Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Eutrophication in the Coastal Marine Environment
Abstract
The distribution of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus and bioassay experiments both show that nitrogen is the critical limiting factor to algal growth and eutrophication in coastal marine waters. About twice the amount of phosphate as can be used by the algae is normally present. This surplus results from the low nitrogen to phosphorus ratio in terrigenous contributions, including human waste, and from the fact that phosphorus regenerates more quickly than ammonia from decomposing organic matter. Removal of phosphate from detergents is therefore not likely to slow the eutrophication of coastal marine waters, and its replacement with nitrogen-containing nitrilotriacetic acid may worsen the situation.
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Algae require nitrogen to be fixed into ammonia, nitrates and similar molecules in order to be used as a nutrient source.
“Algae require nitrogen to be fixed into ammonia, nitrates and similar molecules, in order to be used as a nutrient source [43].”
From Biofuels from algae: Challenges and potential (2010) · cites this paper as [43]
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- Authors
- Ryther, J. H., & Dunstan, W. M.
- Affiliations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US)
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1971-03-12
- Volume
- 171
- Issue
- 3975
- Pages
- 1008-1013
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W1999740995
- Cited by
- 1,843
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 51 · 2012: 47
- FWCI
- 47.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Keywords
- eutrophication, coastal seawater, inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, N:P ratio, phosphate, nitrogen limitation, detergents, phosphorus removal, nitrilotriacetic acid, human waste, organic matter decomposition, nutrient limitation
- MeSH terms
- Acetates, Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, Detergents
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