Responses of biological and chemical components in North East Atlantic coastal water to experimental nitrogen and phosphorus addition – A full scale ecosystem study and its relevance for management

Abstract

The objective of this study was to quantify chemical and biological responses to an experimentally increased nutrient input to an open coastal planktonic ecosystem and to contribute to a scientific concept and credible indicators for managing nutrient supply to coastal waters. Data were derived in a 5year fertilisation experiment of a tidal driven coastal lagoon at the outer coast off Central Norway (63°36’ N, 9°33’ E), with a surface area of 275.000m2, volume of 5.5 mill m3, mean depth of 22m and a water exchange rate of 0.19day-1. The lagoon was fertilised in the summer season 1998 and 1999, while summer seasons 1996-97 and 2000 and inflowing water were used as unfertilised references. Most measured chemical and biological variables showed linear responses with an increasing loading rate of inorganic N and P (LN and LP, respectively). PON, POP and POC (< 200μm) responded significantly (P<0.05) as did chlorophyll a and phytoplankton C. DIN and DIP remained, however, constant and independent of LN and LP, respectively (P>0.05) as did heterotrophic biomass (P>0.05). We evaluate the response variables assuming a stepwise incorporation process of nutrients in the planktonic ecosystem and how that will interact with biological response times and water dilution rates. We suggest that PON is a credible indicator of both chemical and ecological states of the planktonic ecosystem and that natural background and upper critical concentrations are 46 and 88mg PON m-3, respectively. The study was supported by data from mesocosms. We discuss the scientific relevance of our suggestions, how results can be extrapolated to a broader geographical scale, and we propose a science-based concept for the management of nutrient emission to open coastal waters.