Portal:Eutrophication/Intro

Eutrophication ('eu' = true or well; 'trophy' = food) is a leading threat to water quality around the world.

Photo: Algal bloom in the Baltic Sea (Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, NASA)

In the North Sea and English Channel, the phenomenon is related to two major activities: agriculture and industry. This gives an excess of nutrients (nitrates, phosphates,...) in the water. This enrichment promotes the growth of algae. A small increase in algal biomass does not have any adverse effect on the ecosystem and can even result in an increase in certain fish populations. An over-stimulation of the growth of algae (an algal bloom), however, can lead to turbidity of the water. When the algae die, the water may be temporarily low in oxygen (hypoxia) what can result in the death of many fish. Photo: Algal bloom in the Baltic Sea (Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, NASA)