Eutrophication
Definition:
The rapid growth of plants which reduce oxygen supply in
water, caused by excess nutrients
Causes:
• Nitrates from fertilisers applied to
surrounding arable land
• Phosphates from animal slurry
• Phosphates from sewage effluent from
settlements and holiday centres
Point source or non-point source pollution?
Effects of Eutrophication
Ecological Impacts
What role do positive feedback mechanisms play in the process
of eutrophication?
Explain why eutrophication can have the following ecological
impacts:
• death of aerobic organisms
(invertebrates, fish, amphibians)
• increased turbidity (cloudiness)
• loss of macrophytes
(emergent, submergent or floating aquatic plants)
• shortening of food chains
• loss of species diversity
Tackling Eutrophication
• Dredging out algal mud
• Damming small broads to prevent
pollution from main broads and rivers
• Extracting more phosphates at sewage
treatment works
• Grants to farmers to recreate traditional
grazing lands, with limited/no fertiliser
application
MANAGEMENT of EUTROPHICATION
Pollution management can be considered using three broad
strategies:
1. replace (with alternatives)
2. regulate (the release)
3. restore (the environment)
Factors such as culture, politics and economics influence
strategies used to manage pollution.
Case Study:
Norfolk Broads, UK
Effects on Norfolk Broads:
Strategies specific to tackling eutrophication
