Nitrogen and phosphorus are the primary macronutrients that often limit algal and plant growth in natural, low-nutrient or “oligotrophic” aquatic ecosystems.  However, in nutrient over-enriched or “eutrophic” aquatic ecosystems, excess nitrogen and phosphorus may support harmful algae blooms and loss of seagrasses and coral reefs.

Further Research

• Anderson et al. 2002. Harmful Algal Blooms and eutrophication: Nutrient sources, composition, and consequences.pdf
• Barile. 2018. Widespread sewage pollution of the Indian River Lagoon system, Florida (USA) resolved by spatial analyses of macroalgal biogeochemistry.
• Brand et al. 2006. Long-term increase in Karenia brevis abundance along the Southwest Florida Coast.
• Greening et al. 2006. Toward reversal of eutrophic conditions in a subtropical estuary: Water quality and seagrass response to nitrogen loading reductions in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA.pdf
• Howarth et al. 2000. Nutrient Pollution of Coastal Rivers, Bays, and Seas.pdf
• Lapointe et al. 2014. Evidence of sewage-driven eutrophication and harmful algal blooms in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon.pdf
• Lapointe et al. 2017. Septic systems contribute to nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms in the St. Lucie Estuary, Southeast Florida, USA.pdf
• Lapointe. 1999. Simultaneous top-down and bottom-up forces control macroalgal blooms on coral reefs (Reply to the comment by Hughes et al.).pdf
• Paerl et al. 2008. Co-occurence of dinoflagellate and Cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms in southwest Florida coast waters: dual nutrient (N and P) input controls.pdf
• Paerl et al. 2018. It takes two to Tango: when and where dual nutrient (N&P) reductions are needed to protect lakes and downstream ecosystems.