EutrophicationEutrophication

Kirilov, KristiyanDimitrov, GeorgiVitanova, KarinaSection 10/5

What is Eutrophication?What is Eutrophication?

• The increase in the amount of organic matter in the ecosystem (usually in aquatic environments) which stimulates plant growth

• Antrophogenic/Cultural eutrophication –eutrophication caused by humans (9)

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

http://www.balticseaportal.net/media/image/orgdc459351e05a.jpg

http://salem.rutgers.edu/nre_homeowner/elmer-eutrophication-480.JPG

Which nutrients are the ones to Which nutrients are the ones to blame?blame?

• Phosphorus (mainly phosphates)• Nitrogen (mainly nitrates)• These nutrients are usually found in agricultural and

urban sources but there are others sources of themFertilizersFactoriesRiver run-off and erosionMunicupal sewage water caused by humansNitrogen fixation(3,12)

http://www.permaculture.org.au/images/phosphorus_molecules.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/4/43/20100805213607!NitrogenRencer.png

http://www.biology-blog.com/images/blogs/10-2007/fertilizer-15101.gif

Algal BloomsAlgal Blooms

• Rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system;

• Algae - large group of organisms (unicellular and multicellular forms) found in waters and marines

• Caused by enrichment of some nutrients in the ecosystem (eutrophication) Increase in reproduction and growth in the

environment More oxygen needed – lack of O2Light is blocked

(1,4)http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/07/04/js05w_algae_wideweb__

Problems Caused on EcosystemProblems Caused on Ecosystem

• Composition of the water changes (more N and P)• Algal Blooms • Block of sunlight for those organisms which need it

(photosynthetic)• With the increasing algal bloom of vegetation, such

as phytoplankton ->A lot of species in small area

• Less space for each organism -> a lot of death organisms

• This organic matter is food for bacteria which rapidly grow

• These bacteria use up most of the oxygen needed by other species

• Lack of O2 which leads to death of a lot of species(4,6,7)

More problemsMore problems

• Decrease in diversity of species (one species would predominate)

• Production of toxins which might lead to extinction of species

• Decreased productivity of organisms living in deep waters

(4,6)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Scheme_eutrophication-en.svg/800px-Scheme_eutrophication-en.svg.png

Impact on PeopleImpact on People

• HealthIll fish – harm people who eat themWater is dangerous to drink – may cause

illnesses• Economic

No fishing in the area where eutrophication occurs• Loss of people to pay to fish in that area

Fish in that area are no longer edible – more money spent on other types of food resources

A lot of money spent on• Cleaning the water where eutrophication occurs• Purifying contaminated drinking water

Less tourists come to these places – loss of money(13)

What can be done in order to What can be done in order to prevent it from occurring?prevent it from occurring?

• Nutrients in fertilizers should be identified– Decreasing the amount of N and P in them– Limiting the use of fertilizers

• Waters should be cleaned so that eutrophication would not happen– Making barriers which protect the water from phosphorus

coming in water from facilities (cleaner technology)

• Control of animal wastes• Industrial practices near waters should be reduced (7,8,11)

How to deal with eutrophication How to deal with eutrophication after it occurs?after it occurs?

• Waters should be cleaned • Nutrients that reach the water should be limited• Planting vegetation near waters in order to slow

down erosion• (Riparian buffers)

They remove nutrients

• Building of barriers – stop nutrients in runoff waters from entering aquatic

environments(5, 14)

http://www.woodriverriparian.ca/images/pic1.jpg

The Baltic SeaThe Baltic Sea

• Sea located in Northern Europe

• Surrounds Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark;

(2)

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

Eutrophication in the Baltic SeaEutrophication in the Baltic Sea

• Eutrophication is caused by high concentration of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) Algal Blooms

• Caused by land-based sourcesFertilizersFactories

(12,15)

More about the Baltic SeaMore about the Baltic Sea

• ImpactRisk of poisoning animals and humansDecreased biodiversityReduced income from tourists who no longer

want to visit the seaIncreased availability for growth of harmful

organisms

(12,15)

More about Baltic Sea…More about Baltic Sea…

• Actions taken to stop eutrophicationReduction of nutrients pollution in the sectors of

industryMunicipal wastewater treatment and agriculture50% reduction of targets for nutrient emissions and

dischargesMonitoring the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in

fertilizers

(10,12)

Missisipi River “Dead Zone”Missisipi River “Dead Zone”

• It is in North America, Gulf of Mexico• Cause - Nutrient enrichment (N and P)

They come from farming estates through• Fertilizers• Soil erosion• Animal wastes• Sewage

Algal Blooms!

(11)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Mississippi_watershed_map_1.jpg

More about Missisipi RiverMore about Missisipi River

• ImpactDecreased biodiversityPoisoned water -> can lead to poisoning animals and

humansMore money spent on purifying drinking water

• SolutionDecreasing the use of fertilizersControlled animal wastesCareful industrial practices

(11)

Works CitedWorks Cited• “Algal Bloom.” ScienceDaily. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/ articles/ a/

algal_bloom.htm>. (1)• “Baltic Sea.” Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Baltic_Sea>. (2)• “Causes of Eutrophication.” Causes of Eutrophication. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010.

<http://lepo.it.da.ut.ee/ ~olli/ eutr/ html/ htmlBook_4.html>. (3)• "eutrophication." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 09 Dec. 2010 <

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/196751/eutrophication>. (4)• “Eutrophication.” ORACLE ThinkQuest. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://library.thinkquest.org/

04oct/ 01590/ pollution/ eutrophication.html>. (5)• “Eutrophication.” Water Pollution Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://www.water- pollution.org.uk/

eutrophication.html>. (6)

•"Eutrophication." Wiki Doc. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2010. <http://wikidoc.org/index.php/Eutrophication>. (7)

• “Eutrophication and Health.” Eutrophication and Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://ec.europa.eu/ environment/ water/ water-nitrates/ pdf/ eutrophication.pdf>. (8)

• “Eutrophication - Definition, Glossary, Details - Oligae.” oligae. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://www.oilgae.com/ ref/ glos/ eutrophication.html>. (9)

• “Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.” HELCOM. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://helcom.navigo.fi/ stc/ files/ BSAP/ FINAL%20Eutrophication.pdf>. (10)

• “The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone.” Microbial Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/deadzone/index.html>.(11)

• Lundberg, Cecilia. “Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.” N.p., n.d. <http://www.mare.su.se/ dokument/ Cecilia_Lundberg_abstract.pdf>. Rpt. in Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. mare.su. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. (12)

• Muir, Patricia. “Eutrophication.” Eutrophication. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://people.oregonstate.edu/ ~muirp/ eutrophi.htm>. (13)

• "RIPARIAN BUFFERS: WHAT ARE THEY and HOW DO THEY WORK?" Department of Soil Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2010. <http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/ publications/BMPs/buffers.html>. (14)

• “Third Intertnational Symposium on Research and Management of Eutrophication in Coastal Ecosystems.” Eutro 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://www.eutro2010.dhi.dk/ EUTRO

%202010%20programme.pdf>. (15)