Eutrophication of freshwater and marine ecosystems

TLDR

Eutrophication research, beginning in early 1900s Europe, has expanded over four decades, demonstrating the need for comprehensive strategies to prevent excess nitrogen and phosphorus from degrading lakes, rivers, and coasts, yet it remains a major surface‑water problem. This special issue aims to synthesize current freshwater and marine eutrophication science, identify knowledge gaps, and guide future research. It accomplishes this by compiling a cross‑section of studies that collectively provide a synthesis of the field.

Abstract

Initial understanding of the links between nutrients and aquatic productivity originated in Europe in the early 1900s, and our knowledge base has expanded greatly during the past 40 yr. This explosion of eutrophication‐related research has made it unequivocally clear that a comprehensive strategy to prevent excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus from entering our waterways is needed to protect our lakes, rivers, and coasts from water quality deterioration. However, despite these very significant advances, cultural eutrophication remains one of the foremost problems for protecting our valuable surface water resources. The papers in this special issue provide a valuable cross section and synthesis of our current understanding of both freshwater and marine eutrophication science. They also serve to identify gaps in our knowledge and will help to guide future research.