Wenfang Wang

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0032
Received: 29 Jun., 2024    Accepted: 10 Aug., 2024    Published: 28 Aug., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Wang W.F., 2024, Eutrophication mechanisms and their impacts on coastal marine ecosystems, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(4): 285-294 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0032)

Eutrophication is a process driven by the excessive input of nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, which severely threatens the health of coastal marine ecosystems. With the increase in human activities, eutrophication has become increasingly severe, leading to the depletion of dissolved oxygen and the formation of hypoxic and anoxic zones. These changes have profound impacts on primary producers, species composition, biodiversity, and food web structure. This study systematically reviews the mechanisms of eutrophication and its physical, chemical, and ecological impacts on coastal marine ecosystems, exploring its long-term consequences and discussing mitigation and management strategies. Additionally, by analyzing case studies of coastal eutrophication in both developed and developing countries, this study summarizes effective management experiences and best practices. The significance of this research lies in providing a scientific basis for the development of more effective policies and management strategies, promoting the sustainable development of global coastal ecosystems.

Eutrophication; Coastal marine ecosystems; Hypoxic zones; Biodiversity; Management strategies