Task: Factors that can lead to Eutrophication

These refer to anything which allows phosphates, nitrates and other plant nutrients to enter water
bodies, leading to over enrichment and eventually algal overpopulation/ algal bloom.



Figure 1. The major sources of nutrients which lead to eutrophication of water bodies.
Factors leading to Eutrophication of water bodies may be naturally occurring or human induced.
Both cause an excess/abundance in nutrients, which boosts the growth of algae, because they
feed on these nutrients leading to an overgrowth in their population.

Natural Causes:
Lakes or water bodies located in fertile areas with nutrient rich soil. Leaching occurs
when it rains or due to irrigation, washing nutrients into water bodies.

The sediments of a lake (muddy bottom layer) usually contain high concentrations of
nitrogen and phosphorus. This nutrient build up is from past algal settling and dead
organic matter. In low oxygen concentrations, these nutrients are released by a process
called Internal Unloading.


However the most common causes of Eutrophication is as a result of Human activities.
Human induced causes:

Drainage water from agricultural lands, which is rich in nutrients (Phosphorus and
Nitrogen) from fertilizers and manure.


Figure: Annual global nitrogen fertilizer consumption for 1960-1995 (1 Tg = 10
12
g; data
from FAO 1999).

Soil erosion- If eroded soil from fertile agricultural, mining and construction lands
reaches water bodies, both Phosphorus and Nitrogen in the soil can contribute to
Eutrophication.

Polluted rain water usually contains dissolved nitrogen and Phosphorus (from internal
combustion and furnaces) which enters water bodies whenever it rains.

Runoff from cleaning agents and detergents which are composed of phosphorus and
nitrogen thus they increase the nutrient input of water bodies.

Lakes used for aquaculture, usually contain excess fish food which pollutes the water.
These excess unconsumed fish food are usually high in nitrates and phosphates, which
algae can use to boost growth.
Important to note: Fish kill caused by algal bloom (dinoflagellate Prorocentrum) in
Bolinao, Pangasinan, Phillipines in 2002. This was as a result of unconsumed organic fish
food and fecal matter in nearby fish pens.

fish pens in the Phillipines


2002 fish kill in Bolinao, Pangasinan Phillipines.

Untreated and partially-treated sewage discharged from coastal cities add significant
amounts of phosphates, nitrates and organic matter to nearby water bodies which
promotes algae bloom.

Red tide or algal bloom surrounding a section of Kingston Harbour. It is estimated that 20
million gallons of mostly untreated sewage is discharged daily into the harbour
Run off from cleaners or detergent- Humans mine phosphate ores and use phosphate in
the production of detergents. When waste water containing detergents run off into water
bodies they increase the nutrient concentration.















References:

http://kodu.ut.ee/~olli/eutr/html/htmlBook_4.html
http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/short_series/lakereservoirs-3/3.asp
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18456288
http://www.nepa.gov.jm/kingston%20harbour/html/The_Problem.htm
Mader, S.S. (2007). Essentials of Biology. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.