400 likes | 938 Views
Eutrophication. EUTROPHICATION. Harmful changes in water caused by too much fertilizer or nutrients getting into the water. Oligotrophic lake with a low level of nutrients. Artificial input of nutrients from run-off and discharge of effluent.
E N D
EUTROPHICATION Harmful changes in water caused by too much fertilizer or nutrients getting into the water.
Artificial input of nutrients from run-off and discharge of effluent.
Eutrophic lake with a high level of nutrients. Nitrogen and Phosphorus are usually the bio-limiting element in freshwater lakes.
Rapid growth of algae and other biomass resulting in a decrease in the concentration of dissolved oxygen.
Turbidity (cloudiness) of water increases as does rate of sedimentation.
Algal blooms during the summer months. Note that dissolved oxygen levels are at their lowest at night when plants respire rather than undergo photosynthesis.
Development of anoxic conditions and release of noxious gases such as hydrogen sulphide and ammonia.
Eutrophication process in 6 stages ADDITION OF NUTRIENTS GROWTH OF PLANTS DEATH OF PLANTS GROWTH OF BACTERIA LACK OF OXYGEN SUFFOCATION
The process of Eutrophication
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). This measures the rate of oxygen consumption by a sample of water, and therefore gives a good indication of eutrophication. A high BOD means lots of organic material and aerobic microbes, i.e. eutrophication
Eutrophication is a natural process! However, humans in their everyday activities can exacerbate the process: Point sources (can locate the cause) • Sewage treatment plant discharges • Storm sewer discharges • Industrial discharges Non-point sources (can’t locate the cause, it’s everywhere) • Atmospheric deposition • Agricultural runoff (fertilizer, soil erosion) • Septic systems
STEPS OF EUTROPHICATION • Fertilizer flows into water • causing…. 2. Increased plant growth on the surface of water, causing….. 3. Decreased light in lower levels of water, causing… 4. Plants in lower levels of water to die, causing…. 6. Death of fish and other animals. 5. Decay using up O2 and increasing CO2,causing…...
Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan during summer time showing overgrowth of aquatic plants.
Three Causes of Eutrophication: • Fertilizer or manure runoff from farmland. • Improper disposal of sewage. • Chemical and industrial waste.
Compare the water upstream from the dam to downstream, what differences do you see?
Compare these 2 ponds, the bottom one experiencing eutrophication.
Increased moss growth along this shoreline due to eutrophication
What role does eutrophication play on pond succession? It speeds it up causing the pond to fill in faster. Eutrophication speeds up succession.