Lake and reservoir eutrophication can occur, which produces unsightly scums of algae on the water surface, can occasionally result in fish kills, and can even "kill" a lake by depriving it of oxygen. The respiration efficiency of fish and aquatic invertebrates can occur, leading to a decrease in animal and plant diversity, and affects our use.

Dead zones occur because of a process called eutrophication, which happens when a body of water gets too many nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen. At normal levels, these nutrients feed the growth of an organism called cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae.

Eutrophication is the condition of a gradual increase in the concentration of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other plant nutrients in a water body resulting in excessive plant and algal growth. Eutrophication is one of the most widespread challenges faced by freshwater systems and also has a long history in terms of water management.

The two most acute symptoms of eutrophication are hypoxia (or oxygen depletion) and harmful algal blooms, which among other things can destroy aquatic life in affected areas. Fig 1. The eutrophication process and subsequent formation of sea-bottom hypoxia in coastal waters. Image Credit: Pew Trusts. Fig 2.

Define eutrophication. eutrophication synonyms, eutrophication pronunciation, eutrophication translation, English dictionary definition of eutrophication. adj. Rich.

Environmental Chemistry Eutrophication Eutrophication is the process in which excessive growth of algae occurs in a water body due to excessive minerals and nutrients. This process may end in oxygen depletion of the water body after the bacterial degradation of the algae. One example is an “algal bloom”.

Eutrophication happens when there is an abundance of nutrients in water bodies, which can result in harmful algal blooms, dead zones and fish kills. This is frequently caused by runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.