514 SCIENCE

• Lakes, streams and estuaries are over fertilized

• Excessive production of aquatic organic matter
• Water quality problem
Eutrophication is a natural process!
• But humans add to it. How?
 Human Contribution (Cultural)
• Sewage treatment plant discharges
• Industrial discharges
• Atmospheric deposition
• Agricultural runoff (fertilizer, soil erosion)
 BEFORE EUTROPHICATION

AFTER EUTROPHICATION

Eutrophication: a process
by which a body of
water progresses from its
origin to its
extinction.
Eutrophication process in 6 stages
ADDITION OF NITRATES

GROWTH OF PLANTS

DEATH OF PLANTS

GROWTH OF BACTERIA

LACK OF OXYGEN

SUFFOCATION
 sewage
fertilisers (liquid domestic
and industrial waste)

minerals minerals

Eutrophication
The process of esp. nitrates esp. phosphates

organic material
eutrophication

algal bloom

competition consumers can't

for light consume fast enough

dead plants dead algae

detritus
The process of Eutrophication cont.

detritus

more decomposers

use up oxygen
by aerobic respiration
(increased BOD)

aerobes die anaerobic bacteria

(invertebrates, thrive. Release
fish, etc) NH4, CH4, H2S
Measuring Eutrophication
• How do we measure it?
 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
• Measures rate of oxygen consumption by sample of water
• Gives a good indication of eutrophication.
• A high BOD means lots of organic material and aerobic
microbes, i.e. eutrophication
Eutrophication process in 6 stages

ADDITION OF NITRATES

GROWTH OF PLANTS

DEATH OF PLANTS

GROWTH OF BACTERIA

LACK OF OXYGEN

SUFFOCATION
Before increases in nutrients:
Acceleration of eutrophication :
Results of eutrophication :
Photo 1: Algal bloom in a lake.

Photo 1: Algal bloom in a lake.

Photo 2: Overgrowth of floating aquatic plants.
Photo 23: Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan during summer
Photo 4: Fish mortality due to lack of oxygen in an Indonesian lake.
Put in order: Stages of Eutrophication

LACK OF OXYGEN DEATH OF PLANTS

GROWTH OF BACTERIA

GROWTH OF PLANTS SUFFOCATION

ADDITION OF NITRATES