Relative importance of natural and human perturbtion factors on the nitrogen cycle and dynamics of toxic algal blooms of coastal watersheds

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Over 65% of the human population lives within 100 km of coastal zones, and this fraction is expected to increase greatly during the 21st century. Coastal zones provide habitat, resources and services essential to human communities worldwide. At the national level, about one-third of Canada's GDP is directly or indirectly related to coastal zone activities. Increasing population size and intensifying industrial activities contribute to alter the health of coastal ecosystems, as do natural factors such as climatic variability. Resulting declines in water quality and productivity of renewable resources are expected to have negative impacts on the wealth of human societies, both globally and nationally.