Note
This article summarizes the ecological damage caused by nutrient pollution in coastal systems, discusses why N is of particular concern in these systems, and outlines the sources of N inputs to the coast. By highlighting the problem of nutrient pollution in coastal rivers, bays, and seas, this article builds upon two earlier volumes in the Issues in Ecology series: Human Alteration of the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Causes and Consequences (1997) and Nonpoint Pollution of Surface Waters with Phosphorus and Nitrogen (1998).