Environmental scienceLesson 2 of 5 in the course Water pollution and treatment

Eutrophication: Causes, Impacts, Prevention, and Restoration

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces eutrophication, explains how it develops, and distinguishes natural processes from human-caused nutrient pollution. Understanding these foundations helps explain why excess nutrients can transform a water body.

Eutrophication is the enrichment of a body of water with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of plants and algae. As this excess biomass dies and decomposes, oxygen in the water can be depleted. The result may be degraded water quality and, in severe cases, areas unable to support many forms of aquatic life.

All flashcards

Cultural eutrophication
Eutrophication accelerated by human nutrient inputs, such as fertilizer runoff and wastewater.
Lake 226 experiment
In a whole-lake study, only the basin receiving added phosphorus developed a large algal bloom.
Cyanobacteria in freshwater
When nitrogen is scarce but phosphorus is available, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria may become prominent.
Water-column stratification
Layering that limits mixing between surface and deeper water, potentially restricting oxygen supply to deep layers.
Bioextraction
Using cultivated organisms that are harvested to remove nutrients from a water body.

Quiz questions

  1. Which example is nonpoint-source pollution?Answer: Fertilizer-laden runoff reaching water from many farm fields.
  2. How can a dense surface algal bloom affect benthic plants?Answer: It reduces the light reaching plants growing on the bottom.
  3. Which toxin is associated with amnesic shellfish poisoning?Answer: Domoic acid.
  4. What is the primary purpose of applying alum to a water body?Answer: To bind phosphate and reduce its availability.
  5. What can sustain nutrient effects after external nutrient inputs are reduced?Answer: Nutrients stored in sediments can continue to affect water quality.

Based on the Wikipedia article Eutrophication, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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