Eutrophication teddy, veli, alex kanov

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EutrophicationEutrophicationEutrophicationEutrophication

Teodora ShalevaTeodora ShalevaVelislava MinchevaVelislava MinchevaAlexander Kanov Alexander Kanov 10/810/8

Teodora ShalevaTeodora ShalevaVelislava MinchevaVelislava MinchevaAlexander Kanov Alexander Kanov 10/810/8

What is Eutrophication?

Process in which an ecosystem becomes enriched with nutrients;

Anthropogenic eutrophication has caused a great loss of biodiversity;

Mostly seen in marine habitats;

Causes growth of algal/bacterial populations;

• This large biomass excludes light from the water;

• Causes deoxygenation of the water, killing fish and other animals;

In terrestrial systems: nutrients increase the productivity of competitive plant species and exclude less competitive species, which causes a decrease in species richness;

Main agents: compounds that include phosphorus and nitrogen; (2)

2

What are Algal Booms?

Fertilizers (used in farming) run-off into water – cause increase in nutrient level;

As a result phytoplankton grow and reproduce more rapidly, resulting in algal blooms;

Effects:– Disturb ecosystem functioning;– May use all oxygen leaving none for other marine life;– Death of aquatic organisms;– Block sunlight from photosynthesis;– Some produce toxins – food chain problems; (1)

http://soer.justice.tas.gov.au/2003/image/527/algal%20blooms/p-algal_bloom_orielton-m.jpg

http://soer.justice.tas.gov.au/2003/image/527/algal%20blooms/p-algal_bloom_orielton-m.jpg

What problems does it cause the ecosystem?What problems does it cause the ecosystem?

Causes macrophyte invasions and algal and cyanobacterial (blue-green) blooms;

Macrophyte invasions prevent the growth of other aquatic plants;

Lower the ecological integrity of an ecosystem – only the more tolerant animal species can survive;

When the cells of cyanobacteria are ruptured they release toxic substances into the water, which kills a lot of animals;

(3)

Causes macrophyte invasions and algal and cyanobacterial (blue-green) blooms;

Macrophyte invasions prevent the growth of other aquatic plants;

Lower the ecological integrity of an ecosystem – only the more tolerant animal species can survive;

When the cells of cyanobacteria are ruptured they release toxic substances into the water, which kills a lot of animals;

(3)

What problems does it cause for people?What problems does it cause for people?

Algal and cyanobacterial blooms have unpleasant odors – problem in urban areas;

Provide an ideal breeding habitat for mosquito larvae;

Of the cyanotoxins, the cyclic peptides are a great concern for people because of the risk of exposure to low concentrations of the toxins in drinking water supplies;

Chronic exposure to low doses can promote the growth of liver and other tumors;

The existence of large areas of macrophytes can prevent access to waterways;

(3)

Algal and cyanobacterial blooms have unpleasant odors – problem in urban areas;

Provide an ideal breeding habitat for mosquito larvae;

Of the cyanotoxins, the cyclic peptides are a great concern for people because of the risk of exposure to low concentrations of the toxins in drinking water supplies;

Chronic exposure to low doses can promote the growth of liver and other tumors;

The existence of large areas of macrophytes can prevent access to waterways;

(3)

Economic Impacts:

Increase in the costs of water treatment in order to avoid taste, odor and cyanotoxin problems;

Blooms can clog filters and increase maintenance costs;

Human and animal health impacts have direct economic impacts;

(3)

Economic Impacts:

Increase in the costs of water treatment in order to avoid taste, odor and cyanotoxin problems;

Blooms can clog filters and increase maintenance costs;

Human and animal health impacts have direct economic impacts;

(3)

http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/threerivers/studentprojects/ENVI_133_Spr_08/Phosphorus/eutrophication.gif

http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/threerivers/studentprojects/ENVI_133_Spr_08/Phosphorus/eutrophication.gif

What can be done to prevent it?

A body of water is monitored in order to:

• prevent the occurrence of eutrophication;

• give early warning to public health authorities;

Monitoring should be done at least once a week;

(4)

Limit the use of chemical fertilizers near a water body;

A body of water is monitored in order to:

• prevent the occurrence of eutrophication;

• give early warning to public health authorities;

Monitoring should be done at least once a week;

(4)

Limit the use of chemical fertilizers near a water body;

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01590/pollution/eutrophication.jpg

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01590/pollution/eutrophication.jpg

What about after it occurs?

Attempts to limit further eutrophication by stripping of phosphorus from waste water and control of nitrogen fertilizer applications in sensitive zones;

Removal of nutrients from an ecosystem is a really difficult and expensive process;

(2)

Macrophytes may need to e sprayed or brought under control by different treatment processes – also very expensive;

(3)

Example #1: The Gulf of Mexico (a.k.a. Mississippi River) Dead Zone

Example #1: The Gulf of Mexico (a.k.a. Mississippi River) Dead Zone

Location: Mouth of the Mississippi River Location: Mouth of the Mississippi River

http://www.ers.usda.gov/amberwaves/november03/findings/images/photo_deadzone.jpg

http://www.ers.usda.gov/amberwaves/november03/findings/images/photo_deadzone.jpg

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/updraft/content_root/dead_zone_summer_web.jpg

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/updraft/content_root/dead_zone_summer_web.jpg

Not the only dead zone in the world, but one of the largest;

Caused by nutrient enrichment (esp. nitrogen and phosphorus) from the Mississippi River;

• Faming states upstream the river contribute these chemicals through fertilizers, soil erosion, animal wastes, and sewage;

• Algae growth becomes unlimited due to this human intervention since these nutrients can no longer be depleted as necessary in the soil by plants;

• Algal blooms developed, the food chain is altered, dissolved oxygen in the area is depleted; (5)

Proof that the cause is farming is the seasonal fluctuation of the size of the actual dead zone; (5)

Proof that the cause is farming is the seasonal fluctuation of the size of the actual dead zone; (5)

Resulting eutrophication decreases biomass and biodiversity:

Massive fish kills in the Gulf of Mexico have been linked to the hypoxic water of the dead zone;

Seafood industry in the region has already suffered and will suffer even more greatly from the worsening of the situation;

Resulting eutrophication decreases biomass and biodiversity:

Massive fish kills in the Gulf of Mexico have been linked to the hypoxic water of the dead zone;

Seafood industry in the region has already suffered and will suffer even more greatly from the worsening of the situation;

Solutions:

Using less fertilizers in the farmland;

Not letting animal wastes enter the Mississippi waterways;

Septic systems and sewage treatment facilities;

Limiting the discharge of nutrients, organic matter, and chemicals from industries in the area;

Solutions:

Using less fertilizers in the farmland;

Not letting animal wastes enter the Mississippi waterways;

Septic systems and sewage treatment facilities;

Limiting the discharge of nutrients, organic matter, and chemicals from industries in the area; (5) (5)

(5)(5)

Example #2: Baltic Sea

Location: Baltic Sea; Surrounding countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany,

Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden; (7)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Baltic_Sea_map.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Baltic_Sea_map.png

http://lepo.it.da.ut.ee/~olli/eutr/ednaFig4.jpg http://lepo.it.da.ut.ee/~olli/eutr/ednaFig4.jpg

Another major dead zone, probably the largest; (7)

Nutrient enrichment this time comes from municipal wastewater as well as agriculture; much of the nitrogen is airborne; (6)(7)

HELCOM policies: lower nutrient discharges, lower emissions of oxygen-consuming substances, treatment of wastewater, reduction in atmospheric nitrogen deposition; (8)

Works CitedWorks Cited• (1) “Water Pollution Guide”. Water-Pollution.org. 2003-2008. June 6, 2010 <http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/eutrophication.html>.

• (2) “Eutriphication”. Openlearn. June 6, 2010 <http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=171975>.

• (3) “Eutrophication”. Dwa.gov.za. June 6, 2010 <http://www.dwa.gov.za/iwqs/eutrophication/NEMP/02Eutrophication.pdf>.

• (4) “Eutrophication and Health”. Ec.europa.eu. 2002. June 6, 2010 <http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/pdf/eutrophication.pdf>.

• (5) “The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone”. Serc.carleton.edu. Oct. 6, 2008. June 6, 2010 <http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/deadzone/>.

• (6) “Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea”. Environment.fi. 11/12/2009. June 6, 2010 <http://www.environment.fi/default.asp?contentid=170275&lan=en>.

• (7) “The Baltic Sea…”. Helium.com. 2002-2010. June 6, 2010 <http://www.helium.com/items/1369623-worlds-largest-dead-zone-baltic-sea>.

• (8) “About HELCOM”. Helcom.fi. June 6, 2010 <http://www.helcom.fi/helcom/en_GB/aboutus/>.

• (1) “Water Pollution Guide”. Water-Pollution.org. 2003-2008. June 6, 2010 <http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/eutrophication.html>.

• (2) “Eutriphication”. Openlearn. June 6, 2010 <http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=171975>.

• (3) “Eutrophication”. Dwa.gov.za. June 6, 2010 <http://www.dwa.gov.za/iwqs/eutrophication/NEMP/02Eutrophication.pdf>.

• (4) “Eutrophication and Health”. Ec.europa.eu. 2002. June 6, 2010 <http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/pdf/eutrophication.pdf>.

• (5) “The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone”. Serc.carleton.edu. Oct. 6, 2008. June 6, 2010 <http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/deadzone/>.

• (6) “Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea”. Environment.fi. 11/12/2009. June 6, 2010 <http://www.environment.fi/default.asp?contentid=170275&lan=en>.

• (7) “The Baltic Sea…”. Helium.com. 2002-2010. June 6, 2010 <http://www.helium.com/items/1369623-worlds-largest-dead-zone-baltic-sea>.

• (8) “About HELCOM”. Helcom.fi. June 6, 2010 <http://www.helcom.fi/helcom/en_GB/aboutus/>.