Eutrophication

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/images/mangroves/florida_eutrophication_7536.jpg

Menkov, Peter

Stamatova, Zhanet

Tantcheva, Christina

Section 10/1

What is eutrophication? What is eutrophication?

A process whereby water bodies receive A process whereby water bodies receive excessive amounts of nutrients, which excessive amounts of nutrients, which results in excessive plant growth (aka results in excessive plant growth (aka algal bloom)algal bloom) (1)(1)

Anthropogenic eutrophication – the Anthropogenic eutrophication – the pollution that humans cause with pollution that humans cause with the the release of sewage effluent and release of sewage effluent and fertilizersfertilizers into natural waters. into natural waters. (2)(2)

What does eutrophication cause?What does eutrophication cause?

Reduced oxygen concentration (hypoxic Reduced oxygen concentration (hypoxic water)water) by the decomposition of dead plant by the decomposition of dead plant materialsmaterials (1)(1)

This can result in the death of other This can result in the death of other organisms (1)organisms (1)

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01590/pollution/culturaleutroph.jpg

Algal Bloom (3)

• Algal/marine/water bloom=“rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system” –green, yellowish-brown or red

• In fresh water and marine environment

• Caused by excessive nutrients (P and N mainly)

……So what? (3)So what? (3)

The more algae grow, the more other The more algae grow, the more other organisms die.organisms die.

Bacteria feed on the dead organic matter.Bacteria feed on the dead organic matter. Thus, bacteria increase in number.Thus, bacteria increase in number. More oxygen dissolved in water usedMore oxygen dissolved in water used Fish and aquatic insects dieFish and aquatic insects die

And then…? (3)And then…? (3) NeurotoxinsNeurotoxins Biological impact on Biological impact on

wildlifewildlife HABs –Harmful Algal HABs –Harmful Algal

Blooms (toxins produced Blooms (toxins produced by phytoplankton)by phytoplankton)

Accumulations of foams, Accumulations of foams, scums, and discoloration scums, and discoloration of the water (4)of the water (4)

http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/threerivers/studentprojects/ENVI_133_Spr_08/Phosphorus/eutrophication.gif

http://www.seos-project.eu/modules/oceancolour/images/algal-bloom-warning-sign.jpg

Problems… Problems… (9, 10) (9, 10) Species diversity Species diversity decreasesdecreases

Dominant biota changesDominant biota changes Competition for resources, Competition for resources,

predator pressurepredator pressure Turbidity increases – less Turbidity increases – less

transparencytransparency Rate of sedimentation Rate of sedimentation

increasesincreases High chemical or physical High chemical or physical

stressstress Algal bloomsAlgal blooms

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http://sevenhillslake.com/CulturalEutrophication.jpg

Water - injurious to health, decline in valueWater - injurious to health, decline in value Disturbance in water flow and navigationDisturbance in water flow and navigation Commercially important species of fish Commercially important species of fish

may disappearmay disappear Problems with drinking water, bad taste or Problems with drinking water, bad taste or

odor after treatment (10)odor after treatment (10) BBlue baby syndromlue baby syndrome e

((methemoglobinemiamethemoglobinemia) - ) - nitrate levels nitrate levels above 10above 10 mgmg//l in drinking waterl in drinking water, may be , may be life-threateninlife-threatening (8)g (8)

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http://www3.aims.gov.au/ibm/pages/news/images/figure1-bc.jpg

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=171951

Prevention (5, 6)Prevention (5, 6)

RReduce the input of nutrients into the watereduce the input of nutrients into the water basinsbasins (for example, Baltic Sea) (for example, Baltic Sea)

Fertilization balanceFertilization balance Reduction in P and N loadReduction in P and N load Monitoring to predict eutrophicationMonitoring to predict eutrophication Hydrodynamics of the water body – especially Hydrodynamics of the water body – especially

information about nutrientsinformation about nutrients Precision agriculture – accurate irrigationPrecision agriculture – accurate irrigation Sewage treatment – removal of nutrientsSewage treatment – removal of nutrients Prevention of erosion of soilPrevention of erosion of soil Unfertilized buffer zones near water bodiesUnfertilized buffer zones near water bodies

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How to deal with the effects (5)How to deal with the effects (5)

Algaecides - copper sulphate, chlorine, Algaecides - copper sulphate, chlorine, citrate copper; kill algal and cyanobacterial citrate copper; kill algal and cyanobacterial cellscells

Filtration – micro-, ultra-, nano-Filtration – micro-, ultra-, nano- Coagulation-clarificationCoagulation-clarification Activated carbon adsorptionActivated carbon adsorption OxidationOxidation Disinfection with chlorineDisinfection with chlorine

Examples of Eutrophication (7)Examples of Eutrophication (7)

The Baltic SeaThe Baltic Sea In the Baltic Sea, all the areas In the Baltic Sea, all the areas

are affected by eutrophicationare affected by eutrophication Number of phytoplankton Number of phytoplankton

increases (especially increases (especially cyanobacteria)cyanobacteria)

This bacterium has increased, This bacterium has increased, because of the increase in because of the increase in nutrient concentrations and nutrient concentrations and due to the changes in the due to the changes in the seasonal availability and large seasonal availability and large nutrient proportionsnutrient proportions

Cyanobacteria bloom Cyanobacteria bloom (Nodularia spumigena) in the (Nodularia spumigena) in the western Balticwestern Baltic

http://www.eutro.org/documents/EEA%20Topic_Report_7_2001.pdf

The Baltic Sea (6)The Baltic Sea (6) Since harmful and toxic species are parts of the Since harmful and toxic species are parts of the

phytoplankton, the blooms of harmful algae have also phytoplankton, the blooms of harmful algae have also increasedincreased

Blooms - caused losses to fish farming, deaths of fish, sea Blooms - caused losses to fish farming, deaths of fish, sea birds, dogs and cattle, and some damage to human healthbirds, dogs and cattle, and some damage to human health

Source of eutrophication in this area – increase in Source of eutrophication in this area – increase in phytoplankton, consisting of many harmful bacteria causing phytoplankton, consisting of many harmful bacteria causing damage to the environmentdamage to the environment

Impacts include: Impacts include: reductions in biodiversityreductions in biodiversity reductions in the natural resources of dermersal fish and reductions in the natural resources of dermersal fish and

shellfishshellfish reduced income from maricultures of fish and shellfishreduced income from maricultures of fish and shellfish reduced recreational value and income from tourismreduced recreational value and income from tourism increased risk of poisoning of animals including humans by increased risk of poisoning of animals including humans by

algal toxinsalgal toxins

http://www.rahulbasu.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/baltic_sea_map.png

Solutions (6)Solutions (6)

The Baltic Sea states and the North Sea states - The Baltic Sea states and the North Sea states - decided to aim at a 50 % reduction of the N and decided to aim at a 50 % reduction of the N and P load from land compared to the level in the P load from land compared to the level in the middle of the 1980s.middle of the 1980s.

It is expected that the directives and especially It is expected that the directives and especially the recently decided water framework Directive the recently decided water framework Directive (the urban wastewater treatment directive,(the urban wastewater treatment directive, 2000/60/EC) will reduce the nutrient loads to the 2000/60/EC) will reduce the nutrient loads to the European coastal areas and the eutrophication European coastal areas and the eutrophication impacts to an acceptable level.impacts to an acceptable level.

Mediterranean Sea (7)Mediterranean Sea (7) Mediterranean surface Mediterranean surface

waters in the open sea are waters in the open sea are classified among the poorest classified among the poorest inin nutrients (oligotrophic) of nutrients (oligotrophic) of the world oceansthe world oceans

Mediterranean coastal zone - Mediterranean coastal zone - important for human important for human activities like habitation, activities like habitation, industry, agriculture, industry, agriculture, fisheries, military facilities, fisheries, military facilities, and tourist resortsand tourist resorts

Most of these activities Most of these activities contribute to coastal contribute to coastal eutrophication in the Eastern eutrophication in the Eastern MediterraneaMediterraneann

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Works CitedWorks Cited "Algal bloom." "Algal bloom." Science DailyScience Daily. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010.

<http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/algal_bloom.htm>. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/algal_bloom.htm>. (3)(3) "Algal Blooms in Fresh Water." "Algal Blooms in Fresh Water." Water EncyclopediaWater Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010.. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010.

<http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-in-Fresh-<http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-in-Fresh-Water.html#ixzz0qB5cw2ci>. Water.html#ixzz0qB5cw2ci>. (4)(4)

"Eutrophicatio and Health." "Eutrophicatio and Health." European CommissionEuropean Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010.. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010. <http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/pdf/eutrophication.pdf>. <http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/pdf/eutrophication.pdf>. (5)(5)

"Eutrophication." "Eutrophication." Guide to Water PollutionGuide to Water Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010. <http://www.water-. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010. <http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/eutrophication.html>. pollution.org.uk/eutrophication.html>. (7)(7)

"Eutrophication." "Eutrophication." USGSUSGS. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010.. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010. <<http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html>. http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html>. (1)(1)

"Eutrophication." "Eutrophication." WikipediaWikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication>. (2)(2)

"Eutrophication in Europe’s coastal waters." "Eutrophication in Europe’s coastal waters." ASSETSASSETS. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010. <http://www.eutro.org/documents/EEA%20Topic_Report_7_2001.pdf>. <http://www.eutro.org/documents/EEA%20Topic_Report_7_2001.pdf>. (6)(6)

"General effects of eutrophication." "General effects of eutrophication." Water Treatment and Purification - LenntechWater Treatment and Purification - Lenntech. N.p., n.d. . N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010.Web. 6 June 2010. <http://www.lenntech.com/eutrophication-water-<http://www.lenntech.com/eutrophication-water-bodies/eutrophication-effects.htm>. bodies/eutrophication-effects.htm>. (10)(10)

"Problem: Eutrophication ." "Problem: Eutrophication ." WingologWingolog. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010.. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2010. <http://wingolog.org/writings/water/html/node27.html>. <http://wingolog.org/writings/water/html/node27.html>. (9)(9)

"Why Is Eutrophication Such a Serious Pollution Problem?" "Why Is Eutrophication Such a Serious Pollution Problem?" IETCIETC. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June . N.p., n.d. Web. 5 June 2010.2010. <http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/<http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/ short_series/lakereservoirs-3/1.asp>. short_series/lakereservoirs-3/1.asp>. (8)(8)