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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
10:43
Unraveling the Unseen Players in the Ocean - A Field Guide to Water Chemistry and Marine Microbiology
Published on: November 5, 2014
Structure and function of anthropogenically altered microbial communities in coastal waters
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA. Hans_Paerl@unc.edu
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|March 6, 1999
Summary
Human activities are enriching coastal waters with pollutants, leading to significant shifts in microbial communities. These changes cause harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and disrupted food webs, impacting ecosystems globally.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbial ecology
- Coastal biogeochemistry
- Environmental pollution
Background:
- Coastal waters worldwide are experiencing enrichment from human-derived nutrients and pollutants.
- This anthropogenic input is driving substantial alterations in marine microbial communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the impacts of anthropogenic pollution on coastal microbial ecosystems.
- To highlight the cascading effects on marine biogeochemical and trophic processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on coastal pollution and microbial ecology.
- Synthesis of data on observed changes in microbial community structure and function.
Main Results:
- Pollutant enrichment accelerates eutrophication and harmful algal blooms.
- Increased hypoxia, anoxia, and toxicity are observed in affected waters.
- Alterations in organic and inorganic matter cycling and food web disruption occur.
Conclusions:
- Anthropogenic pollution profoundly impacts coastal microbial communities.
- These impacts result in widespread ecological consequences, affecting marine ecosystems at multiple scales.
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