1. Introduction:
In the following research paper, the parameters of how eutrophication develops will be discussed to acquire an understanding of this phenomenon. In addition, preventative and control methods will be looked at in order to devise a plan of action against eutrophication.
In an aquatic ecosystem most of the nutrients are well balanced with the biodiversity of organisms. [FIND DISCOURSE MARKER TO ADD TWO SENTENCES] These aquatic ecosystems become disrupted when eutrophication (the presence of excessive and unwanted nutrients), occurs. Nutrients from agricultural, industrial and urban areas enter a drainage basin (streams, rivers, lakes, dams and ultimately, the ocean) by means of run-off and groundwater. Certain organisms; for example, phytoplankton and algae, benefit from these nutrients which causes them to reproduce faster and amalgamate, forming a dense layer on the surface of the water. As a result, sunlight and oxygen cannot enter the water, causing extremely high carbon dioxide concentration levels and very low oxygen concentration levels. Due to a lack of oxygen, aerobic organisms experience hypoxia or suffocation and die.
According to Setmire et al., (2000) there is a misconception when it comes to the toxicity of a body of water and eutrophication. The increase of toxins and eutrophication in water affects the quality of the
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Natural eutrophication occurs when a body of water builds up nutrients over a long period of time, enabling it to sustain and support multiple living organisms. Algae then starts to form, damaging the ecosystem and decreasing the quality of the water. Cultural eutrophication; on the other hand, is caused purely by external human interference; such as, domestic and industrial waste being dumped into rivers of lakes and uprooting trees making the soil dry and loose, causing an excess of nutrients being run-off into drainage
Eutrophication is a concern in the Chesapeake Bay. Eutrophication is caused by excessive amounts of nutrients. Excessive nutrients in the bay have negative effects on the bay's ecosystem. The extra nutrients make the environment unbalanced. The extra nutrients cause a chain reaction that eventually kills most of the organisms in that area. This is what is known as a dead zone.
That is not to say we should give up. I believe the point Nixon is making is that our ecosystem is in a constant state of flux. If research is conducted based on attempting return to nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations to levels that were exhibited in the past, the research will only fail. The research into the causes and methods of correction must still occur, but realistic goal points should be set. Taking that into consideration, the best way to combat something like eutrophication is to first understand its causation. It is important to conduct research into the causes of eutrophication, is it higher concentrations of nitrogen that cause it, phosphorous, or a combination of both. In the following experiment I will look at the potential causes (nitrogen and phosphorous) of eutrophication in fresh water samples from two different sources. Does the degree of concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus added to fresh water samples from the Encanto Park Lake and Rio Salado River directly affect the rate of algal growth?
Ecosystems have a way of maintaining themselves under ordinary conditions but when a new factor is added that will most likely threaten the environment action needs to be put forth. Our environment is affected by many pollutants on a daily bases forming a threat to natural stability. For example some of the most polluted parts of the environment are bodies of water like that explained in our lab. Once pollution occurs animals can be affected in many ways even to the brink of death. In the lab the stream is getting pumped with salty potassium filled water that can kill daphnia, habitants of the stream, if the concentration gets too high. To prevent this a
The Conodoguinet Creek is a one-hundred mile long body of water running through central Pennsylvania. This area has many pollution issues, such as Eutrophication and many others. Eutrophication is when there is too much nutrients in the water. Some people might not understand why too much nutrients in the water is a problem, but it is a very serious one. The higher amounts of nutrients in the water allows a larger amount of algae to grow on the surface of the water, absorbing all the dissolved oxygen in the water, leaving no oxygen left for the fish, and they die.
Effects on the local Great Lake biosphere have accumulations of toxins within the food chain. For instance, fish. Consuming a large amount of fish exposed to these toxic chemicals can expose you to DDT, dioxin, and PCVs, these chemicals are known for being carcinogenic, and can cause neurological disorders and a weakened immune system. Being exposed to the Water by swimming can also cause immune problems if swallowed. These chemicals also are known for causing skin cancer if exposed to the external body.
Although scientists have explain eutrophication can be first recognized at thousand years ago, but eutrophication has become serious and well known as a significant problem was actually at the 1940s, along with growth of the population, and extend of the farm field. The first fact trigger to eutrophication can be concluded as urbanization. At that time, most of the treated or untreated sewage was directly
The chemicals found in water can be dangerous toward our health. We live near the Great Lakes which supplies 20% of the World’s fresh water. It also has chemicals that threaten the life evolving around the fresh water. There are medical drugs that are being introduced to the fresh water lakes. Stuff like antibiotics and steroids. These pharmaceuticals are posing danger for the environment. This could affect the lake life,s growth.
Let me go all APES here. Water contamination has been an issue across the country. Nutrients like phosphorous, which are found in many fertilizers, can runoff into streams and rivers causing eutrophication. Eutrophication is just a fancy word for these organic nutrients causing a reduction in dissolved oxygen in
The quality of the U-High creek was identified as excellent. However, water quality is not excellent in all areas. There are many ways that water is polluted by humans, including pesticides and fertilizers from farming. Farmers use chemicals to help their crops grow better, but those chemicals are washed through the ground when precipitation comes, causing the levels of nitrate and phosphate to increase in the creek (Lenntech, 1998-2016). These chemicals allow for more algae to grow in the process of eutrophication (Lenntech, 1998-2016). When that algae dies, lots of dissolved oxygen is needed to form bacteria. Thus, there is less oxygen in the water for the organisms to breathe, causing them to die. Bioaccumulation can occur, where
After taking samples, and running tests on the water of the U-Creek, the conclusion was made that the water quality of the U-Creek is excellent. Water quality is not excellent in all cases, but keeping good water quality is very important for life of the organisms in the water. One way that humans could change the water quality, or pollute the water is through runoff. Rivers are a very convenient place for the companies or farms to get rid of waste. For example, farmers put pesticides and fertilizers on their crops to protect them from bugs, or to help them grow better. Fertilizers contain nitrates and phosphates, if large amounts of these two things end up in the water it will lead to an overgrowth of plant life, and algae growth. Over time as the algae starts to rapidly grow, the algae will start to use up all of the dissolved oxygen in the water. Dissolved oxygen is very important to organism life so if it is all gone then organisms will start to die. Another way that humans pollute water is through chemical water deposits. Chemical waste is discharged from industrial processes, that can end up in rivers or streams. An example of a
Eutrophication, a term that derives from two greek words, eu, meaning “good,” and trophic, meaning nutrition or nourishment, is the enrichment of water bodies with nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous that stimulate plant growth. Nitrogen is often found in rocks, soils, organisms, and the atmosphere; phosphorous resides mostly in rocks/soils and organisms. Having nitrogen and phosphorus in the ecosystem isn 't necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it 's required. Nitrogen is needed for the production of proteins and amnio acids, while phosphorous is required for the synthesis of DNA and RNA, and is involved in energy transfers. (Danver & Burch, 2011) However, too much of a good thing, can be a bad thing.
For example, the chemicals could leak into a local water supply through surface runoff and eutrophication could occur. This is where an algae bloom takes place resulting in the depletion of oxygen disabling plants such as pondweed to respire and therefore die. These then decompose and with a high build up of toxic chemicals the fish of the freshwater lake or pond then die too.
Water pollutants introduce abnormal conditions (harmful chemicals, changes in water temperatures) into water bodies, disrupting existing ecosystems and can potentially contribute to reducing biodiversity in that affected area – one of the effects of water pollution. For example, the discharge of heated-up water from thermal and nuclear power plants into a river can cause problems for aquatic organisms, which are fairly used to specific temperatures. The increase in water temperatures could increase their metabolic rates and hence their need for food. This could eventually lead to the depletion of food sources in that water region and in turn cause a reduction in species population in that water region. Besides thermal pollution, water could also be polluted via the entry of acidic substances into the water bodies through rivers, seas and oceans. The effects of water pollution by this process, known as
This causes smaller aquatic fish to die off, and this eventually causes bigger aquatic fish who rely on consuming the smaller aquatic fish to die (Jobin, "Dams and Disease"). Before one knows it, a domino effect has occurred. Aquatic ecosystem services are even affected because they die from too many nutrients. Ecosystems can’t thrive without these ecosystem services because they tend the ecosystem such as caring for plants, et cetera (Newell, "The Globalization and Environment Reader").
Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water; and, in almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities.