Question

Algal blooms occur due to the presence of an excess amount of nutrients, like phosphorus, in fresh water. How does excess phosphorus get into fresh water?

A)
The nutrients are added to the water by fishermen to feed the fish.


B)
The nutrients leak into fresh water from oil refineries in the vicinity.


C)
The nutrients are a part of the fertilizers that are often washed away into ponds.


D)
The nutrients are formed by the decomposition of organic wastes dumped into fresh water.

Answer 1

C) The nutrients are a part of the fertilizers that are often washed away into ponds.

Answer 2

The algal blooms can be defined as the rapid growth of the algae in the water bodies. These algal blooms are a result of the excess amounts of nutrients, such as phosphorus, in the water. These excess nutrients are released in the fresh water bodies as a result of the fertilizers that are washed away from the agricultural fields nearby. The fertilizers are rich in nutrients such as phosphorus to help the plant to grow. When they get washed into the water bodies, they promote the growth of the algae leading to algal bloom.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option C - The nutrients are a part of the fertilizers that are often washed away into ponds'.