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Hydro-ecological relations in the Delta Waters

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EUTROPHICATION OF ESTUAAIES AND BRACKISH LAGOONS IN TW SOUTII-WEST<br />

NETHERLANBS<br />

P.R.<br />

Nienhuis<br />

Eutrophication of <strong>the</strong> sal<strong>in</strong>e waters <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>he South-West Ne<strong>the</strong>rlmds is<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ly nlrc caused by water from<strong>the</strong> rivers Rh<strong>in</strong>e and Meuse, contrary to<br />

<strong>the</strong> nutrient enrichment of freshwater bodies (Nfeuwe Waterweg, Hollands<br />

Diep. Aar<strong>in</strong>gvliet) and <strong>the</strong> western Wadden Sea. Eutrophieatim of <strong>the</strong><br />

Westerschelde, Oosterschelde, Grevel<strong>in</strong>genmeer Md Veerse Mar is<br />

connected to <strong>the</strong> specific hydrogra~hy and geomrphalo~ of <strong>the</strong>se<br />

isolated waters; eacept for <strong>the</strong> 'GteSterschelde, nutrient load<strong>in</strong>g ma<strong>in</strong>ly<br />

occurs thraugh agricultural run-off and dra<strong>in</strong>age channels. The<br />

lXesterschelde, a heavily euthrophicated estuary, he5 only an<br />

<strong>in</strong>sigz~ificant impact on Dutch coastal waters, ow<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> very limited<br />

discharge (4X of W 4 discharge) and long residenae time of <strong>the</strong><br />

warensass. The resilience of sal<strong>in</strong>e waters £er eutxophication by<br />

nitrogen is presumably c~nuected to <strong>the</strong> psocess of denitrification.<br />

remov<strong>in</strong>g N to <strong>the</strong> atmosphere, and <strong>the</strong> filter fee&g<br />

actidcies of<br />

bivaLves, deposit<strong>in</strong>g N on <strong>the</strong> botm sedimpnt, and enhgne<strong>in</strong>g tke<br />

regeneration of nutrfents. Low N-load map be sompasated bp<br />

denitrification. We vulnerability of stapme, sal<strong>in</strong>e waters with a<br />

long residence time is expressed by <strong>the</strong> fact that a l~ad of<br />

approximately 10 g N m-$-'<br />

or more presumably exceeds <strong>the</strong> resilieace<br />

capacity of <strong>the</strong> ecosystem. The contrast between <strong>the</strong> ereveliagenmeer<br />

-2 -1 -2 -1<br />

(load 4 N m y ) and <strong>the</strong> Peerse Heer (load 34 g N m y f is<br />

significant; next to highly productive phytoplankton, macro-Algae play<br />

a dom<strong>in</strong>ant and unpredictable role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> carbon budget of <strong>the</strong> Veerse<br />

Meer lazeon.

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