The Role of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Eutrophication of the Northern Adriatic Sea: History and Future Scenarios

first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessReview The Role of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Eutrophication of the Northern Adriatic Sea: History and Future Scenarios by Mauro Marini 1,2,*ORCID andFederica Grilli 1,*ORCID 1 Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies, National Research Council (IRBIM, CNR) Largo Fiera della Pesca 2, 60125 Ancona, Italy 2 Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies (FMC), Viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Italy * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9267; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169267 Received: 31 July 2023 / Revised: 9 August 2023 / Accepted: 13 August 2023 / Published: 15 August 2023 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Pollutants and Climate Change, Runoff, Behaviour and Adverse Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems) Download Browse Figures Review Reports Versions Notes Abstract In the last two decades of the 21st century, a gradual decrease in nitrogen and phosphorus has been observed along the coastal area of the Northern Adriatic Sea. This depletion is attributed to reduced river flows. Studies conducted over the past four decades have indicated that the N/P ratio in the open sea is unlikely to undergo significant change. In fact, it tends to increase due to the unique characteristics of the Northern Adriatic Sea, which experiences slow water turnover and is influenced by strong winds. Additionally, the Northern Adriatic Sea receives a substantial amount of freshwater from rivers, accounting for about one-third of the total freshwater flow into the Mediterranean. These rivers carry nutrient loads that contribute to the high productivity and abundance of fish in this sea, making it one of the most productive areas in the Mediterranean. It has been observed that the cessation of anthropogenic phosphorus input, which has been regulated since the late 1980s with legislation limiting its use in detergents, has significantly affected the trophic chain. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the eutrophication trend in the Northern Adriatic Sea, highlighting the importance long-term data series.