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Eutrophication of the Mediterranean Sea: a watershed—cascading aquatic filter approach

  • Sustainable management of the Mediterranean
  • Published:
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Abstract

In this paper, we review causes, effects and trends of coastal eutrophication emphasizing the river-coastal zone interactions. The Po river—Northern Adriatic Sea system is discussed as a case study, being one of the major eutrophication hot spots in the Mediterranean Sea. First, we review the evolution of eutrophication concepts, and related mitigation and restoration measures, stressing how river and coastal hydro-morphology, soil use, multiple element stoichiometry, biological and biogeochemical interactions, and global changes are becoming major issues. The cascading aquatic filters in the watershed and in the adjacent transitional marine zone are then analyzed for their capacity to retain and transform nutrients, thus controlling the downstream water quality, element stoichiometry and availability. The transitional water system is the end-of-pipe of the watershed, which connects the terrestrial and the coastal domains, acting as either filter or source for nutrients and contaminants. All these issues have to be framed in coherent temporal and spatial scales, adopting long-term ecological studies and integrated river basin–coastal zone–adjacent sea management.

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Acknowledgments

This study reports outcomes of several national and EU funded project, especially the Project Nitrogen loads in the Po river basin: biogeochemical processes, transformations and effects in lowland reaches, transitional and coastal waters funded by the Italian Ministry of Research, University and Education within the national relevant projects scheme (PRIN 2008) and the EU funded project AWARE: How to achieve sustainable water ecosystems management connecting research, people and policy makers in Europe (2009–2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Pierluigi Viaroli, Daniele Nizzoli, Monica Pinardi, Elisa Soana & Marco Bartoli

  2. Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy

    Elisa Soana

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  1. Pierluigi Viaroli
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  2. Daniele Nizzoli
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  3. Monica Pinardi
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  4. Elisa Soana
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  5. Marco Bartoli
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Correspondence to Pierluigi Viaroli.

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This contribution is the extended, peer reviewed version of a paper presented at the conference “Sustainable management of the Mediterranean” held at Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome on March 21, 2014.

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Viaroli, P., Nizzoli, D., Pinardi, M. et al. Eutrophication of the Mediterranean Sea: a watershed—cascading aquatic filter approach. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 26, 13–23 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-014-0364-3

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