Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Primary Production01:06

Primary Production

25.0K
The total amount of energy acquired by primary producers in an ecosystem is called gross primary production (GPP). However, of this energy, producers use some for metabolic processes, and some is lost as heat, decreasing the amount of energy available to the next trophic level. The remaining usable amount of energy is called the net primary productivity (NPP). In terrestrial ecosystems, NPP is driven by climate, while light penetration and nutrient availability drive NPP in aquatic ecosystems.
25.0K
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

658
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
658
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

948
Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
948
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

838
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
838
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

21.9K
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
21.9K
The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

59.2K
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
59.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Organohalogen contaminants in common loons (Gavia immer) breeding in Western Alberta, Canada.

Chemosphere·2018
Same author

Herbivory enhances the diversity of primary producers in pond ecosystems.

Ecology·2017
Same author

Recent progress and future challenges in algal biofuel production.

F1000Research·2016
Same author

Experimental iron amendment suppresses toxic cyanobacteria in a hypereutrophic lake.

Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America·2016
Same author

Resources, mortality, and disease ecology: Importance of positive feedbacks between host growth rate and pathogen dynamics.

Israel journal of ecology & evolution·2016
Same author

Reducing Phosphorus to Curb Lake Eutrophication is a Success.

Environmental science & technology·2016

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management
05:04

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management

Published on: July 14, 2023

668

Eutrophication science: where do we go from here?

Val H Smith1, David W Schindler

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. vsmith@ku.edu

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|February 28, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Cultural eutrophication is a major global water quality problem. Key questions about nutrient impacts on ecosystem stability, contaminant interactions, and management strategies remain unanswered, hindering effective aquatic resource management.

More Related Videos

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems
09:38

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Published on: October 29, 2016

10.9K
Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading
10:49

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Published on: March 6, 2014

17.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management
05:04

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management

Published on: July 14, 2023

668
Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems
09:38

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Published on: October 29, 2016

10.9K
Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading
10:49

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Published on: March 6, 2014

17.7K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Ecology
  • Water Quality Management

Background:

  • Cultural eutrophication is the primary water quality issue globally for freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems.
  • Decades of research have not fully resolved critical questions regarding nutrient impacts and ecosystem dynamics.
  • Nutrient pollution significantly affects the behavior of other contaminants like pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight unresolved questions in eutrophication science.
  • To emphasize the complex interactions between nutrients, ecosystem stability, and alternate states.
  • To address the influence of nutrients on non-nutrient contaminants and inform nutrient loading control strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing eutrophication science literature.
  • Analysis of interactions between nutrient loading, ecosystem stability, and contaminant fate.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding management strategies for aquatic resources.

Main Results:

  • Significant knowledge gaps persist in understanding nutrient-ecosystem interactions and stability.
  • Nutrient loading influences ecosystem resilience and the potential for alternate stable states.
  • Nutrients critically affect the fate and effects of non-nutrient contaminants, including pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is essential to address complex nutrient-ecosystem dynamics.
  • Effective management of aquatic resources requires resolving debates on nutrient loading controls.
  • Understanding nutrient impacts is crucial for mitigating water quality degradation.