Eutrophication

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Recommended: Problems associated with water pollution

What is eutrophication?

Eutrophication is, in the simplest terms, too much of a good thing. It occurs when too many nutrients are deposited into a body of water, throwing off the established balance of production and consumption of organic matter. Eutrophication can take place in ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans. At first, the overload of nutrients in the body of water encourages plant growth. However, soon this excess of organic material uses up most of the available oxygen in the water, taking it away from the other plants and animals. These other organisms can no longer survive with such depleted oxygen levels and die off, creating what is referred to sometimes as a "dead zone", devoid of life.

Below is a table of the different trophic states, or levels of organic matter in relation to available oxygen, that a body of water traverses on its way to becoming a "dead zone".

TROPHIC STATES

Oligotrophic Clear waters with little organic matter or sediment and minimum biological activity.

Mesotrophic Waters with more nutrients, and therefore, more biological productivity.

Eutrophic Waters extremely rich in nutrients, with high biological productivity. Some species may be choked out.

Hypereutrophic Murky, highly productive waters, closest to the wetland status. Many clearwater species cannot survive.

Dystrophic Low in nutrients, highly colored with dissolved humic organic material. (Not necessarily a part of the natural trophic progression.)

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What causes eutrophication?

Eutrophication of bodies of water is a naturally occurring phenomenon. However, the process has been aggravated by the human population. Such man-made eutrophication is caused by excessive discharge of nutrien...

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* and being a responsible boater by pumping out wastes.

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Resources

1. Environmental Agency, http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

s-enviro/viewpoints/4health/3eutroph/4-3.html

2. Eutrophication, http://www.btnep.org/pages/eutrophication1.html

3. Fish Kills do to Harmful Algal Blooms, http://www.redtide.whoi.edu/

hab/foodweb/fishkills.html

4. Harmful Algal Bloom Photo Gallery, http://habserv1.whoi.edu/hab/

rtphotos/rtphotos.html

5. Impact of Phosphorus on Aquatic Life: Eutrophication, http://www.

agnr.umd.edu/users/agron/nutrient/Factshee/Phosphorus/Eutrop.html

6. Marine Research on Eutrophication, http://www.mare.su.se/english/

index.html

7. Midatlantic Integrated Assessment, http://www.epa.gov/emfjulte/

tpmcmaia/html/eutroph.html

8. United Nations Environment Programme, http://www.grida.no

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