Question

An overabundance of nitrogen in bodies of water causes algae to overgrow, leading to the death of fish. Which characteristic of nitrogen causes this problem?
A. Nitrogen causes producers to grow.
B. Nitrogen increases the salinity of water.
C. Nitrogen causes acid to form in water.
D. Nitrogen buffers cells from extremes in pH.

Answer 1

Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the enrichment of a water body with nutrients, usually with an excess amount of nutrients. This process induces growth of plants and algae and due to the biomass .... Although eutrophication is commonly caused by human activities, it can also be a natural process, ...

Answer 2

The correct answer is option A, Nitrogen causes producers to grow.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient required for the growth of plant. Soil is the major source of nitrogen for plants and trees. During heavy rainfall the soil enriched in nitrogen flows into the nearby water bodies and causes its nutrition enrichment due to which the dense phytoplanktons grow in the water bodies. Such dense growth of plants in standing water such as pond or lake disturbs the water qualities such as dissolved oxygen, its temperature and pH, produce foul smelling water etc. Poor quality water is unable to support aquatic life and thus the species living in it die out