Title: The feasibility of biomanipulation in reservoirs and deeper lakes : draft final report
Author: D.M. Harper
Author: N. Pacini
Author: R. Sanderson
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: EA additional title info: the feasibility of biomanipulation in reservoirs and deeper lakes
Abstract:
Over the past fifty years there has been a progressive decay in aquatic habitats as a
consequence of human disturbance. Investigations since the 1940s, in Europe and the US,
have identified nutrient, particularly phosphorus, enrichment, primarily from sewage effluent
and secondarily from agriculture, as the cause. This was well understood by the late 1970s.
Since that time the scientific community has progressively become more active in seeking
management solutions as well as mere explanations for change. A series of management oriented
publications have reflected that stage of knowledge and the background is not considered further here.
In the last 5 to 10 years it has become clear that, despite long term research efforts, the reduction
of phosphorus alone has not achieved the desired restoration of aquatic ecosystems. The
Norfolk Broads are a good example of this problem. This stems from the realisation that the OECD models for eutrophication assessment, which assume strong and direct dependence from a
single identifiable element, i.e. phosphorus, and which were powerful tools for the initial
classification of waterbodies, have failed as predictive tools for explaining changes in single
ecosystems. An international investigation project devoted to the assessment of eutrophication
management by nutrient reduction conclusively disproved the expectations built
upon single nutrient loading relationships. The development of ecotechnological
management, a pragmatic, biologically based approach to the integration of physical, chemical
and biological changes in the structure of an ecosystem, is now leading to water quality
improvement using internal mechanisms which support the external mechanisms.
Publisher: National Rivers Authority
Publication Date: 1995
Publication Place: Bristol
Subject Keywords: Phosphorus; Agricultural pollution; Effluents; Water pollution; Eutrophication; Lakes; Food chains; Water reservoirs
Geographic Keywords: Rutland; Leicestershire
Extent: 108
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4197
Total file downloads: 329
Download PDF Display PDF in separate tab