Zhen Liu , Shudan Yan

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2025, Vol. 15, No. 5   doi: 10.5376/ijms.2025.15.0023
Received: 05 Aug., 2025    Accepted: 25 Sep., 2025    Published: 10 Oct., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Liu Z., and Yan S.D., 2025, Bioavailability of phosphorus in marine ecosystems: sources, transport, and ecological impacts, International Journal of Marine Science, 15(5): 255-267 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2025.15.0023)

Phosphorus is a fundamental and critical biogenetic factor in marine ecosystems, and its bioavailability directly affects the efficiency of marine primary productivity and biogeochemical cycles. In the marine environment, phosphorus mainly exists in two major forms: inorganic phosphates and organophosphorus compounds. Different sources and processes determine the input pathway and circulation mechanism of phosphorus. This study summarizes the main sources of ocean phosphorus and explores the characteristics of morphological transformation of phosphorus in the ocean. On this basis, the transportation and circulation mechanism of phosphorus are analyzed, covering the effects of physical processes such as ocean currents and upstream on phosphorus redistribution, as well as the impact of sedimentation-resuspension processes on phosphorus revenue and expenditure. Further, the status of phosphorus bioavailability in different sea areas and its ecological significance as a restricted nutrient salt is discussed, emphasizing the impact of changes in nitrogen-phosphorus ratio on the structure of phytoplankton community, the physiological adaptation strategies and gene regulation mechanisms of phytoplankton under phosphorus restriction. Finally, from the perspective of ecological and environmental, the impact of phosphorus circulation disorder on the coupling effect of marine food networks, the formation of marine hypoxic zones, and the feedback effect of phosphorus circulation in the context of climate change is discussed. Based on research progress in all aspects, this study emphasizes the core position of phosphorus in marine ecosystems and proposes prospects for future research on marine phosphorus cycles and sustainable marine management.

Phosphorus restriction; Bioavailability; Nutrient cycle; Primary productivity; Red tide