Linking Anthropogenic Activities and Eutrophication in Estuaries: The Need of Reliable Indicators

摘要: In recent decades we have witnessed human-induced alterations to coastal watersheds that caused or aggravated eutrophication problems in estuarine systems. Although is a natural process the aging of lakes and estuaries, human activities are greatly accelerating this phenomenon by increasing rate at which nutrients organic substances enter aquatic ecosystems from their surrounding watersheds. Despite there fundamental understanding processes cause still need develop new methods indicators improve others detect incipient ecosystems, providing information before major changes species composition abundance take place. The reliable correlate with pressures over time (urban, industrial, agriculture) essential understand dynamics ensure effective management these ecosystems. This chapter aims evaluate relative utility rooted macrophytes chemical variables assessing two Portuguese estuaries subjected different degrees anthropogenic inputs owing varied soil uses on We also document nitrogen deposition history each estuary.