Recent variations of freshwater and nutrient loads from Adriatic rivers and Danube

The analysis of the recent (2004-2012) river water and nutrient loads in N Adriatic and NW Black Sea was made in order to assess dynamics and potential effect of the continental inputs in these coastal marine ecosystems. River data made available by national/international research projects and by institutional monitoring activities were collected and analyzed. They indicated that runoff and nutrient transport have been highly variable in these coastal systems during the recent years. These variations should be better considered, both at seasonal and interannual scales, as they can induce important changes in trophic conditions and ecosystem structures in these marine areas.