An Estimate on External Fluxes of Phosphorus and its Environmental Significance in Xiamen Western Sea

Atmospheric deposition, benthic release, freshwater runoff and sewage discharge inputs of phosphorus to the Xiamen Western Sea were estimated. It was found that benthic release was probably most significant, having a flux rate of the order of 1 mmol P m−2 d−1. The Xiamen Western Sea is P limited, and the results of this study suggest that pulse inputs of P may play an important role in the triggering of red tides.