Chemical composition, sources, and ecological effect of organic phosphorus in water ecosystems: a review

Abstract

AbstractPhosphorus (P) affects the water–air CO2 flux through primary productivity, and affects the changes of carbon cycle and ecological environment in the global world. Organic phosphorus (Po) is an important P component in water environments. Various processes control the formation and transformation of Po and outbreaks of algal blooms. Here, research topics on Po in global water over the past 50 years are systematically reviewed to understand the progress in the (i) Po pretreatment techniques in various media, (ii) technical methods and qualitative and quantitative research on chemical composition of Po and bioavailability, (iii) source analysis of and factors affecting Po in different media of water environments and biogeochemical processes, (iv) interactions among Po, organic matter, and minerals, and their environmental behaviors, and (v) quantification of material exchanges at the sediment–water interface, interfacial processes, and ecological effects. Finally, the future research directives regarding Po in water environments are discussed. The findings provided an important scientific basis to formulate and revise global standards for water nutrients and a better understanding of water eutrophication and its control. Graphical Abstract