20 questions
Eutrophication is caused by
excess nutrients building up in the water.
industrial point-source pollution.
unlined landfills and septic tanks.
wastewater from homes mixing with drinking water.
As P and N build up, the probability of _______________ increases.
lower BOD
algal blooms
oxygenation
increased DO
How does eutrophication cause the death of aquatic organisms
the build up of carbon dioxide in the water
the lack of nitrogen in the water
the lack of carbon dioxide in the water
the lack of oxygen in the water
How can an algal bloom (eutrophication) lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen? Select all that apply.
Algae is a heterotroph and consumes more oxygen than it produces.
Decreased light penetration limits photosynthesis below the surface.
Bacteria consume oxygen as they decompose dead algae and other organisms.
Decomposes that would have produced oxygen are outcompeted by algae.
The two critical nutrients in eutrophication are... (select two)
nitrates
phosphates
carbon dioxide
dissolved oxygen
In eutrophication, dissolved oxygen levels decrease because
bacteria use it as they decompose organic material
algae uses it during photosynthesis
it reacts with hydrogen to form H2O (water)
fish use it up as they consume algae
A new golf course is built next to a river. Over the past several months, the nitrate levels of the water in the river have been increasing. Which best explains the cause of the increasing nitrate levels?
increased growth of algae
decreased biodiversity
runoff from fertilizer
chemical reactions with pesticides and fertilizers
Which would most likely happen if too many nutrients entered an estuary?
Nutrients would be used up by the fish and plants, keeping the estuary in balance.
Algal blooms would lower dissolved oxygen levels, causing fish to suffocate.
Algal blooms would decrease, leaving few food resources for fish.
Nutrients would sink to the bottom, increasing soil deposition.
Which process would most likely increase the dissolved oxygen level in a freshwater lake?
algae bloom
lake turnover
photosynthesis
respiration
How do excess nutrients typically enter a body of water?
rain water washes lawn and agricultural fertilizers into the ecosystem
Scientists are adding fertilizer to the ecosystem
Nitrogen fixing bacteria are creating an excess of organic nitrogen compounds
algae are causing denitrification in the water
Where is the most likely location of a dead zone in this watershed?
A
B
C
I
H
Why do nitrates and phosphates cause algal blooms?
They are critical plant nutrients.
They kill off competition.
Because algae grow faster than decomposers.
Nitrates and phosphates are density independent limiting factors.
The scientists measured hypoxia levels. What is hypoxia?
a fish
oxygen deficiency
rainfall
carbon dioxide deficiency
Hypoxia refers to a complete lack of DO (dissolved oxygen) whereas anoxis refers to low levels of DO that some organisms cannot survive.
True
False