Question

Which of the following best explains why increased farm runoff containing nitrogen compounds can lead to the oxygen depletion of aquatic environments?

A. The nitrogen increase produces nitric acid, lowering the PH of the environment

B. The nitrogen compounds directly lead to a population explosion of zooplankton

C. The breakdown of the nitrogen products by bacteria produces toxic amino acids

D. The presence of the nitrogen compounds removes a limiting factor from the algal populations

Answer 1

The nitrogen compounds directly lead to a population explosion of zooplankton. This explains why increased farm runoff containing compounds can lead to the oxygen depletion of aquatic environments.

Eutrophication is when body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients that induces the overgrowth of plant and algae which results in the oxygen depletion of water body. And one example is the bloom or increase in the phytoplankton in the water body as a response in increase levels of nutrients in the water body.