Which process is the nutrient enrichment of a water body leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion?

Which process is the nutrient enrichment of a water body leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion?

• A. Pollution
• B. Runoff
• C. Eutrophication
• D. Sedimentation

Answer: (C)

Eutrophication is the nutrient enrichment of a water body that fuels excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants. When nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus enter lakes, rivers, or coastal waters—often from fertilizers, sewage, or animal waste—algae can bloom rapidly. This algal bloom can block sunlight for other aquatic plants, and when the algae die and decay, decomposers consume large amounts of dissolved oxygen. The resulting oxygen depletion creates stressful or deadly conditions for fish and other aquatic life, sometimes forming dead zones. Reducing nutrient inputs can help slow or reverse eutrophication, improving water quality over time.

Eutrophication is the nutrient enrichment of a water body that fuels excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants. When nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus enter lakes, rivers, or coastal waters—often from fertilizers, sewage, or animal waste—algae can bloom rapidly. This algal bloom can block sunlight for other aquatic plants, and when the algae die and decay, decomposers consume large amounts of dissolved oxygen. The resulting oxygen depletion creates stressful or deadly conditions for fish and other aquatic life, sometimes forming dead zones. Reducing nutrient inputs can help slow or reverse eutrophication, improving water quality over time.