Combined ecological risks of nitrogen and phosphorus in European freshwaters
Azevedo, Ligia B. (Institute for Water and Wetland Research)
Zelm, Rosalie van (Institute for Water and Wetland Research)
Leuven, Rob S. E. W. (Institute for Water and Wetland Research)
Hendriks, A. Jan (Institute for Water and Wetland Research)
Huijbregts, Mark A. J. (Institute for Water and Wetland Research)

Date:	2015
Abstract:	Eutrophication is a key water quality issue triggered by increasing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels and potentially posing risks to freshwater biota. We predicted the probability that an invertebrate species within a community assemblage becomes absent due to nutrient stress as the ecological risk (ER) for European lakes and streams subjected to N and P pollution from 1985 to 2011. The ER was calculated as a function of species-specific tolerances to NO3 - and total P concentrations and water quality monitoring data. Lake and stream ER averaged 50% in the last monitored year (i. e. 2011) and we observed a decrease by 22% and 38% in lake and stream ER (respectively) of river basins since 1985. Additionally, the ER from N stress surpassed that of P in both freshwater systems. The ER can be applied to identify river basins most subjected to eutrophication risks and the main drivers of impacts.
Grants:	European Commission 243827 European Commission 610028
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Ecological risk ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Lake ; Stream ; River basin
Published in:	Environmental pollution, Vol. 200 (May 2015) , p. 85-92, ISSN 0269-7491

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.02.011

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals) > Imbalance-P
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles