Eutrophication results in death of animal life in ponds and lakes due to
Responses
A lack of oxygenlack of oxygen
B an extremely low pH
C overgrowth of algae
D toxic pollutants
Eutrophication does not typically result in death of animal life in ponds and lakes due to an extremely low pH. The primary cause of animal death in eutrophication is actually a lack of oxygen, also known as hypoxia. This occurs when excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, enter the water body and promote the rapid growth of algae and other aquatic plants. As these plants die and decompose, bacteria consume oxygen during the process, leading to oxygen depletion in the water. Without sufficient oxygen, fish and other aquatic organisms struggle to survive and may eventually die.
The correct response is A) lack of oxygen.
Eutrophication is a process that occurs when excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, enter a body of water, typically from sources like agricultural runoff or sewage. These nutrients act as fertilizers for algae and other aquatic plants, causing them to grow rapidly and form dense mats on the surface of the water. This excessive growth of algae is known as an algal bloom.
As these algae die and decompose, bacteria break them down and consume oxygen in the process. This consumption of oxygen leads to a reduction in oxygen levels in the water, creating what is known as hypoxia. Hypoxia is a condition where the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water becomes dangerously low for the survival of many aquatic organisms.
Fish and other animal life in ponds and lakes rely on dissolved oxygen in the water to breathe. When oxygen levels become depleted due to eutrophication, these organisms are unable to obtain the oxygen they need to survive. Thus, the lack of oxygen resulting from eutrophication contributes to the death of animal life in ponds and lakes.
To determine the cause of death in this specific scenario, it is important to consider the key characteristic of eutrophication, which is the excessive growth of algae leading to reduced oxygen levels in the water. By understanding this process, we can conclude that the lack of oxygen is the primary cause of animal life death in ponds and lakes affected by eutrophication.