The rise and fall of dissolved phosphate in South African rivers

10Citations
Citations of this article
66Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Eutrophication of water resources following nutrient loading is a global threat to water quality, and has been found to be one of the major threats to water quality in South Africa. Eutrophication is largescale autotroph growth following nutrient enrichment and has several consequences, including loss of biodiversity, oxygen depletion, taste/odour generation and algal toxin production. Phosphate enrichment is often (but not always) the cause of freshwater eutrophication, and limitation of phosphate is commonly used as a means of controlling eutrophication. This study reports on a survey of trends in nutrient levels in South African freshwater resources. The research reported on here shows a significant decrease in dissolved phosphate levels in recent years, following a long period during which phosphate levels had been increasing with time. While changes in inorganic nitrogen were found, these changes did not match those in phosphate levels. Several potential causes of these changes were assessed, and it is concluded that no one cause can explain the changes observed. While the decrease in freshwater phosphate levels bodes well for water quality management, internal phosphorus cycling and other mechanisms are likely to mask the short-term impact of phosphate decreases.

References Powered by Scopus

Global analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation of primary producers in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems

3762Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Eutrophication: Impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems

2295Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The split-apply-combine strategy for data analysis

1903Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Mitigating phosphorus pollution from detergents in the surface waters of China

27Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The impact of informal settlement on water quality of Diep River in Dunoon

20Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Factors that determine the sorption of mineral elements in soils and their impact on soil and water pollution

15Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Griffin, N. J. (2017). The rise and fall of dissolved phosphate in South African rivers. South African Journal of Science, 113(11–12). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2017/20170020

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 24

63%

Researcher 8

21%

Lecturer / Post doc 5

13%

Professor / Associate Prof. 1

3%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Environmental Science 17

52%

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 8

24%

Chemistry 4

12%

Medicine and Dentistry 4

12%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free