AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Eutrophication
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What happens after an algal bloom dies off?
When the algal bloom dies, microbes begin to digest the dead algae.
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What happens after an algal bloom dies off?
When the algal bloom dies, microbes begin to digest the dead algae.
Summarize the process of eutrophication from nutrient input to its effect on aquatic life.
Nutrient enrichment causes an algal bloom; the subsequent death and microbial digestion of the algae depletes dissolved oxygen, which can cause fish die-offs.
Explain why dissolved oxygen levels decrease during eutrophication.
Dissolved oxygen levels decrease because the microbes that decompose the dead algae consume oxygen from the water during the digestion process.
What are the two main anthropogenic causes of eutrophication?
The primary anthropogenic causes of eutrophication are agricultural runoff and wastewater release.
Define eutrophication.
Eutrophication is the process that occurs when a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients.
Identify two types of products whose excessive use contributes to nutrient pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
Excessive use of fertilizers and detergents contributes to nutrient pollution that causes eutrophication.
What are hypoxic waterways?
Hypoxic waterways are bodies of water that are low in dissolved oxygen.
What is the initial, immediate effect of nutrient enrichment in an aquatic ecosystem?
The increase in nutrients causes a rapid and massive growth of algae, known as an algal bloom.
If a city's wastewater, rich in detergents, is released into a lake, what is the likely chain of events that will follow?
The nutrients from the detergents will cause an algal bloom, which will then die and be decomposed by microbes, leading to decreased oxygen levels.
A farmer uses excessive fertilizer on a field next to a river. What environmental problem could this cause in the river?
Runoff from the fertilizer can cause eutrophication in the river by enriching it with nutrients.
What is a major potential consequence for fish in a waterway experiencing severe eutrophication?
The low dissolved oxygen levels (hypoxia) created by eutrophication can lead to massive fish die-offs.