What is eutrophication?

Eutrophication is specifically the process through which an aquatic ecosystem becomes overly enriched with nutrients, often leading to excessive growth of algae, known as algal blooms. This happens primarily due to the runoff of fertilizers, sewage, and other nutrient-rich substances into water bodies. When nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, accumulate in the water, they promote rapid growth of algae.

These algal blooms can significantly disrupt the equilibrium of the aquatic ecosystem. As the algae die off, the decomposition process consumes oxygen in the water, which can create hypoxic conditions, detrimental to fish and other aquatic life. This oxygen depletion can lead to fish kills and a decline in biodiversity in the affected areas, demonstrating the far-reaching consequences of nutrient overload.

Understanding eutrophication is crucial because it highlights the importance of managing nutrient inputs into ecosystems to maintain water quality and the health of aquatic organisms.