Effects of phosphorus availability on macroalgae: A review.

Phosphorous is considered as an essential nutrient for life. Its availability in the water dictates the primary productivity, including macroalgae. In this paper, peer-reviewed articles reporting the effects of phosphorous on macroalgae for the past decades and up to the present were reviewed and recapitulated. The literature revealed that while phosphorous is one of the limiting nutrients in an open ocean, eutrophication in some coastal areas, which is fueled by anthropogenic activities, contributes to the excess phosphorous resulting in the occurrence of green tides. The general influences of phosphorous availability to many macroalgae were enhanced growth and biomass, especially with the interaction effect with nitrogen. However, some studies reported that the high concentration of phosphorous has deleterious effects on macroalgae. Hence, future studies are needed to fully understand the role of phosphorous availability in macroalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]