This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Explain the difference between oligotrophic and eutrophic waters. Describe the sequential process of ... (Read 74 times)

rl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 579
Explain the difference between oligotrophic and eutrophic waters. Describe the sequential process of eutrophication.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What are the two processes that result in natural water purification? State the difference between them. Distinguish between green water and blue water.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

stillxalice

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 339
Answer to Question 1

Oligotrophic waters are low in nutrients while eutrophic waters have high levels of nutrients. As the water of an oligotrophic body becomes enriched with nutrients, numerous changes are set in motion. First, the nutrient enrichment allows the rapid growth and multiplication of phytoplankton, increasing the turbidity of the water. The increasing turbidity shades out the SAV that live in the water. With the die-off of SAV, there is a loss of food, habitats, and dissolved oxygen from their photosynthesis. Phytoplankton has a remarkably high growth and reproduction rate. Under optimal conditions, phytoplankton biomass may double every 24 hours, a capacity far beyond that of benthic plants. Thus, phytoplankton soon reaches a maximum population density, and continuing growth and reproduction are balanced by die-off. Dead phytoplankton settles out, resulting in heavy deposits of detritus on the lake or river bottom. In turn, the abundance of detritus supports an abundance of decomposers, mainly bacteria. The explosive growth of bacteria, consuming oxygen via respiration, creates an additional demand for dissolved oxygen. The result is the depletion of dissolved oxygen, with the consequent suffocation of fish and shellfish. In sum, eutrophication refers to this whole sequence of events, starting with nutrient enrichment, and proceeding to the growth and die-off of phytoplankton, the accumulation of detritus, the growth of bacteria, and, finally, the depletion of dissolved oxygen and the suffocation of higher organisms.

Answer to Question 2

Water rises to the atmosphere through evaporation and returns to the Earth's surface after condensation through precipitation. This process purifies water because only water evaporates. All impurities are left behind during the process of evaporation. After condensation of the evaporated water, only water is present. Water will remain clean as it returns to the Earth's surface as long as it does not fall through an area with air pollution. Green water is water in the soil and in organisms that eventually ends up as water vaporthe main source of water for natural ecosystems and rain-fed agriculture. Blue water is renewable surface water runoff and groundwater rechargethe focus of management and the main source of water for human withdrawals.




rl

  • Member
  • Posts: 579
Reply 2 on: Jul 15, 2018
Excellent


cpetit11

  • Member
  • Posts: 321
Reply 3 on: Yesterday
:D TYSM

 

Did you know?

In 1885, the Lloyd Manufacturing Company of Albany, New York, promoted and sold "Cocaine Toothache Drops" at 15 cents per bottle! In 1914, the Harrison Narcotic Act brought the sale and distribution of this drug under federal control.

Did you know?

In inpatient settings, adverse drug events account for an estimated one in three of all hospital adverse events. They affect approximately 2 million hospital stays every year, and prolong hospital stays by between one and five days.

Did you know?

The average person is easily confused by the terms pharmaceutics and pharmacology, thinking they are one and the same. Whereas pharmaceutics is the science of preparing and dispensing drugs (otherwise known as the science of pharmacy), pharmacology is the study of medications.

Did you know?

Only one in 10 cancer deaths is caused by the primary tumor. The vast majority of cancer mortality is caused by cells breaking away from the main tumor and metastasizing to other parts of the body, such as the brain, bones, or liver.

Did you know?

When blood is deoxygenated and flowing back to the heart through the veins, it is dark reddish-blue in color. Blood in the arteries that is oxygenated and flowing out to the body is bright red. Whereas arterial blood comes out in spurts, venous blood flows.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library