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Algal Blooms and Marine Biotoxins: 1999 Publications

Author: Paerl, H.W. and Whitall, D.R.
Title: Anthropogenically-derived atmospheric nitrogen deposition, marine eutrophication and harmful algal bloom expansion: Is there a link?
Publication: Ambio 28(4): 307-311, 1999.
© Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Notes: Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (AD-N) to the North Atlantic Ocean (NAO) basin arises from pollution sources in North America and Western Europe; these sources have increased drastically (5-10-fold) since the Industrial Revolution and continue to increase in both geographic and depositional magnitude. Based on the estimates in this study, AD-N flux (11.2 Tg N yr(-1)) accounts for 46-57% of the total ''new'' or anthropogenic nitrogen flux to the NAG. The ecological impacts of this N flux have been linked to eutrophication, which may be manifested most noticeably as harmful (toxic, hypoxia-inducing, food web-altering) algal blooms (HABs). Here, we examine the potential conceptual link between ''new'' N loading from AD-N to apparent increases in HAB frequency documented for the North Atlantic and other AD-N impacted marine ecosystems.