Enriching the Sea to Death
Author: Scott W. Nixon
A: List the major ideas, concepts, or key points- point by point
Nitrogen and Phosphorus has been increasing in bodies of water. Because of this phytoplankton start to increase in population causing an algae bloom, which is a bloom of phytoplankton. These thick layers of phytoplanton block sunlight for sea grasses and sea weed. When there is a high amount of phytoplankton, the oxygen level will deplete causing marine organisms to die. When a large amount of phytoplankton start to die it uses up most of the oceans oxygen as it decomposes. When some parts of the ocean don't receive enough nutrients, they become dead zone. Dead zones cause other organisms to die, since there isn't enough oxygen.
C: Write a reaction paragraph to the article stating your own thoughts on the topic, using specific citations from the article to support your views
Finding out that too much nutrients is bad for the ocean is very surprising. We humans shouldn't be disposing our waste into the ocean. With our waste going into the ocean we affect the organisms in our ecosystem. I think the best thing to do, is to try to prevent nitrogen and phosphorus from going into our ocean. All of this causes eutrophication, which is the blooming of phytoplankton. Which leads to our marine animals suffocating and then washing back up to our beaches. We need to try and prevent the excess of nutrients now, and not wait because 10 years from now, it'll probably too late and out of hand.
So What?:
This reminds me of the The Lorax because once-ler didn't think of the affect to the ecosystem he was causing from chopping down trees, but instead we humans don't realize the after affect we cause we do things
- Thick layers of phytoplankton may block sunlight for sea grasses and seaweeds
- Burning fossil fuels have produced high amounts of nitrogen oxides. Rain and wind carries this compound into water, further enriching it
- Decrease of Oxygen in water can be deadly
- Phytoplankton sink when they die
- Nitrogen and phosphorus are the essential ingredients of plant fertilizers
- Phosphorus has a sticky characteristic and binds to other substances with ease
- Animals in ocean will suffocate, and dead creatures will litter shoreline
- Only recently have measures been taken to forestall the worst effects
- As pollution increases phytoplankton diversity may also change
- Coastal areas are vulnerable to oxygen depletion because it drains to the oceans
- Dead fish and sludge washes back on beaches
- Where nutrients are scarce, phytoplankton are sparse and the water is usually crystal clear
- Sewers in developing countries are bound to carry raw sewage initially until treatment occurs
- Phosphorus can also be removed from sewage by taking advantage of the stickiness areas rather than nitrogen.
- Researchers have found that Phosphorus induces aquatic plants to bloom in most fresh water areas rather than nitrogen
Nitrogen and Phosphorus has been increasing in bodies of water. Because of this phytoplankton start to increase in population causing an algae bloom, which is a bloom of phytoplankton. These thick layers of phytoplanton block sunlight for sea grasses and sea weed. When there is a high amount of phytoplankton, the oxygen level will deplete causing marine organisms to die. When a large amount of phytoplankton start to die it uses up most of the oceans oxygen as it decomposes. When some parts of the ocean don't receive enough nutrients, they become dead zone. Dead zones cause other organisms to die, since there isn't enough oxygen.
C: Write a reaction paragraph to the article stating your own thoughts on the topic, using specific citations from the article to support your views
Finding out that too much nutrients is bad for the ocean is very surprising. We humans shouldn't be disposing our waste into the ocean. With our waste going into the ocean we affect the organisms in our ecosystem. I think the best thing to do, is to try to prevent nitrogen and phosphorus from going into our ocean. All of this causes eutrophication, which is the blooming of phytoplankton. Which leads to our marine animals suffocating and then washing back up to our beaches. We need to try and prevent the excess of nutrients now, and not wait because 10 years from now, it'll probably too late and out of hand.
So What?:
- Excess nutrients are going into our oceans
- Sea grass and sea weed are dying
- Phytoplankton blooming is occurring
- Marin animals start to suffocate
- Phytoplankton start to use more O2 as they decompose in large amounts
- Author: Scott W. Nixon
- The ocean would be filled with phytoplankton bloom
- The whole ocean would probably become a dead zone
- More organism would die
This reminds me of the The Lorax because once-ler didn't think of the affect to the ecosystem he was causing from chopping down trees, but instead we humans don't realize the after affect we cause we do things