Question

Explain how does the algal bloom eventually choke the water body in an industrial area?

Answer 1

The algae and plants are the primary producers in a lake in which the algae contribute to the maximum productivity. In an industrial area the runoff of nutrients such as inorganic chemicals and sewage, leads to an increase in the fertility of the lake. As a result, it causes a tremendous increase in the primary productivity of the lake ecosystem. This leads to an increased growth of algae, resulting in algal blooms. Later, the decomposition of these algae depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of other aquatic animal life. This ageing process of a lake caused due to nutrient enrichment is called Eutrophication.