Eutrophication and its effect on algae growth and dissolved oxygen

Abstract

A major event that affects aquatic ecosystems is eutrophication which occurs when nutrients are added to bodies of water. We conducted our experiment to examine the relationship between nutrient levels in water and algae growth. We tested water samples with different nutrient levels and calculated algal densities after a two week period. Unfortunately our results were not as expected due to the presence of an unknown fungus in the water samples. However we found in other articles that our hypothesis, higher nutrient levels will produce higher algal growth and density of algae, is supported.