"Welcome to the Institute. Before we talk about fish or seagrass, we have to talk about the chemistry that feeds them — nitrogen and phosphorus. Get these two elements right and the whole ecosystem follows."
Why Nitrogen & Phosphorus Run the Lagoon
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the primary limiting nutrients in estuarine systems. In the Indian River Lagoon, both co-limit primary production, meaning phytoplankton and macroalgae growth is constrained by whichever nutrient is scarcest relative to biological demand (Redfield ratio ~16:1 N:P). When anthropogenic loading pushes N and P above background, the system shifts toward eutrophication: accelerated algal growth, reduced water clarity, dissolved oxygen swings, and loss of seagrass coverage. Understanding the input, transformation, and export of N and P is the foundation of every lagoon management decision.
