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 17 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


matt95

  • Member
  • Posts: 317
Reply 3 on: Yesterday
Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

 

Did you know?

Certain chemicals, after ingestion, can be converted by the body into cyanide. Most of these chemicals have been removed from the market, but some old nail polish remover, solvents, and plastics manufacturing solutions can contain these substances.

Did you know?

Adult head lice are gray, about ? inch long, and often have a tiny dot on their backs. A female can lay between 50 and 150 eggs within the several weeks that she is alive. They feed on human blood.

Did you know?

Your skin wrinkles if you stay in the bathtub a long time because the outermost layer of skin (which consists of dead keratin) swells when it absorbs water. It is tightly attached to the skin below it, so it compensates for the increased area by wrinkling. This happens to the hands and feet because they have the thickest layer of dead keratin cells.

Did you know?

Aspirin may benefit 11 different cancers, including those of the colon, pancreas, lungs, prostate, breasts, and leukemia.

Did you know?

It is important to read food labels and choose foods with low cholesterol and saturated trans fat. You should limit saturated fat to no higher than 6% of daily calories.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library