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Eutrophication and Dead Zones - The Effects of High Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphates in Bodies of Water Obtaining Wildlife
EUTROPHICATION AND DEAD ZONES
David Shim
It's Algae. So, what?
Algae is a bad thing for aquatic wildlife. Algae spreads out very quickly, and layers out on the surface of water, blocking the sunlight from entering the water, dwindling the amount of SAVs. Algae also uses up a lot of Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and when algae dies, the bacteria that eats up the algae uses up a lot of DO, too. Places with not enough DO to sustain life are called Dead Zones.
What are SAVs?
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, or SAVs, is aquatic vegetation that is submerged underwater.
What are
Algae Blooms?
Algal Blooms are large productions of algae in a body of water. Algae Blooms can make the water look like a sickening green. Algal Blooms are caused when too many nutrients, such as Nitrogen and Phosphates, enter the water, and when water conditions change to let the algae survive and thrive in the water.
Alright. We get it. Algae is bad. It lives in water with lots of Nutrients. But, WHERE do these Nutrients come from?
Main Sources of Excess Nutrients:
- Agriculture
- Stormwater
- Wastewater
- Fossil Fuels
- Homes
Nutrients that enter the water usually comes from US. Us HUMANS. Sewage treatment plants carry LOTS of Nutrients (nitrates), but when it storms, the plants overflow, and spill out into the water. Fertilizer (phosphates) is also full of nutrients. We, as people, love to over fertilize, but plants don't use all of that extra fertilizer, so when it rains, it all flows into the water.
However, not all Nutrients come from us. For example, cow feces (nitrogen) can be carried off by runoff.
Eutrophication and Dead Zones - The Effects of High Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Bodies of Water Obtaining Wildlife
What is Eutrophication?
Eutrophication is the word used to describe a habitat that is full of nutrients, such as Nitrogen and Phosphate. Nutrients! Yay, right? No. Nutrients are good for aquatic life, but too many nutrients are good for Algae, and with too many nutrients, that body of water is able to sustain life for Algae. LOTS of algae. TONS OF ALGAE.
What can be done to reduce the amount of Nutrients so that it is "Just Right?"
In the Home:
- Use phosphate-free household cleaners
- Clean up after your pet
- Wash your car on grass
In the Yard:
- Apply ONLY the amount of fertilizer needed
In your Community:
- SPREAD THE WORD OF EUTROPHICATION