Why does eutrophication occur?
Eutrophication is excessive algal and plant production caused by high nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to water.
How the process forms and its main drivers
Fertilizer, animal waste and sewage increase nutrient load. Decomposition of dead biomass consumes oxygen and may cause fish kills.
Evidence, applications and limits
Lasting solutions reduce watershed nutrient inputs through treatment, buffer strips and wetlands. Not every algal bloom is toxic. Local outcomes vary with climate, geology, topography and human influence, so they require long-term measurements.
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