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Human influence or natural perturbation in oceanic and coastal waters – Can we distinguish between them?

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The review brings up several case studies on what is perceived as natural perturbations and/or human impacts on the marine biosphere. Case studies include polar seas, the green house effect, introduction of new species, pollution in Antarctic waters, pelagic fish stock fluctuations in oceanic waters, and eutrophication and pollution in temperate coastal systems. In coastal waters human impact is often obvious, but climatic fluctuations also influence the systems. In the open ocean the two factors are difficult to distinguish and some large scale fish stock fluctuations still need to be understood.

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Strömberg, JO. Human influence or natural perturbation in oceanic and coastal waters – Can we distinguish between them?. Hydrobiologia 352, 181–193 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003011019690

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