Dead Zones
Too much of anything is a bad thing! And too much fertilizer on land can mean no life in the water. Nutrients from land enter waterways and (can) have devastating impacts on aquatic life.
1
Harmful Algal Blooms
Algal blooms occur naturally and can be a sign of a healthy, productive environment. However, excess nutrients, often from fertilizers or run-off, can cause extreme algal blooms that negatively impact the environment.
2
Eutrophication
When there is too much algae, due to excess nutrients, a large mat forms in the water and blocks sunlight from hitting the water below. This means the life under the algae, that depends on sunlight for survival, cannot live and begins to decompose.
3
Dead Zones
As decomposition occurs, carbon dioxide is released into the water and oxygen is taken up. Animals, like fish and crustaceans, need oxygen to survive. When the oxygen is used up in the water, an anoxic area is created, and other living things cannot survive. This area is called a dead zone because no life can exist in that area.
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Anoxic areas are created when there is too little oxygen in the water for other marine life to survive.
