AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Eutrophication is the process by which an entire body of water, or parts of it, becomes progressively enriched with minerals and nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus.

Detailed explanation-2: -Nutrients are essential for plant growth, but the overabundance of nutrients in water can have many harmful health and environmental effects. An overabundance of nutrients-primarily nitrogen and phosphorus-in water starts a process called eutrophication.

Detailed explanation-3: -Nitrogen and phosphorus exist naturally in aquatic ecosystems, but human activities such as the use of fertilizers, wastewater management, fossil fuel burning, and runoff from use of soaps and detergents introduce excess nutrient pollution into ecosystems faster than it can adapt.

Detailed explanation-4: -High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus can cause eutrophication of water bodies. Eutrophication can lead to hypoxia (“dead zones”), causing fish kills and a decrease in aquatic life.

Detailed explanation-5: -Nutrient pollution is the process where too many nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to bodies of water and can act like fertilizer, causing excessive growth of algae.