BRAINCAKEEutrophication
Eutrophication is the process by which nutrients build up in a body of water, leading to an increase in the growth of algae and, eventually, the death of aerobic organisms. It is often caused by nitrate leached from farmland, and it happens in a sequence of steps.
1. In most lakes and rivers, nitrate is naturally scarce, so it is a limiting factor for the growth of plants and algae.
2. Leaching adds large amounts of nitrate, so it is no longer limiting. Algae grow rapidly, especially at the surface, forming an algal bloom.
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More in Nutrient Cycles
- Ammonification
- Nitrification
- Denitrification
- The Phosphorus Cycle
- Mycorrhizae
- Natural and Artificial Fertilisers
- Effects of Fertilisers on Productivity
- Leaching
All 13 lessons in Nutrient Cycles · All AQA A-level Biology topics