Nitrogen fluxes from the landscape are controlled by net anthropogenic nitrogen inputs and by climate

• Published in: Frontiers in ecology and the environment Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 37 - 43
• Main Authors: Howarth, Robert, Dennis Swaney, Gilles Billen, Josette Garnier, Bongghi Hong, Christoph Humborg, Penny Johnes, Carl-Magnus Mörth, Roxanne Marino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ecological Society of America 01.02.2012
• Subjects: atmospheric deposition; climate; coasts; fertilizers; freshwater; landscapes; marine ecosystems; nitrogen; rivers; watersheds; United States; Europe
• ISSN: 1540-9295; 1540-9309
• DOI: 10.1890/100178

The flux of nitrogen (N) to coastal marine ecosystems is strongly correlated with the “net anthropogenic nitrogen inputs” (NANI) to the landscape across 154 watersheds, ranging in size from 16 km² to 279 000 km², in the US and Europe. When NANI values are greater than 1070 kg N km⁻² yr⁻¹, an average of 25% of the NANI is exported from those watersheds in rivers. Our analysis suggests a possible threshold at lower NANI levels, with a smaller fraction exported when NANI values are below 1070 kg N km⁻² yr⁻¹. Synthetic fertilizer is the largest component of NANI in many watersheds, but other inputs also contribute substantially to the N fluxes; in some regions, atmospheric deposition of N is the major component. The flux of N to coastal areas is controlled in part by climate, and a higher percentage of NANI is exported in rivers, from watersheds that have higher freshwater discharge.