Eutrophication (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define eutrophication.
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Define eutrophication.
Eutrophication is the enrichment of a body of water with nutrients, typically nitrates and phosphates, which usually causes excessive growth of phytoplankton and aquatic plants.
What is the difference between natural and cultural eutrophication?
Natural eutrophication is a slow, organic process caused by the build-up of sediment and nutrients, while cultural eutrophication is fast and human-induced.
Cultural eutrophication is also known as eutrophication.
Cultural eutrophication is also known as anthropogenic eutrophication.
What methods can reduce cultural eutrophication?
Methods include improving sewage treatment to remove phosphorus and nitrogen, reducing fertilizer use, recycling animal manure, riparian buffer strips, and improving wetlands as natural filters.
Why do submerged aquatic plants die during eutrophication?
Dense surface growth and the algal bloom block sunlight, so plants below the surface cannot photosynthesize and die.
True or False?
The decay of dead algae and plants raises dissolved oxygen levels in the water.
False.
Decomposing bacteria respire aerobically, using up the already depleted dissolved oxygen, which causes further oxygen depletion.
During eutrophication, the algae, phytoplankton, and plants begin to die when competition for becomes too intense.
During eutrophication, the algae, phytoplankton, and plants begin to die when competition for nutrients becomes too intense.
What happens to fish and insects in the final stage of eutrophication?
Fish and insects are unable to survive in the oxygen-depleted water, resulting in large die-offs.
Define hypoxic waterway.
A hypoxic waterway is a body of water that is low in dissolved oxygen.
Apart from algal blooms, what can cause a waterway to become hypoxic?
Hypoxia can also be caused by bacteria breaking down organic matter such as sticks, grass, and crops, particularly after floods, and by water stratification due to temperature or salinity differences.
True or False?
Only lakes can become hypoxic.
False.
Estuaries, coastal waterways, lakes, rivers, and streams can all become hypoxic, for example Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
How can harmful algal blooms in hypoxic waters affect human health?
People can become ill from eating shellfish poisoned by harmful algal blooms.
Where are oligotrophic waters usually found?
Oligotrophic waters are usually found in upland areas with hard, acid rocks.
True or False?
Oligotrophic waters have low levels of dissolved oxygen.
False.
Oligotrophic waters have high levels of dissolved oxygen and low nutrient concentrations.
Compared with eutrophic water, oligotrophic water is very clear, deep, and .
Compared with eutrophic water, oligotrophic water is very clear, deep, and cold.
What human activities release excess nitrogen and phosphorus into waterways?
Sources include fertilizers washed from farms, lawns, and golf courses, sewage treatment wastewater, industrial waste, burning fossil fuels, aquaculture, and livestock rearing.
What is the main cause of eutrophication in developing countries?
The main cause is untreated sewage and industrial wastewater, because facilities are less regulated and discharge wastewater directly into waterways.
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