Plants flourish
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Depleted oxygen
Death of the ecosystem
A farmer fertilizes his crops. When it starts raining the fertilizer gets washed into the lake nearby.
The fertilizer in the lake causes the water to become overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates). These minerals causes algal bloom.
The photosynthetic algae grows over the the top of the lake, limiting the light to the plants. The lack of light makes the plants unable to
photosynthesize which causes them to die.
Algae and other plants die, and microorganisms such as phytoplankton and cyanobacteria start to decompose the organic matter.
The microorganisms need oxygen to decompose the dead organic matter. The microorganisms use up the water's oxygen which makes the oxygen levels in the lake decrease.
Low oxygen levels in the water due to the aerobic microorganisms, cause the fish to suffocate and die.
fertilizer
Dying Plants
x
x
Aerobic Microorganisms
Aerobic Microorganisms
photosynthetic algae
Plants flourish
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Depleted oxygen
Death of the ecosystem
A farmer fertilizes his crops. When it starts raining the fertilizer gets washed into the lake nearby.
The fertilizer in the lake causes the water to become overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates). These minerals causes algal bloom.
The photosynthetic algae grows over the the top of the lake, limiting the light to the plants. The lack of light makes the plants unable to
photosynthesize which causes them to die.
Algae and other plants die, and microorganisms such as phytoplankton and cyanobacteria start to decompose the organic matter.
The microorganisms need oxygen to decompose the dead organic matter. The microorganisms use up the water's oxygen which makes the oxygen levels in the lake decrease.
Low oxygen levels in the water due to the aerobic microorganisms, cause the fish to suffocate and die.
fertilizer
Dying Plants
x
x
Aerobic Microorganisms
Aerobic Microorganisms
photosynthetic algae
Plants flourish
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Depleted oxygen
Death of the ecosystem
A farmer fertilizes his crops. When it starts raining the fertilizer gets washed into the lake nearby.
The fertilizer in the lake causes the water to become overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates). These minerals causes algal bloom.
The photosynthetic algae grows over the the top of the lake, limiting the light to the plants. The lack of light makes the plants unable to
photosynthesize which causes them to die.
Algae and other plants die, and microorganisms such as phytoplankton and cyanobacteria start to decompose the organic matter.
The microorganisms need oxygen to decompose the dead organic matter. The microorganisms use up the water's oxygen which makes the oxygen levels in the lake decrease.
Low oxygen levels in the water due to the aerobic microorganisms, cause the fish to suffocate and die.
fertilizer
Dying Plants
x
x
Aerobic Microorganisms
Aerobic Microorganisms
photosynthetic algae
Plants flourish
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Depleted oxygen
Death of the ecosystem
A farmer fertilizes his crops. When it starts raining the fertilizer gets washed into the lake nearby.
The fertilizer in the lake causes the water to become overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates). These minerals causes algal bloom.
The photosynthetic algae grows over the the top of the lake, limiting the light to the plants. The lack of light makes the plants unable to
photosynthesize which causes them to die.
Algae and other plants die, and microorganisms such as phytoplankton and cyanobacteria start to decompose the organic matter.
The microorganisms need oxygen to decompose the dead organic matter. The microorganisms use up the water's oxygen which makes the oxygen levels in the lake decrease.
Low oxygen levels in the water due to the aerobic microorganisms, cause the fish to suffocate and die.
fertilizer
Dying Plants
x
x
Aerobic Microorganisms
Aerobic Microorganisms
photosynthetic algae
Plants flourish
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Depleted oxygen
Death of the ecosystem
A farmer fertilizes his crops. When it starts raining the fertilizer gets washed into the lake nearby.
The fertilizer in the lake causes the water to become overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates). These minerals causes algal bloom.
The photosynthetic algae grows over the the top of the lake, limiting the light to the plants. The lack of light makes the plants unable to
photosynthesize which causes them to die.
Algae and other plants die, and microorganisms such as phytoplankton and cyanobacteria start to decompose the organic matter.
The microorganisms need oxygen to decompose the dead organic matter. The microorganisms use up the water's oxygen which makes the oxygen levels in the lake decrease.
Low oxygen levels in the water due to the aerobic microorganisms, cause the fish to suffocate and die.
fertilizer
Dying Plants
x
x
Aerobic Microorganisms
Aerobic Microorganisms
photosynthetic algae
Plants flourish
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Depleted oxygen
Death of the ecosystem
A farmer fertilizes his crops. When it starts raining the fertilizer gets washed into the lake nearby.
The fertilizer in the lake causes the water to become overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates). These minerals causes algal bloom.
The photosynthetic algae grows over the the top of the lake, limiting the light to the plants. The lack of light makes the plants unable to
photosynthesize which causes them to die.
Algae and other plants die, and microorganisms such as phytoplankton and cyanobacteria start to decompose the organic matter.
The microorganisms need oxygen to decompose the dead organic matter. The microorganisms use up the water's oxygen which makes the oxygen levels in the lake decrease.
Low oxygen levels in the water due to the aerobic microorganisms, cause the fish to suffocate and die.
fertilizer
Dying Plants
x
x
Aerobic Microorganisms
Aerobic Microorganisms
photosynthetic algae
Plants flourish
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Algae blooms, blocking out sunlight and depleting oxygen
Depleted oxygen
Death of the ecosystem
A farmer fertilizes his crops. When it starts raining the fertilizer gets washed into the lake nearby.
The fertilizer in the lake causes the water to become overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (such as phosphates and nitrates). These minerals causes algal bloom.
The photosynthetic algae grows over the the top of the lake, limiting the light to the plants. The lack of light makes the plants unable to
photosynthesize which causes them to die.
Algae and other plants die, and microorganisms such as phytoplankton and cyanobacteria start to decompose the organic matter.
The microorganisms need oxygen to decompose the dead organic matter. The microorganisms use up the water's oxygen which makes the oxygen levels in the lake decrease.
Low oxygen levels in the water due to the aerobic microorganisms, cause the fish to suffocate and die.
fertilizer
Dying Plants
x
x
Aerobic Microorganisms
Aerobic Microorganisms
photosynthetic algae