Nutrient pollution causes a long-term effect on Chesapeake Bay ecosystem

Public release date: 27-Nov-2005

Contact: David Nemazie
nemazie@umces.edu
443-496-0187
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Nutrient pollution causes a long-term effect on Chesapeake Bay ecosystem

CAMBRIDGE, Md. (Nov. 27) – A team of scientists has determined that the growing worldwide problem of increased nutrient pollution, primarily nitrogen and phosphorous, on coastal waterways has altered the ecology of Chesapeake Bay as reported in the most recent issue of Marine Ecology Progress Series.

During the last 50 years, nutrient enrichment has reduced the size of sea grass beds and lowered dissolved oxygen concentrations, both contributing to the degradation of bottom habitats. Excess nutrients can cause large algae blooms which cloud the water. When the algae bloom dies it sinks to the bottom and decays through bacterial processes that rapidly deplete dissolved oxygen. Significant increases in the organic content of 200 year-old sediment suggest stimulation of algae blooms during pre-industrial times. Lead author Dr. W. Michael Kemp, of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, said "By studying long-term effects of nutrient enrichment and detailed processes by which coastal ecosystems have been altered, we will be far better positioned to effect restoration of the estuary's valuable resources."