1. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment C-Change in GEES Human Pressures on the Environment Session 4 Session 4: Phosphorus in the Environment

2. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment How to use the teaching slides  These slides are not intended to form a complete lecture on the session topic.  These resources are designed to suggest a framework to help tutors develop their own lecture material  The resource slides comprise where appropriate; key points, case studies, images, references and further resources.  There are limited case studies included. Students can develop their own portfolio of case studies as part of coursework activities  These resources may be used for educational purposes only, for other uses please contact the author  These slides were last updated in December 2009

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4. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Session Outline Phosphorus basic chemistry The role of phosphorus in ecology and ecosystems Anthropogenic sources of phosphorus in the environment The phosphorus cycle Phosphorus pollution Managing phosphorus contamination and transport

5. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Phosphorus is a key element in all known forms of life. Inorganic phosphorus in the form of the phosphate PO4 3- plays a major role in biological molecules such as DNA and RNA where it forms part of the structural framework of these molecules. Living cells also use phosphate to transport cellular energy via adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Phospholipids are the main structural components of all cellular membranes. Calcium phosphate salts assist in stiffening bones. Phosphorus is an essential macro-mineral for plants, which take P up from soils. In ecological terms, phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient in many environments; i.e. the availability of phosphorus governs the rate of growth of many organisms. Phosphorus

6. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Nutrient essential to both plant and animal life Aquatic plants require less phosphorus than terrestrial plants to grow (by a magnitude of thousands). Excess amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen cause rapid growth of phytoplankton, or algae, creating dense populations, or blooms. These blooms become so dense that they reduce the amount of sunlight available to submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). The result is Eutrophication (→ Nitrate Pollution). Phosphorus

7. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment In dilute aqueous solution, phosphate exists in four forms. H 3 PO 4 Phosphoric acid strongly – acid conditions H 2 PO 4 − Dihydrogen phosphate weakly - acid conditions HPO 4 2− Hydrogen phosphate weakly - basic conditions PO 4 3− Phosphate strongly basic conditions Phosphorus Phosphate

8. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Phosphate fertilizer is applied to agricultural land. Phosphorus is strongly adsorbed onto fine particles in soil - water pollution occurs where these particles are washed into streams via surface water runoff. Soil erosion in arable soils is thought to have increased since the 1980s in association with changes in arable cropping practices. Although application of phosphate to agricultural land in the UK has stayed the same (around 40 to 45 kg/ha) since 1983, the loss of soil particles to surface water has increased locally – perhaps as a result of changes in agricultural practices. Thus phosphate pollution may be strongly associated with increased soil erosion. Unnatural Sources of Phosphorus in the Environment

9. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Besides agriculture the main sources of phosphorus are outputs from sewage treatment works. Orthophosphate concentrations in surface waters provide an indicator of trends in total phosphorus. Significant drops in the average orthophosphate concentrations may reflect significant improvement in water quality principally through improved sewage treatment. Unnatural Sources of Phosphorus in the Environment

10. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Source: Downing JA, et al. Gulf of Mexico hypoxia: land and sea interactions. Task force report no. 134. Ames, IA:Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, 1999;24.

11. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Covers movement through lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere Transport in atmosphere +/- insignificant as phosphorus-based compounds are usually solids Phosphorus cycle is one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles as transport and transformation processes in soil and water are slow However – transport and metabolism in plants and animals is quick Component of nucleotides (energy storage within cells - ATP) or, linked together, form the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. Most abundant form of phosphorus is orthophosphate PO 4 - The Phosphorus Cycle

12. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Long residence times and complex solution/resolution dynamics in aquatic environments Surface transport mainly particular (event based, surface runoff) Dissolved Phosphorus transported in surface and groundwater – input from effluent and industrial point sources The Phosphorus Cycle

13. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment The Phosphorus Cycle

14. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Phosphorus is the most essential nutrient and limiting factor in aquatic plant growth. If aquatic plants, such as algae, have excess phosphorus to adsorb, they can grow out of control. One pound of phosphorus can result in the growth 350-700 lbs. of green algae - Algal blooms – eutrophication Blue-green algae produces neurotoxins (affecting the nervous system) and hepatoxins (affecting the liver) - can cause a serious public health problem as well as damage aquatic habitats. Excessive submerged aquatic vegetation and algal growth increases water treatment costs, degrades fishing and boating activities, and impacts tourism and property values. Phosphorus Pollution

15. Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment Managing Phosphorus Contamination and Transport Shigaki, F. et al (2006) ‘Animal-based agriculture, phosphorus management and water quality in Brazil: options for the future’ Scientia Agricola 63(2)

16. Main sources of phosphorus in the environment are human practices (e.g. municipal waste, sewage, agriculture) Once released it remains in the environment – phosphorus cycling Run-off into water systems results in eutrophication, which has ecological, health and economic impacts Summary Dr Stefan Krause, Keele University, s.krause@esci.keele.ac.uk C-Change in GEES: Human Pressures on the Environment – Phosphorus in the Environment

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18. AuthorDr Stefan Krause Stephen Whitfield Institute – OwnerKeele University, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences TitlePhosphorus in the Environment Powerpoint Presentation Date CreatedJanuary 2010 DescriptionPhosphorus in the Environment – Powerpoint Presentation – Part Four of Human Pressures on the Environment Educational Level1 Keywords (Primary keywords – UKOER & GEESOER) UKOER, GEESOER, pollution, cycle, contamination Creative Commons LicenseAttribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales Item Metadata