Trophic State and Eutrophication

• Trophic state -> level of ecosystem productivity
• What are the three trophic levels?

  1. oligotrophic (few)
  2. mesotrophic
  3. eutrophic (many)
• Eutrophication is when too many nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, enter a body of water, causing excessive growth of algae and plants, which can harm aquatic life by depleting oxygen levels.
• cultural eutrophication -> accelerated rate of eutrophication due to nutrients added from human activities
• eutrophication can lead to algal blooms, oxygen depletion , fish kills