The impact of marine eutrophication on phytoplankton and benthic suspension feeders : results of a mesocosm pilot study

Within the project BEON*EUTRO a pilot study was conducted in 1992. Two mesocosm experiments have been carried out. The first one investigated the effects of excess of nutrients on phytoplankton productivity and species composition. In the second experiment benthic suspension feeders (mussels) were included and the impact of grazing on the phytoplankton was tested. From both tests, the carbon, nitrogen, phoshorus and silicate mass balances are presented. Parallel to the experiments a model was developed, describing the processes in the mesocosms.