Excess nutrient enrichment causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion is known as which process?

Excess nutrient enrichment causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion is known as which process?

• A. Eutrophication
• B. Nutrient pollution
• C. Sediment pollution
• D. Pathogens

Answer: (A)

The main idea is nutrient enrichment of water bodies that fuels rapid growth of algae and aquatic plants, followed by decomposition-driven oxygen loss. This sequence is called eutrophication. When nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus flow into lakes and rivers from fertilizers, sewage, and runoff, algae blooms spread quickly. Those blooms reduce light for other aquatic plants and, after they die, microbes decompose the organic matter, using up dissolved oxygen. That drop in oxygen can stress or kill fish and other aquatic life. The other terms are broader or different ideas: nutrient pollution is the general issue of adding nutrients, sediment pollution involves sediments carrying contaminants, and pathogens are disease-causing organisms. Eutrophication is the process describing the algae bloom and oxygen depletion outcome.

The main idea is nutrient enrichment of water bodies that fuels rapid growth of algae and aquatic plants, followed by decomposition-driven oxygen loss. This sequence is called eutrophication. When nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus flow into lakes and rivers from fertilizers, sewage, and runoff, algae blooms spread quickly. Those blooms reduce light for other aquatic plants and, after they die, microbes decompose the organic matter, using up dissolved oxygen. That drop in oxygen can stress or kill fish and other aquatic life. The other terms are broader or different ideas: nutrient pollution is the general issue of adding nutrients, sediment pollution involves sediments carrying contaminants, and pathogens are disease-causing organisms. Eutrophication is the process describing the algae bloom and oxygen depletion outcome.