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Abstract

Summary

In the Dniester River catchment, human activities are causing excess nutrient loads and eutrophication in vital ecosystems. This study assesses annual changes in aquatic vegetation cover and nutrient accumulation (N, K, P) in the Dniester Delta region to aid targeted management.

In the Dniester Delta, our study reveals notable trends in aquatic vegetation and nutrient implications. Emergent vegetation has remained stable, with less than 1% variation, in the Dniester mouth and adjacent during the period of 2000–2021. However, this area often faced challenges from overgrowing floating vegetation in summer time. Floating plant cover grew from 4.1 km2 in 2000 to 10.1 km2 in 2019, declining to 7.2 km2 since 2020. In addition, the deltaic lake Bile experienced a substantial 16% decrease in area since 1984 due to the overgrowth of emergent vegetation.

Our research highlights the crucial role of aquatic vegetation in nutrient removal. Emergent plants accumulated ca. 18.2 Gg N, 9.0 Gg K, and 0.7 Gg P, while floating vegetation up-took ca. 49.7 Mg N, 36.0 Mg K, and 1.7 Mg P over a vegetation period in 2021 within the studied Dniester Delta area, creating a significant ‘temporary’ nutrient pool. These plants can potentially serve as both nutrient-removing agents and regional nutrient resources, benefiting agriculture and energy sectors.

Our data aims to raise public awareness, support evidence-based policies, and emphasize the hidden benefits of sustainable nutrient and aquatic vegetation management in the Dniester Delta.

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/content/papers/10.3997/2214-4609.2023520134
2023-11-07
2025-02-19
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