Question

How do nitrate and orthophosphate influence ponds, streams, rivers and estuaries

Answer 1

Nitrates and Phosphates are important minerals that are responsible for growth of plant. They are too found in the water bodies and promote the growth of small plants in water which are consumed the aquatic organisms living there.

Despite this if the level of nitrate and Phosphate if continue to increase in water body leads to Eutrophication. Eutrophication is also defined as aging of water body. In it the concentration of minerals mainly nitrates and Phosphates increase from normal and promote the growth of plants mainly algal bloom. Phosphate -- it supports the growth as well as decay of plants. It majorly promotoes the growth of algae and their rapid growth forms a thick mass in the water body and the water body appears green blue color. And due to this thick mass formation in/on water it result in lack of oxygen in water, absence of penetration of sunlight in water body.

And due to lack of oxygen the growth of animals is also inhibited and they too die off and this ultimately result in increase in organic matter of water body. And this can result in conversion of water body into a land.

Eutrophication can occur in 2 type : 1) natural -- it is a very slow process and took years and years to age. In it only natural factors like dead and decay of plants and animals contribute to increase in organic matter.

2) artificial -- in it the artificial factors like waste of sewage , wastes from industries , drain off organic matter rich detergents , etc contribute to organic matter. It is faster process than natural.

Harmful effects :

1) decrease in BOD (biochemical Oxygen demand ) of water body.

2) death of Aquatic animals

3) increase in organic matter result in conversion of water body into land.

4) release of toxins by different kinds of algae, other plants and animals.

5) change in color of water body, smell due to dead and decay

Stagnant water body like ponds, lakes eutrophies more rapidly than flowing water body like rivers. Estuaries are more rich in organic matter and they eutrohicate faster than other.