Visual Report

hat is Eutrophication? Eutrophication is the process of nutrients and chemicals entering water bodies. This drives the growth of algae resulting in the formation of an algal bloom that prevents sunlight from entering the water which is used by marine life to survive. Consequently, this results in the death of the photosynthetic organisms below the algal bloom and eventually the bloom itself. The dead matter is then feasted on by bacteria creating an anoxic environment. The bacteria releases CO₂ and this means that the animals would either have to migrate or die due to hypoxia. ow bad is Eutrophication? If you live close to the coast then the terms 'eutrophication' and 'deadzone' will not be new for you as the Gulf of Mexico as it has been overrun by algal blooms that in 2010 extended as far as 20,140 km2(1*). 'Deadzones' are basically regions of water where oxygen is pretty much non existent. As you read this you must be thinking: 'Why should I be concerned?' Well eutrophication actually poses a lot of threats and (e1n*c)y-c->lo*pSeodciiae/tdye, Nad.,-2zo0n2e1/.>De[AacdcZeossneed. [1o4nlJinane]uNarayti2o0n2a1l ]G. eographic Society. Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.org/

can cause fluctuations in the economy. For example the algal blooms produce toxins and since mass fishing takes place in the Gulf the fish that is caught will become unsuitable for consumption causing health problems such as: • ASP Symptoms of disease (Amnesic shellfish ASP: mental confusion and Poisoning) memory loss • NSP (Neurotoxic shell fish poisoning) NSP: muscular paralysis • DSP (Diarrhoeic shellfish poisoning) DSP: Gastrointenstinal symptoms (diarrhoea, vomiting ‣ 72% of shrimp sold in the U.S. is and abdominal pain) harvested from the Gulf along with 66% oysters and 16% commercial fish. cite As seen in the figure above there is a lot of red coverage very close to the shore - This marks the regions where the algal blooms exist. For the fishermen it wouldn't be morally right nor would it be lawful to fish in the red regions. This means that they would have to go out further into the Gulf where waters would be more dangerous to travel in and also raising their fuel costs. This in turn forces them to raise their prices. hat causes Eutrophication? Eutrophication is the result, as mentioned in the beginning of pollutants entering water bodies. The main cause of this is agriculture. A lot

of fertilizers and animal manure is used that are rich in Phosphorus and Nitrogen. During rainy seasons or even excessive watering water infused with the manure/fertilizer runs off into the nearest area where water is flowing. These both promote photosynthesis which is what allows the algae to multiply much faster and form a sheet over the water. A lot of agriculture takes place in Mississippi which is a huge contributor of the nutrients. ow can algal blooms be prevented?

Biblography 1 2* Dartmouth.edu. 2021. Eutrophication Case Study: The Mississippi River And The Gulf Of Mexico's Hypoxic Zone. [online] Available at: <https://

www.dartmouth.edu/~iispacs/Education/EARS18/Agriculture_2011/ hypoxia_in_the_gulf_of_mexico-a_case_study_on_eutrophication.html> [Accessed 14 January 2021].