eutrofisista

Eutrofisista is a term used in ecology to describe the process of eutrophication, which is the enrichment of a body of water with nutrients, typically compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus. This excessive nutrient input can lead to rapid growth of algae and phytoplankton, a phenomenon known as an algal bloom. While some nutrients are essential for aquatic life, an overabundance can disrupt the natural balance of an ecosystem.

As algal blooms grow excessively, they can block sunlight from reaching submerged aquatic plants, inhibiting their photosynthesis and leading to their death. When these algae and plants die, their decomposition by bacteria consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water. This depletion of oxygen, a state known as hypoxia or anoxia, can be detrimental or fatal to fish, invertebrates, and other aquatic organisms that rely on dissolved oxygen to survive.

The primary causes of eutrophication are often anthropogenic, meaning they stem from human activities. These include agricultural runoff containing fertilizers, untreated sewage discharge, and industrial wastewater. Natural eutrophication can also occur over very long geological timescales due to processes like nutrient cycling and sediment deposition, but the rapid and severe eutrophication observed today is almost exclusively linked to human impact. The consequences of eutrophication can include loss of biodiversity, decreased water quality, and impacts on recreational and economic uses of water bodies.