Cultural eutrophication

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Cultural eutrophication is the process that speeds up natural eutrophication because of human activity. Due to clearing of land and building of towns and cities, runoff water is accelerated and more nutrients such as phosphates and nitrate are supplied to the lakes and ponds. Extra nutrients are also supplied by treatment plants, golf courses, fertilizers, and farms. These nutrients spur a growth in plant life called algal bloom. This not only changes the lake's natural food web, but also reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. Both of these things cause animal and plant death rates to increase as the plants take in poisonous water while the animals drink the poisoned water. This contaminates water, making it undrinkable, and sediment quickly fills the lake. Cultural eutrophication is a form of water pollution. Cultural eutrophication also occurs when excessive fertilisers run into rivers and lakes. This encourages the growth of algae (algal bloom) and other aquatic plants. Following this, overcrowding occurs and plants compete for sunlight, space and oxygen. Overgrowth of water plants also blocks sunlight and oxygen for aquatic life in the water, which in turn threatens their survival. Algae also grows easily, thus threatening other water plants no matter whether they are floating, half-submerged, or fully submerged.