According to a recent study highlighted by ScienceDaily in their article “New research shows how pollutants from aerosols and river run-off are changing the marine phosphorus cycle in coastal seas,” research into the marine phosphorus cycle is shedding light on the consequences of human activities on ecosystems in coastal seas.
Conducted by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with the Sino-UK Joint Research Centre at the Ocean University of China, the study focused on assessing the influence of aerosols and river run-off on microalgae in China’s coastal waters. It revealed the presence of an ‘Anthropogenic Nitrogen Pump’ that alters the phosphorus cycle, potentially affecting coastal biodiversity and associated ecosystem services.
Lead researcher Haoyu Jin, a visiting PhD student at UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences from the Ocean University of China, emphasized the significance of understanding the repercussions of human-induced eutrophication, which leads to nutrient imbalances and algal blooms. The study underscores the prevalence of dissolved nitrogen in waste products discharged into rivers and the atmosphere due to economic activities, particularly in coastal regions. However, it highlights the importance of phosphorus, alongside nitrogen, for sustaining life in marine ecosystems.
Recognizing the importance of preserving coastal ecosystems, the organization is committed to furthering research on the impact of human activities on the marine environment.
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Articles with all rights reserved, courtesy of sciencedaily.com
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