the adjacent continental shelf have changed dramatically this century, with an acceleration of these changes since the 1950s to 1960s. An analysis of diatoms, foraminiferans, and carbon accumulation in the sedimentary record provides evidence of increased eutrophication and hypoxia in the Mississippi River delta bight coincident with changes in nitrogen loading.     

水生生态系统中的氮

从淡水到河口、沿海和海水系统的连续统一体中,水生生态系统对营养富集和营养比变化的反应各不相同.尽管在淡水系统里,人们认为磷是浮游植物生产的限制性营养元素,但大气中氮的影响和它对淡水酸化所起的作用却可以是有害的.从河口到海岸带的连续统一体中,随着盐的梯度和季节不同,在氮、磷、硅之间出现多元的营养限制,但是,一般认为氮是浮游植物生物量积累的主要限制性营养元素.在氮和磷通量、浮游植物初级生产及渔业产量之间有确切的、非线性的正相关关系.流向河口.海岸和海洋系统的营养负载超过了营养富集后生产活动的同化能力,以及水质发生恶化时,存在着各种阈值.其影响包括有害和有毒藻类的滋生、混浊度增加,随后是沉水植物消失、缺氧、生态系统功能瓦解、栖息地丧失、生物多样性丧失、食物网变换,以及捕捞渔业的损失.