Cultural eutrophication

Definition

Cultural eutrophication refers to the process of excessive nutrient enrichment in a body of water, usually caused by human activities such as agriculture and wastewater discharge. This leads to an overgrowth of algae and other aquatic plants, which depletes oxygen levels and disrupts the balance of the ecosystem.

Related terms

Algal bloom: A sudden increase in the population of algae due to excessive nutrient availability, leading to harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Hypoxia: A condition where there is a severe depletion of oxygen in a body of water, often caused by cultural eutrophication.

Dead zone: An area in a body of water with extremely low or no oxygen levels due to excessive nutrient pollution, resulting in little or no marine life.