Factors regulating the coastal nutrient filter in the Baltic Sea

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 49; no. 6; pp. 1194 - 1210
• Main Authors: Carstensen, Jacob, Conley, Daniel J., Almroth-Rosell, Elin, Asmala, Eero, Bonsdorff, Erik, Fleming-Lehtinen, Vivi, Gustafsson, Bo G., Gustafsson, Camilla, Heiskanen, Anna-Stiina, Janas, Urzsula, Norkko, Alf, Slomp, Caroline, Villnäs, Anna, Voss, Maren, Zilius, Mindaugas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Science + Business Media 01.06.2020; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic plants; Archipelagoes; Atmospheric Sciences; Baltic States; Biogeochemistry; Climate change; Coastal ecosystems; Coastal effects; Coastal filter; Coastal management; Coastal zone; Coastal zone management; Denitrification; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth and Related Environmental Sciences; Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecosystem management; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Environmental Sciences; Eutrophication; Fluxes; Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap; Hypoxia; Lagoons; Miljövetenskap; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Nitrogen; Nitrogen removal; Nutrient management; Nutrient removal; Nutrients; Oceans and Seas; Organic matter; Organic phosphorus; Phosphorus; Physical Geography; REVIEW; Sedimentation; Baltic States; Baltic Sea; Climate change; Hypoxia; Biogeochemistry; Coastal filter; Nutrient management; Eutrophication
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01282-y

The coastal zone of the Baltic Sea is diverse with strong regional differences in the physico-chemical setting. This diversity is also reflected in the importance of different biogeochemical processes altering nutrient and organic matter fluxes on the passage from land to sea. This review investigates the most important processes for removal of nutrients and organic matter, and the factors that regulate the efficiency of the coastal filter. Nitrogen removal through denitrification is high in lagoons receiving large inputs of nitrate and organic matter. Phosphorus burial is high in archipelagos with substantial sedimentation, but the stability of different burial forms varies across the Baltic Sea. Organic matter processes are tightly linked to the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. Moreover, these processes are strongly modulated depending on composition of vegetation and fauna. Managing coastal ecosystems to improve the effectiveness of the coastal filter can reduce eutrophication in the open Baltic Sea.