Nitrogen and Atmospheric nitrogen from

phosphorus automobile and power

from urban plant emissions.
Nitrogen and runoff.
phosphorus
from waste
water treatment
plants.

Nitrogen and
phosphorus from
fertilizers applied to Types of sources are diverse and levels of
crops and from nutrients generated vary greatly depending on a
farm animals. number of factors. However, population is the
Nitrogen and phosphorus is common factor that creates demand for the
transported to the estuary, products and services that affect the level of
where it spurs overgrowth of algae, nutrient pollution emanating from these sources.
causing numerous problems.

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Decline Depleted Dissolved Oxygen Nuisance/Toxic Algal Blooms

Wind blows toxins shoreward,

where they may cause human
respiratory problems.
Thick blooms of algae or
Oxygen from wave action
overabundance of macroalgae Thick blooms of algae or
and photosynthesis mixes with
prevent sunlight from overabundance of
upper fresher water layer. Some toxic
penetrating the water column. macroalgae generate too blooms cause
much organic matter. fish kills.

Increases occur in the duration, frequency, Shellfish

Lighter freshwater and spatial extent of nuisance/toxic blooms. become
contaminated
Denser seawater with algal
inhibits mixing with toxins.
upper oxygen-rich layer. Algae die off and settle
to the bottom.

Epiphytes (a type of Sometimes fish kills

algae) encrust leaf blade, Deeper SAV occur, but more likely,
dramatically reducing light generally dies fish avoid area.
available to the plant. off first as light
is diminished.

Immobile
Bacteria use oxygen to shellfish die off.
nutrient inputs to estuarine systems, causing excessive growth of algae and leading to degraded environmental conditions.

decompose algal material.

Consequences Consequences Consequences

Estu a rin e Eutro p hi c a tio n: N utri e nt So ur c e s a n d Eff e c ts in Estu a ri e s

• Human health endangered by exposure to toxins.

• Less habitat is available for fish and shellfish.
• Impacts on commercial and recreational fisheries.
• Impacts to tourism.
• Less habitat is available for fish and shellfish.
• Closure of shellfish beds to harvest.
• Lower commercial and recreational fish yields.
• Impacts on commercial and recreational fisheries.
• Impacts to tourism.
• Impacts to tourism.
Eutrophication is a process in which the addition of nutrients to water bodies stimulates algal growth. Under natural conditions, this is usually a slow
process that results in healthy and productive ecosystems. In recent decades, however, a variety of human activities has greatly accelerated

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Eutrophication Diagram