17.3 Eutrophication
| Change | Impact |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen and phosphorus end up in the water | The amount of nutrients increases → plants are able to grow better. |
| Increased production of algae | Deterioration of water quality. |
| Cyanobacteria increase | Some cyanobacteria are harmful to health, swimming must be restricted. |
| Increase of floating leaf and aerial shoot plants | Body of water is overgrown with vegetation |
| Algae increase → microorganisms feeding on dead algae increase. |
Increase in predators feeding on zooplankton |
| Algae continue to increase | The water continues to be overgrown by vegetation → the number of aquatic birds decreases. |
| Increased vegetation | The number of dabbling ducks increases. |
| Sediments begin to accumulate on the bottom of the lake | Bacterial decomposition results in higher oxygen consumption → the amount of oxygen in the water decreases → depletion of oxygen → fishes die out. |