LIFESCI 2H03 Lecture Notes - Sewage Treatment, Eutrophication, Laurentian Channel

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Life Sciences
• Course: LIFESCI 2H03
• Professor: Luc Bernier

Document Summary

Great abundance of fish species requiring high o2. Most natural lakes or bodies of water tend to be oligotrophic, low supply of nutrients which keeps in check the growth of algae. High algal growth low dissolved o2 fish species tolerant of low o2 lower biodiversity. Dense carpets of floating algae fungi and microboes actively use the oxygen to breakdown triggered by abundance of nutrients in the water column. Eutrophication process frequency has increased in the past 50 years source of increase in the amount of nutrients is coming from the mississippi river (nitrogen or phosphorous) Diffusion of oxygen from the surface to the bottom. We end up with two strata of water that are completely different. Waters with a dissolved oxygen (do) concentration less than 2mg/l are defined as: hypoxic. In most species of fish once we reach the 1-2 threshold most will be dying or dead. Higher values when most aquatic organisms are able to thrive.