Eutrophication Week 6

Water resources are suffering from eutrophication, or an enrichment problem. Water resources such as lakes, estuaries, and slow-flowing streams that have very low nutrient levels are known as oligotrophic. Eutrophic is a body of water that is enriched with nutrients. The aquatic life and wild life need the nutrients of bodies of water, but many water resources are either deprived of the nutrients or have too many nutrients (Science Clarified, 2010). Human activities have increased the rate of eutrophication, which is further affecting the wild life and aquatic life. The wrong disposal of certain products and chemicals is depositing more phosphates and nitrates into the water, causing an over growth of plants and algae, that require more oxygen as they grow.

According to Science Clarified (2010), "Eutrophication is a natural process that occurs in an aging lake or pond as it gradually builds up its concentration of plant nutrients" (para. 1-8). The eutrophication rate can be greatly increased by human activities. When the eutrophication rate is increased, the nutrients increase which causes plant life to grow rapidly. The rapid plant growth will eventually take over and choke the body of water of its animal life. Eutrophic means the body of water is abundant in plant and animal life due to the enrichment of nutrients.

As with anything, too much of anything is not good. Natural eutrophication is a slow process that occurs over centuries. Most of the human waste contains nitrates and phosphates, both of which are absorbed by plant life and are needed for growth. Many of the products used by humans, such as detergents and chemicals, are washed into water resources and act as a fertilizer for plants and algae. When algae absorb more phosphates it begins to grow explosively. When the alga grows larger it begins to consume more oxygen from the water, which takes oxygen from the fish and other aquatic life. Once the algae dies, bacteria needs oxygen to decompose the algae. So more oxygen is being taken from the water for the decomposition, and then the bacterium releases more phosphates into the water. So it's a reoccurring cycle. The cycle continues to steal oxygen from the water and fish, mollusks, among other species actually suffocate and die.

Oligotrophic, the opposite of eutrophic, is the lack of nutrients in a body of water. Since oligotrophic waters are low in nutrients the primary productivity is poor. Oligotrophic bodies of water are usually deprived of sunlight and are very deep. Plant life needs sunlight to grow and the deeper the plants are the less sunlight they receive. With low productivity in these water resources, there are high oxygen levels. Oligotrophic water resources are thought of geologically young compared to eutrophic water resources (MICHAEL ALLABY, July 2010).

Eutrophication is a natural process, but many lakes have had an increase in the nutrient levels due