EutrophicaEutrophicationtion

By Svetla Rasheva, Dimitar Satchansky and Pavel Yordanov By Svetla Rasheva, Dimitar Satchansky and Pavel Yordanov 10/310/3

What is Eutrophication?What is Eutrophication? Eutrophication- a process occurring on places where water flows (slow streams, lakes, estuaries, etc.), naturally or by human activity, become enriched with nutrients and excessive plant growth appear.(1,2) Rapid growth of algae, bacteria and sea weed (1)

Competition between species appear for the limited amount of vital sources => less stronger one disappear => specie richness in aquatic life is reduced (1,2)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Eutrophication.jpg

Algal Blooms and the Algal Blooms and the ecological effectsecological effects

Algal bloom is a result of the nutrient enrichment in the aquatic system (2,3)

When the water is enriched by nutrients, it stimulates the bloom of the algae and its population rapidly expands. What sinks from the algae to the bottom of the water source starts decomposing, which becomes a perfect habitat for bacteria. The population of the bacteria increases => it is needing to much O2. (2,3)

Organisms start lacking O2 and die (2,3)

Algae Bloom also blocks the sunlight, which leads to stopping the photosynthesis and reducing the temperature of the water source (2,3)

Ecological Effects of Algae BloomEcological Effects of Algae Bloom

Some of the ecological effects related to the rapid algae bloom are:

Extinction of important plants serving as food or protection to water species

Since some of the algae release toxic chemicals, fish and other aquatic

animals are eventually harmed or killed. With the extinction of important species the

balance in the ecosystem is destroyed (2,3)

Side effects harmful to humansSide effects harmful to humans Toxins in water=> Reducing the water supplies for humans(3)

Blue-green algae is toxic both for humans an animals=> humans may die By either drinking the water or eating the diseased fish(3)

Since fishing is the main job of many people in smaller areas, if the ecosystem (3)

is affected by eutrophication, local business and economic survival are in danger (3)

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/images/mangroves/florida_eutrophication_7536.jpg

Mississippi Dead ZoneMississippi Dead Zone Covers 5800sq. Miles around the Gulf of Mexico(4)Covers 5800sq. Miles around the Gulf of Mexico(4) Most aggressive appearance during the summer(4)Most aggressive appearance during the summer(4) Begins at the Mississippi River Delta and goes westward(5)Begins at the Mississippi River Delta and goes westward(5) One of the largest Dead Zones in the world(5)One of the largest Dead Zones in the world(5)

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/dead_zone.html http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/

deadzone/

What are the Causes?What are the Causes? Causes: mainly nutrient enrichments by the Mississippi River, because it Causes: mainly nutrient enrichments by the Mississippi River, because it

transports most of fertilizers of the USA ( Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, transports most of fertilizers of the USA ( Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana)(5) Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana)(5)

Main nutrient enrichments are nitrogen and phosphorus(5)Main nutrient enrichments are nitrogen and phosphorus(5) Mainly caused by farming practices(5)Mainly caused by farming practices(5) The size can be increased by floods or hurricanes(5)The size can be increased by floods or hurricanes(5)

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/dead_zone.html http://nocameranointervention.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/farming2.jpeg

EffectsEffects The excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause rapid growth of The excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause rapid growth of

phytoplankton( consumes much oxygen) and algal blooms, leading phytoplankton( consumes much oxygen) and algal blooms, leading to reduction of the growth of other plants, also marine animals. to reduction of the growth of other plants, also marine animals. (4,5)(4,5)

When phytoplankton is stimulated by factors such as fertilizers When phytoplankton is stimulated by factors such as fertilizers and nutrients to grow, less and less oxygen is left for the system.and nutrients to grow, less and less oxygen is left for the system.(4)(4)

This organic matter sinks to the bottom and makes it even harder This organic matter sinks to the bottom and makes it even harder for other living organisms to exist.(4)for other living organisms to exist.(4)

Such severe Eutrophication can cause serious threats to both Such severe Eutrophication can cause serious threats to both humans and nature(4)humans and nature(4)

72% of the USA shrimps are supplied from this Gulf, 66% of all 72% of the USA shrimps are supplied from this Gulf, 66% of all oysters and 16% of fishes. (5)oysters and 16% of fishes. (5)

Contamination can occur in animals, hence in humans too when Contamination can occur in animals, hence in humans too when they consume them.(5)they consume them.(5)

http://www.gregcucina.it/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/postimages/maican_pepper_shrimps.jpg

Ways of PreventingWays of Preventing Use of fewer fertilizers to limit wastes, released in the river(5)Use of fewer fertilizers to limit wastes, released in the river(5) Control of animal wastes(5)Control of animal wastes(5) The industrial practices, such as releasing of nitrogen or The industrial practices, such as releasing of nitrogen or

nutrients, responsible for the eutrophication.(5)nutrients, responsible for the eutrophication.(5) Production of Wetlands along the coast, so the water can be Production of Wetlands along the coast, so the water can be

filtered.(5)filtered.(5)

How to prevent the occurrence How to prevent the occurrence of eutrophication?of eutrophication?

The methods of preventing regulation can be The methods of preventing regulation can be classified in four major groups:classified in four major groups:public public participation, economic instruments participation, economic instruments cooperationcooperation and technology(6) and technology(6)

The regulation of usage of agricultural The regulation of usage of agricultural fertilizers and animal waste is essential to the fertilizers and animal waste is essential to the prevention(6)prevention(6)

Managing EutrophicationManaging Eutrophication In order to handle eutrophication nutrient availability In order to handle eutrophication nutrient availability

should be reduced(8)should be reduced(8) Three main methods: 1-precipitation,2- removal of Three main methods: 1-precipitation,2- removal of

nutrient-enriched sediments, 3-removal of biomass nutrient-enriched sediments, 3-removal of biomass (8)(8)

Common examples of these methods are harvesting, Common examples of these methods are harvesting, removal of terrestrial vegetation and treatment with removal of terrestrial vegetation and treatment with aluminum or ferrous salts solutions(8)aluminum or ferrous salts solutions(8)

How to deal with How to deal with eutrophication?eutrophication?

Filtration of pollutants(7)Filtration of pollutants(7) Riparian buffer zones are created in order to Riparian buffer zones are created in order to

remove pollutants from the land from entering the remove pollutants from the land from entering the water bodies such as rivers lakes for ex.(7)water bodies such as rivers lakes for ex.(7)

The measures taken have proven to be very The measures taken have proven to be very efficient so far yet not always successful (7)efficient so far yet not always successful (7)

Very severe cases of eutrophicaition require Very severe cases of eutrophicaition require drastic measures and the removal of nutrient- drastic measures and the removal of nutrient- enriched sediments is required(8)enriched sediments is required(8)

ExamplesExamples Eutrophication is common in the Potomac River(7)Eutrophication is common in the Potomac River(7) The color of the water has turned from normal to bright The color of the water has turned from normal to bright

green(7)green(7) Cause by a large amount of cyanobacteria(7) Cause by a large amount of cyanobacteria(7)

http://www.csus.edu/indiv/p/phelpsr/Personal/ByYear/2006/2006July/C&O/06931PotomacRiverView.jpg

The Potomac RiverThe Potomac River

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Hancock_potomac_river.jpg

Work CitedWork Cited1 1 OpenLearn - The Open UniversityOpenLearn - The Open University. Web. 08 June 2010. . Web. 08 June 2010.

<http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=171975>. <http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=171975>. 2 "Eutrophication in Coastal Environments - Coastal Wiki." 2 "Eutrophication in Coastal Environments - Coastal Wiki." Main Page - Coastal WikiMain Page - Coastal Wiki. Web. . Web.

08 June 2010. 08 June 2010. <http://www.coastalwiki.org/coastalwiki/Eutrophication_in_coastal_environments>. <http://www.coastalwiki.org/coastalwiki/Eutrophication_in_coastal_environments>.

3 "Algal Blooms in Fresh Water - River, Algea, Freshwater, Effects, Important, Salt, System, 3 "Algal Blooms in Fresh Water - River, Algea, Freshwater, Effects, Important, Salt, System, Plants, Source, Oxygen, Human." Plants, Source, Oxygen, Human." Water: Science and IssuesWater: Science and Issues. Web. 08 June 2010. . Web. 08 June 2010. <http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-in-Fresh-Water.html>. <http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-in-Fresh-Water.html>.

4 4 Chohan, Rani. "Mississippi Dead Zone". Nasa. June 8, 2010 Chohan, Rani. "Mississippi Dead Zone". Nasa. June 8, 2010 http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/dead_zone.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/dead_zone.html

5 5 "The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone". Microbial Life. June 8, 2010 "The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone". Microbial Life. June 8, 2010 http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/deadzone/http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/deadzone/

6 6 Cloern, James . "Eutrophication - Encyclopedia of Earth". The Encyclopedia of Earth. June 4, 2010 Cloern, James . "Eutrophication - Encyclopedia of Earth". The Encyclopedia of Earth. June 4, 2010 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Eutrophication><http://www.eoearth.org/article/Eutrophication>

7 "Eutrophication." 7 "Eutrophication." Dictionaries and Encyclopedias on 'Academic'Dictionaries and Encyclopedias on 'Academic' Web. 08 June 2010. Web. 08 June 2010. <http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/34925>.<http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/34925>.

8 OpenLearn - The Open University8 OpenLearn - The Open University . Web. 15 June 2010. <http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=171973>.id=171973>.