Modification of Biogeochemical Flows
The disruption of the natural nutrient cycles of key elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through the environment and organisms, which are crucial for supporting life and maintaining ecosystems.
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Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are two essential elements that help animals and plants to live and grow. But human activity has interfered with the natural flows between living organisms and the environment in which they live. This negatively affects soil health, water quality and biodiversity, and triggers dead zones in freshwater and marine systems. For example, fertilizers used in industrial agriculture enter waterways and cause the excessive growth of algae. As the algae dies, it releases CO2 and consumes oxygen from the water - meaning these ecosystems are unable to support many forms of life, becoming “dead zones”.
Latest news on Biogeochemical Flows
Impact
Transgressing the safe boundaries for phosphorus and nitrogen has profound and widespread impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, human health, and economic sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
For example, excessive phosphorus promotes rapid algae growth, causing harmful algal blooms that produce toxins harmful to aquatic life and humans (eutrophication). Furthermore, oxygen-depleted dead zones caused by excess nutrients result in the death of fish, invertebrates, and other aquatic organisms, reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem structures.
Control Variables
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Phosphorus (P)
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Nitrogen (N)
Drivers
Introduction on invasive species
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Harvesting and burning of biomass
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Connected Tipping Points
If the status of this Planetary Boundary continues to deteriorate, it will push many tipping elements toward tipping, including:
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The death of warm-water coral reefs
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Death of kelp forests, seagrass and mangrove ecosystems
Drivers & Interconnections
Human activity is the central contributor to breaching the Planetary Boundaries. Our actions almost always affect the planet in many ways. We need to take a holistic view, considering a whole earth approach to the decisions that we take.
Find out more about tipping points
The most viable areas for positive transformation are in energy generation, land use and consumption of resources. All can have substantial, positive effects on maintaining our safe operating space for humanity.
The Planetary Health Check is an initiative supported by:
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