Algal bloom
Definition
An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system, often visible as a green or red discoloration of the water. It can result from nutrient pollution and can have harmful ecological and health impacts.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Algal blooms are primarily caused by excess nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, often from agricultural runoff.
- Some algal blooms produce toxins that can harm aquatic life, humans, and other animals, known as harmful algal blooms (HABs).
- Eutrophication is a process that can lead to algal blooms due to nutrient enrichment in water bodies.
- Algal blooms can deplete oxygen levels in water through respiration and decomposition, leading to dead zones where aquatic life cannot survive.
- Climate change and warmer water temperatures can exacerbate the frequency and intensity of algal blooms.
Review Questions
- What are the primary nutrients responsible for causing algal blooms?
- How do harmful algal blooms (HABs) affect aquatic ecosystems and human health?
- Explain how eutrophication leads to the formation of algal blooms.
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Related terms
Eutrophication: The process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae.
Hypoxia: A condition where oxygen levels in water are reduced, often as a result of decomposing algae from an algal bloom.
Phytoplankton: Microscopic marine algae that form the base of many aquatic food webs; some species can proliferate quickly during an algal bloom.
