The Globalization of Cultural Eutrophication in the Coastal Ocean: Causes and Consequences

Coastal eutrophication caused by anthropogenic nutrient inputs is one of the greatest threats to the health of coastal estuarine and marine ecosystems worldwide. To better understand and manage this threat, we compared six contrasting coastal ecosystems that are subjected to a range of riverine inputs of freshwater (buoyancy) and nutrients to address (i) impacts of anthropogenic nutrient inputs on ecosystem services; (ii) how ecosystem traits minimize or amplify these impacts; (iii) synergies among pressures (nutrient enrichment, over fishing, coastal development, and climate-driven pressures in particular); and (iv) management of nutrient inputs to coastal ecosystems. Globally, ~ 24% of the anthropogenic N…