Eutrophication: Impacts of Excess Nutrient Inputs on Aquatic Ecosystem

Abstract

Nutrient pollution is a growing problem for water bodies around the world. Cultural eutrophication associated with nutrient pollution can lead to unhealthy ecosystems with a lack of oxygen and biodiversity. Anthropogenic inputs of nutrients to the Earth's surface and atmosphere have increased greatly during the past two centuries. This nutrient enrichment, or eutrophication, can lead to highly undesirable changes in ecosystem structure and function, however. This study investigated ponds to determine their trophic status, measured by water chemistry and biological indicators and briefly review the process, the impacts, and the potential management of cultural eutrophication in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. Keywords: Aquatic Ecosystem, Eutrophication, Nutrient Inputs, Nutrient Pollution, Trophic Status.