Eutrophication mitigation in rivers: 30 years of trends and seasonality changes in biogeochemistry of the Loire River (1980-2012).

Trends and seasonality analysis since 1980 and longitudinal distribution from headwaters to estuary of algal pigment, nitrate and phosphate were investigated in the eutrophic Loire River. The continuous decline of phosphate concentrations recorded since 1991 both in the main river and in the tributaries led to a significant reduction in algal biomass across the whole river system. While eutrophication remained lower in the main tributaries than in the Loire itself, they were found to contribute up to 45 % to the total nutrient load of the main river. The seasonality analysis revealed that the river has always been under P limitation, explaining why reducing P inputs led to decreasing eutrophication in the whole Loire basin. The decline of seasonal amplitudes of algal pigments reduced the seasonal amplitude of phosphate and of daily variations of dissolved oxygen and pH but did not significantly affect the seasonal amplitude of nitrate. Thus, algal uptake responsibility on the summer nitrate loss seemed to be declining, questioning the exact role played by denitrification, terrestrial vegetation and fixed aquatic vegetation on the nitrogen cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]