The Role Of Eutrophication In The Gulf Of Mexico
Eutrophication is defined as “the process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates” (Eutrophication, 2015). Furthermore, scientists have determined a number of human activities that may contribute to eutrophication in bodies of water such as the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico (Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico: How Midwestern Farming Practices are Creating a Dead Zone, 2012). For example, prior to the 1950’s when rivers are channelized for navigation and flood control purposes (Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico…, 2012). A second illustration would be “landscape alteration”, which consists of deforestation and agricultural drainage that alter nature’s runoff buffers and results in additional nutrients entering the water supply (Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico…, 2012). A third human activity is agriculture, which often requires the usage of chemical fertilizers that leads directly to increased levels of nutrients in bodies of water. …show more content…
In fact, the Gulf of Mexico is “the largest hypoxic area in the western Atlantic Ocean”, since it operates as a drainage zone for the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin that is composed of substantial rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers (Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico…, 2012). In addition, an abundance of the nutrient nitrogen causes accelerated algae growth (algae blooms) and a decrease in the quality of a water (Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico…,
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635 Words | 3 PagesHowever, 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).
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Conodoguinet Creek Research Paper
1063 Words | 5 PagesEutrophication, 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
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754 Words | 4 PagesIt is well known that eutrophication occurs when excess nutrients are added to a body of water and primary productivity is increased. However, the scientific paper, Aquatic eutrophication promotes pathogenic infection in amphibians, puts a direct focus on a specific parasite, Ribeiroia ondatra, and seeks to give evidence that the onset of eutrophication is the driving factor allowing the parasite to disrupt amphibian development. The authors set-out with the goal to provide evidence that eutrophication leads to an increase in the number of snails as intermediate hosts for the parasite, while also increasing the snail size and reducing snail mortality; providing more candidates to pass the parasite onto amphibians to inhibit their development. This research, as stated in the paper, looks to identify eutrophication as the factor promoting this pathogenic infection in the amphibians. Although some have tried to pinpoint this already, no evidence prior had been provided to
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