1. Wastewater input reductions reverse historic hypereutrophication of Boston Harbor, USA
- Author
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Robert J. Diaz, Jane Tucker, Anne E. Giblin, Kenneth E. Keay, David I. Taylor, and Candace A. Oviatt
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Nitrogen ,Geography, Planning and Development ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Wastewater ,01 natural sciences ,Water column ,Nutrient ,Environmental Chemistry ,Organic matter ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Ecology ,biology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Phosphorus ,Pelagic zone ,General Medicine ,Eutrophication ,biology.organism_classification ,Seagrass ,chemistry ,Benthic zone ,Environmental chemistry ,Phytoplankton ,Environmental science ,Research Article ,Boston ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
This paper documents the changes that followed large nutrient (N and P) and organic matter input reductions to a major metropolitan marine bay, Boston Harbor (USA). Before input reduction, its N and P inputs fell in the upper range of the 300 gN m(−2) year(−1) and 40 gP m(−2) year(−1) for coastal systems. Elevated nutrient and organic matter inputs are recognized causes of coastal eutrophication. Treatment upgrades and then diversion of its wastewater discharges offshore, lowered its N, P, and organic C inputs by 80–90%. The input decreases lowered its trophic status from hypereutrophic to eutrophic–mesotrophic. With the reversal of hypereutrophication, pelagic production and phytoplankton biomass decreased, and the nitrogen limitation relative to phosphorus limitation increased. Benthic metabolism and dissolved inorganic N fluxes decreased, and benthic–pelagic coupling was altered. Bottom-water dissolved oxygen, already at healthy levels, increased, and seagrass expanded. Coastal management requires that the changes, following the nutrient and organic matter input reductions implemented to address eutrophication, be understood. Boston Harbor’s recovery, because its water column was vertically well mixed and marine, was more pronounced than in many other systems. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-019-01174-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
- Published
- 2019