The Management of Eutrophicated Waters
47
[1959]) but it is not clearly separated from applications in thalassotherapy
wherein the range is wide.
While production remains geared towards providing commercial compounds there are a few more uses which will be touched upon later. Here
it is however necessary to point out that all uses taken together, their
importance will not suffice to counter the problems and worries about
algal proliferation.
2.2 Eutrophication
The importance of phytoplankton and phytobenthos is impressive: their
yearly global production is estimated at 160 x 10 9 t dry matter, and is
known to exceed 53 x 10 9 t dry matter. Proliferation of biomass in some
geographical areas has been a subject of concern.
Two most conspicuous features of eutrophication are an increased
incidence of phytoplankton blooms followed by an increase in the macrobenthic biomass. Briand (1987, 1988) lists as common characteristics of
blooms which have reoccurred: (1) morphological simplicity of the species; (2) vegetative reproductive systems, allowing large productivity; (3) fragility, enhancing proliferation (viz blooms); and (4) nutrient absorption capacity, favoring a high growth rate. The tolerance of algae to wide ranges of
salinity, temperature, light and pollution helps their spreading and survival.
Webster defines eutrophication - derived from the classical Greek
"entropos" (8y8ponor;)" - generally as the fact of being well nourished,
and particularly for a body of water rich in dissolved nutrients, such as
phosphates, but often shallow and seasonally deficient in oxygen.
Eutrophication is an increase in the availability of nutrients essential
to the growth of algae and other flora, viz. nitrogen (biologically the
most active by way of N 2 , NH4+' N0 3 -), phosphorus (PO~-), silica (Si0 2 ),
vitamins, traces of metals, and some others.
At first sight, eutrophication may seem a positive occurrence as plants
need nutrients and the entire food chain benefits so that fishing productivity has increased in some sites substantially (e.g. the Baltic Sea). Instead, it is the main cause of excessive micro algal blooms which are, in
the long run, detrimental to marine biological resources. Macroalgal
proliferation ensues equally. The negative effects include: (1) ailments
and/or mortality of flora, benthos and pelagic fishes, in pisciculture and
mariculture basins; (2) discharge into the atmosphere of sulfur compounds, by bacteria which decompose organic matter of algal origin.
47
[1959]) but it is not clearly separated from applications in thalassotherapy
wherein the range is wide.
While production remains geared towards providing commercial compounds there are a few more uses which will be touched upon later. Here
it is however necessary to point out that all uses taken together, their
importance will not suffice to counter the problems and worries about
algal proliferation.
2.2 Eutrophication
The importance of phytoplankton and phytobenthos is impressive: their
yearly global production is estimated at 160 x 10 9 t dry matter, and is
known to exceed 53 x 10 9 t dry matter. Proliferation of biomass in some
geographical areas has been a subject of concern.
Two most conspicuous features of eutrophication are an increased
incidence of phytoplankton blooms followed by an increase in the macrobenthic biomass. Briand (1987, 1988) lists as common characteristics of
blooms which have reoccurred: (1) morphological simplicity of the species; (2) vegetative reproductive systems, allowing large productivity; (3) fragility, enhancing proliferation (viz blooms); and (4) nutrient absorption capacity, favoring a high growth rate. The tolerance of algae to wide ranges of
salinity, temperature, light and pollution helps their spreading and survival.
Webster defines eutrophication - derived from the classical Greek
"entropos" (8y8ponor;)" - generally as the fact of being well nourished,
and particularly for a body of water rich in dissolved nutrients, such as
phosphates, but often shallow and seasonally deficient in oxygen.
Eutrophication is an increase in the availability of nutrients essential
to the growth of algae and other flora, viz. nitrogen (biologically the
most active by way of N 2 , NH4+' N0 3 -), phosphorus (PO~-), silica (Si0 2 ),
vitamins, traces of metals, and some others.
At first sight, eutrophication may seem a positive occurrence as plants
need nutrients and the entire food chain benefits so that fishing productivity has increased in some sites substantially (e.g. the Baltic Sea). Instead, it is the main cause of excessive micro algal blooms which are, in
the long run, detrimental to marine biological resources. Macroalgal
proliferation ensues equally. The negative effects include: (1) ailments
and/or mortality of flora, benthos and pelagic fishes, in pisciculture and
mariculture basins; (2) discharge into the atmosphere of sulfur compounds, by bacteria which decompose organic matter of algal origin.