Überreicherung

Überreicherung is a German term that translates to "over-enrichment" or "excessive fertilization." It describes a process where an ecosystem receives an excessive amount of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. This influx of nutrients often originates from human activities such as agricultural runoff containing fertilizers, wastewater discharge, and industrial emissions.

When an ecosystem experiences überreicherung, it can lead to a phenomenon known as eutrophication. In aquatic environments, this typically results in rapid growth of algae and aquatic plants, forming algal blooms. As these blooms die and decompose, they consume large amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water, creating hypoxic or anoxic conditions. This oxygen depletion can be detrimental to fish and other aquatic organisms, leading to fish kills and a loss of biodiversity.

Terrestrial ecosystems can also suffer from überreicherung. In forests, for example, excessive nitrogen deposition can alter plant community composition, favoring fast-growing species at the expense of slower-growing native plants. It can also increase susceptibility to pests and diseases and negatively impact soil microbial communities. The term highlights the negative consequences of exceeding the natural nutrient-carrying capacity of an environment, emphasizing the disruption of ecological balance.