Background Information
Eutrophication occurs when a body of water, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes, becomes overly enriched in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus (Akinnawo, 2023). These nutrients come from food fertilizers used in the cultivation of agriculture, waste from factories, and sewage, and run into water systems during the process of runoff due to rainfall. Manufacturers utilize a lot of fertilizers that contain nitrogen and phosphorus to get better yields and feed the world’s burgeoning population. However, these chemicals do not remain in the land where their utilization is required (US EPA, 2022). During rainfall, excess nutrients wash off fields and enter streams and rivers before flowing into the ocean.
Activity
i. Changing the Hudson Project
- Obtain three equal mason jars, pond water, a graduated cylinder, a pipette, and
microscope slides to use in the experiment. - Half-fill the three jars using the pond water, ensuring that there is equal volume of
water in each of the jars. - Stir the water before placing a drop from any jars onto a slide.
- With the aid of the microscope, count the approximate number of visible algae cells.
- Observe and note the color of the water in the jar while held against a thin white sheet
of paper. - Decide on administering the control, ‘press,’ and ‘pulse’ treatments.
- Decide on the concentration of fertilizer to use for the press and the pulse treatments.
- Decide the length of time to leave the experiment and the frequency of checking the
results. - Check and record the results for the control, ‘press’, and ‘pulse’ treatments.
ii. Measurement of Oxygen in Water - Take a calibrated oxygen meter, a small quantity of fertilizer (phosphorous and nitrogen
contained), and a small amount of water from a pond. - Use the oxygen meter to measure the level of oxygen contained in the water.
- Add a small quantity of the fertilizer to the water sample, then measure the oxygen levels.
- Repeat step 3 daily over one week as algae grow to observe the effects of eutrophication
on oxygen levels in water bodies.
iii. Measurement of Temperature Difference - Obtain 500 mL of water and subdivide it equally to have two samples.
- Place one sample in the direct sunlight while leaving the other in a shaded location.
- Measure oxygen content in both samples over 7 days.
- Observe the two water samples keenly after the 7 days to check how a higher temperature
can speed up the effects of eutrophication.
The Future
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The impacts of eutrophication are being felt across the world. This situation may even get worse in the future if suitable steps are not instituted. i. What Could Eutrophication Cause? The nutrients formed through the process of eutrophication have negative consequences. Essentially, while these nutrients are vital to plant life, in excess, they lead to increases in algae growth. These algae block sunlight from reaching aquatic plants; when the algae die, they are decomposed by bacteria. The decomposition process consumes the water’s oxygen, low oxygen conditions that cannot support most life forms (Luna Juncal et al., 2023).
ii. Coral Bleaching: Coral reefs are critical ecosystems providing conditions for thousands of marine species. However, the unchecked eutrophication process may induce coral bleaching (Willige, 2024). The bleaching and loss of coral reefs could reduce biodiversity and affect species dependent upon coral reef systems for survival.
iii. Accelerated Global Warming: As the algae decay, they release methane, a highly effective contributor to global greenhouse gases. Methane traps heat much more effectively in Earth’s atmosphere than carbon dioxide, that contributes to climatic changes, including rising temperatures and subsequent global warming.
iv. Decline in Marine diversity: The fish and crabs can die due to insufficient oxygen brought about by eutrophication. This trend, in turn, leads to the collapse of marine biodiversity to the point that ecosystems can no longer support a range of species, leading possibly to devastation across the ecosystem.
v. Starvation of fishing-dependent societies: Fish are a major food source and livelihood for millions worldwide. Continued eutrophication could lead to an upsurge of food shortages among communities. Many of the most affected areas worldwide, like coastal communities in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, already remain vulnerable to food insecurity.
vi. Floods (dead corals): The natural coral reefs protect the coastlines from floods into storms and waves. When the corals die due to eutrophication, these coastlines lose this protection against the floods caused by storms, particularly hurricanes and tsunamis, where the destruction of coral reefs can lead to devastating floods.
How Can We Help
i. Current efforts by firms: Several companies worldwide have been sensitized and have taken significant steps toward reducing the volumes of nitrogen and phosphorus that run into our waterways, which is excellent. For instance, some agricultural companies are creating precision farming techniques so farmers can adopt proper ways of using fertilizers to decrease runoff. Some others focus on wastewater treatment processes so that sewage and industrial waste can be adequately treated before being released into the
environment. A classic example is the United States EPA, which has initiated various activities to lessen nutrient pollution, especially within problematic areas such as the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico (US EPA, 2022).
ii. Donate: Support organizations that care for environmental conservation have been involved in wetland restoration, which serves to act as a filter of nutrients from the water, and their advocacy work is urging more stringent environmental regulations. Increased donations from these organizations can be used to extend operations and, consequently, protect marine ecosystems from eutrophication.
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iii. Direct action: On an individual level, it is possible to make a significant difference in one’s community by participating in a local river or beach cleanup or creating an awareness campaign on nutrient pollution. Awareness and sensitization could range from using less fertilizer to planting buffer strips around farmland to buying products produced with sustainable methods, which could go a long way in preventing eutrophication (Walker, 2019).
References
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Akinnawo, S. (2023). Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences, Physical, Chemical and Biological
Techniques for Mitigation Strategies. Environmental Challenges, 12(2667-0100),
100733–100733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100733
Luna Juncal, M. J., Masino, P., Bertone, E., & Stewart, R. A. (2023). Towards nutrient
neutrality: A review of agricultural runoff mitigation strategies and the development of a
decision-making framework. Science of the Total Environment, 874, 162408.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162408
US EPA. (2022, October 28). The Sources and Solutions: Agriculture. US EPA; United States
Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-
solutions-agriculture
Walker, S. (2019). In World That Says It’s Cutting Nutrient Pollution, Progress Is Lacking.
Www.wri.org. https://www.wri.org/insights/world-says-its-cutting-nutrient-pollution-
progress-lacking
Willige, A. (2024, May 29). What causes coral reef bleaching? World Economic Forum.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/05/coral-reef-bleaching-global-warming/