BIO220H1 : Lab Notes
38
BIO220H1 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
38 documents
Document Summary
Null hypothesis: fertilizers (phosphorus and nitrate) will have no effect on the system. Eutrophication results from continuous pollution in the form of agricultural run-off or sewage outflows (human or animal) Fertilizers and sewage outflows are high in nitrogen and phosphorus essential for plant growth in terrestrial and aquatic environments. These nutrients are typically in low concentrations and limit the numbers of algae and aquatic plants. When concentrations are increased to high levels, primary production can explode, resulting in eutrophication. The bloom prevents algae and aquatic plants below the surface from receiving sunlight, causing them to die. Algal cells are short-lived lots of dead matter is produced when they die. The large amounts of dead plant and animal material are decomposed by heterotrophic organisms (mainly bacteria), which use oxygen and produce. High rates of decomposition result in low oxygen and high co2: both are detrimental to aquatic organisms that require oxygen to survive.
