eutrophication

The process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of plant nutrients, especially nitrates or phosphates; the enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, which stimulates the growth of aquatic organisms; an increase in chemical nutrients, typically compounds containing nitrogen or phosphorus, in an ecosystem. This nitrification promotes algae growth that, when it dies, can lead to the depletion of dissolved oxygen, killing fish and other aquatic organisms. While eutrophication is a natural, slow-aging process for a body of water, human activities can greatly accelerate the process.

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