Eutrophication is a process occurring naturally in our environment. It is an artificial nutrient enrichment of aquatic system such as coastal water, river, ponds, lakes or freshwater with excess amount of organic material or inorganic nutrients. This will then leads to an excessive growth of photosynthetic plant life such as algae, plankton or duckweed. Consequently, it triggers the abnormal population of other aquatic organisms. This artificial nutrient enrichment may be occurred as a result of human activities or natural processes.
The main nutrients that will trigger the growth of photosynthetic plants are nitrate, phosphorus and potassium which are normally found in fertilizers. These nutrients will be easily converted into ammonium, which is a major compound that causes eutrophication. Nitrate is the nutrient which triggers eutrophication in coastal water. In contrast, phosphorus is the limiting nutrient which can triggers eutrophication in freshwater.
WHY IT HAPPENS
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For instance, eutrophication can be accelerated through the increased leaching of inorganic fertilizers which containing the compounds such as nitrate, potassium and phosphorus from agricultural lands during raining into the aquatic system. These fertilizers may lead to the increased of production of algae or plankton as they are the perfect types of nutrients for algae and plankton. Besides, the discharge of phosphate-containing detergent and untreated sewage into the aquatic system can also lead to eutrophication. Apart from that, eutrophication can also caused by the soil erosion as a result of deforestation and the released of animal wastes from farmlands into aquatic system. Eutrophication is also common in river near the industrial area because of the wastes discharged from the
The Eutrophication test determines the amount of nutrients there are in a stream, creek, or most bodies of water. When we did the Eutrophication test we got a lot of low numbers. For the Phosphate test they were mostly a 0 with a .1. When we did the nitrate test we got .25, .75, 1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.3, and a .9. for the dissolved oxygen tests they were all mostly high results.
Plankton Activity Postlab 1) Apply 2.5: Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales. Explain how the abundance of phytoplankton in the pond depends on the abundance of an abiotic resource such as nitrogen. - Phytoplankton are the producers in the pond. Species of organisms in ecosystems have their own carrying capacity relative to other species, and carrying capacities are determined by particular abiotic and biotic resources in an ecosystem. An increase in nitrogen levels in the pond (e.g. from fertilizers) will result in a dramatic increase in phytoplankton levels, but once phytoplankton population reaches its carrying capacity (determined by availability of other resources besides nitrogen, [DO] levels, predation etc.),
According to Harrison Eutrophication is the excessive production of algae and higher plants through the enrichment of waters by nitrogen and phosphorus. Phosphorus in the form of phosphate is the limiting nutrient as the amount of biologically available phosphorus is small in relation to the amount needed for algal growth. Harrison states that sources of nutrients can be discrete, (sewage), or diffuse, (farmland fertilizers).
Eutrophication is the excessive nutrients in a lake or body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of a plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen. We tested for phosphate, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen. Phosphates and Nitrates are found in fertilizers, laundry detergents, and sewage treatments. Dissolved oxygen is microscopic bubbles of gaseous oxygen that are mixed in water and aailable to aquatic organisms for respiration. We found that there was a phosphate average of 0.1 parts per million (ppm).
Environmental Science and Sustainability (SCI201 -1504A -07) Instructor: Trena Woolridge Unit 4- Discussion Board Amanda Kranning October 27, 2015 Eutrophication is a syndrome of ecosystem responses to human activities that fertilize water bodies with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), often leading to changes in animal and plant populations and degradation of water and habitat quality.(Cloern, Krantz, & Hogan, 2013) Eutrophication forms when an abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus increases growth within an environment.
The problem the students need to solve is whether or not the river is healthy. The overall concept of this trip is trying to prevent dead zones. Dead zones or eutrophication is when algae grows in excessive amounts, blocking the sunlight, which causes a lack of oxygen, which is essential for survival. To find out if the river is healthy, the classes performed chemical tests, scored macro levels, and made physical observations.
phosphates and nitrates ) - which is when fertilizers < such as those on farms > can seep through the soil or even run down the soil - called runoff - into the creek causing the water to have more nutrients than it should. ) Depending on how much pollution there is depends on how much algae there is ( the more eutrophication -there is the more nutrients in the water- results in how much algae there will be.) We were also testing on the pH scale ( which measures the acidity or alkalinity of water ) goes from 0 - 14 where 6 - 0 is higher acidity and 8 - 14 is higher alkalinity ( alkalinity is what neutralizes/destroys acid. ) 7 on the pH scale is neutral and that is the ideal water for the ecosystem. The pollution that we were testing for is where the acid came from to begin with.
1 Ecosystem Dynamics and Trophic Energy Marc Mueseler BIO111 Biology Laboratory Abstract: The purpose of this experiment is to study different ecosystems and observe the change in the number of organisms at each trophic level as well as the energy transfer to each of these levels. It was observed that the number of organisms dropped off significantly from level to level as the energy transfer efficiency was approximately 10% at each heterotrophic level. Each ecosystem was only able to support about four levels before all of the energy in the system was essentially depleted. The number of organisms in each ecosystem was dependent upon the number of producers available to make their own energy thereby making that energy available to
However, an overabundance of some nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, impairs water quality. “Agriculture is the largest source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams.” quotes the Washington Post (Baker, 2015). About 50% of phosphorus and 40% of nitrogen dumped into the bay stems from agricultural runoff. According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, “Each year, roughly 300 million pounds of polluting nitrogen reaches the Chesapeake Bay—about six times the amount that reached the bay in the 1600s.”(cfb.org). The major sources of the excess nutrients comes from over fertilization of crops with animal manure seeping into waterways, and animals having direct access to waters where waste is carried into the watershed (Baker, 2015).
The purpose of this lab was to test the effect of pollution on algae growth. Through a series of experiments that lasted a month, four of the six hypotheses were proven to be correct or partially correct. The first hypothesis stated that if 0.5 mL of salt was added to algae, then the algae would grow slower than the positive control. This was proven correct, as shown by the difference of the data from the positive control and the container with 0.5 mL of salt in it.
Eutrophication, which is excessive richness of nutrients in any form of body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen, is another reason why the creek could be polluted. Fertilizers are used in farming to provide crops with nutrients, but they also play a big role in the Eutrophication process. If too much fertilizer is used, it leaches from the soil in
The sources of phosphorus in southern Florida. The majority source of phosphorus in the everglades comes from fertilizer in the agricultural sector and the next largest source is manure which contains carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Fig. 2 The amount of chloride, sulfate, phosphorus, and nitrogen in the everglades from 1960 to 2000.
In this experiment, we tested our hypothesis through the use of Elodea leaves and phenol red. Phenol red is an indicator that shows whether carbon dioxide is being consumed or produced. We also used 4 test tubes, phenol red, straw, pipette, aluminum foil, light, and a timer. We began this experiment by filling four beakers with phenol red. We labeled the tubes 1, 2, 3, and 4.
“A significant contribution to these qualities is the socio- constructivist view that ‘talk drives learning.’ Clear differences in progress, learning and teaching are contained within the microsystems of classroom life. Therefore, to deepen understanding of contexts of transition it is essential to focus research on language and relationships within such systems. Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological framework (1979) provides a basis for an analysis of the contribution of microsystem relationships and sub- cultures to the social matrix of different and progressive classroom environments”(Knight and Perry 2013). Microsystem “I will first discuss the microsystem, which is what Bronfenbrenner firstly introduced when he wrote his ecological systems.