eutrophic
Algae bloom prone
Eutrophic describes a body of water rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus.
This abundance promotes excessive plant growth—particularly algae—which depletes oxygen as it decays, often killing fish and other aquatic life.
Lakes and ponds become eutrophic naturally over millennia, but agricultural runoff accelerates the process dramatically: The eutrophic pond was choked with algae blooms.
Flower or flourishing state
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- pondscumAquatic surface growth
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
diatoms · macroalgae · microalgae · spirulina · chlorella · photosynthesis · overgrowth · turbidity
Glow-in-dark element
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- phosphatesSalts of a certain acid
- nitratesNitrogen-oxygen salt compounds
- fertilizersSubstances enriching soil
runoff · loading · enrichment · influx · accumulation · cycling · limitation · saturation
Study of inland waters
- hypertrophicAbnormally enlarged through growth
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- turnoverSales volume or attrition
- thermoclineRapid temperature-change layer
reservoirs · freshwater · brackish · sedimentation · stagnation · littoral · pelagic · benthic
Applying too many nutrients
- runoffExcess water drainage
- sewageLiquid refuse in drains
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- detergentsSurfactant cleaning agents
stormwater · leaching · impairment · degradation · remediation · restoration · mitigation
Insufficient tissue oxygenation
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- depletionReduction of supply
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- suffocationFatal lack of air
Output relative to input
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
- detritusLoose waste from decay
- decomposersOrganisms breaking down dead material
- successionFollowing in order
bloom
Flower or flourishing state
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- pondscumAquatic surface growth
chlorophyll · diatoms · macroalgae · microalgae · spirulina · chlorella · photosynthesis · overgrowth · turbidity · scum
phosphorus
Glow-in-dark element
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- phosphatesSalts of a certain acid
- nitratesNitrogen-oxygen salt compounds
fertilizers · runoff · loading · enrichment · influx · accumulation · cycling · limitation · saturation · amendments
limnology
Study of inland waters
- hypertrophicAbnormally enlarged through growth
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- turnoverSales volume or attrition
thermocline · reservoirs · freshwater · brackish · sedimentation · stagnation · littoral · pelagic · benthic · watershed
overfertilization
Applying too many nutrients
detergents · stormwater · leaching · impairment · degradation · remediation · restoration · mitigation
hypoxia
Insufficient tissue oxygenation
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- depletionReduction of supply
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
suffocation · decomposition · respiration · deoxygenation · asphyxiation
productivity
Output relative to input
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
- detritusLoose waste from decay
- decomposersOrganisms breaking down dead material
eutrophicnutrient-poor
Low in essential compounds
unproductive · infertile · barren · mesotrophic · sterile