Aquatic and marine dead zones can be caused by increases in nitrogen and phosphorus in the water from human waste or fertilizer. these substances encourage algal blooms. although algae produce oxygen in the daytime by photosynthesis, during the night hours they continue to undergo cellular respiration and use up available oxygen. when algal blooms die off, more oxygen is used during decomposition of the dead algal cells. both of these processes can result in a significant depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water, creating dead zones. dead zones can be caused by natural or human factors.

a. summarize the role of algal blooms in disrupting the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Question

Biology

Alina Gonzales

4 November, 15:35

Aquatic and marine dead zones can be caused by increases in nitrogen and phosphorus in the water from human waste or fertilizer. these substances encourage algal blooms. although algae produce oxygen in the daytime by photosynthesis, during the night hours they continue to undergo cellular respiration and use up available oxygen. when algal blooms die off, more oxygen is used during decomposition of the dead algal cells. both of these processes can result in a significant depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water, creating dead zones. dead zones can be caused by natural or human factors.

a. summarize the role of algal blooms in disrupting the health of aquatic ecosystems.

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Algal blooms can result in creating low oxygen zones, referred to as the dead zones in aquatic ecosystems. This happens because the algae overall consume more oxygen than they produce and when they die even more oxygen is removed from the ecosystem in the process of their decomposition. This leaves the ecosystem depleted of oxygen and aggravate the living conditions in the ecosystems,