Building effects of marine pests into nutrient management strategies

Abstract

The input of nutrients has long been a key management focus for coastal waters, and the organisms living in soft sediments play a very important role in the removal of nutrients from these waters, thereby reducing the risk of environmental degradation. In recent years, marine pests have emerged as a major threat, with the potential to alter the abundances of a wide range of native organisms. Nutrients and pests have largely been treated as independent threats, but pests could interfere with denitrification processes. We will test whether this occurs, and provide key information for managers devising nutrient management strategies.