Final answer:
A plausible hypothesis for the algae growth at Finley Farm is the excessive nutrients from fertilizer runoff fostering algal blooms, which can be supported by testing nutrient levels in the water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formulating a Hypothesis for Algal Growth at Finley Farm
To explain the excessive algae growth at Finley Farm, a reasonable hypothesis might be that high levels of nutrients, particularly from fertilizer runoff, are entering the water bodies on the farm. This influx of nutrients creates an ideal environment for algae to flourish, leading to algal blooms that can disrupt the aquatic ecosystem. Furthermore, the hypothesis can predict that if nutrient levels were measured and found to be high in the water where the algal bloom is occurring, and comparatively lower in areas without algal blooms, this would support the hypothesis that fertilizer runoff is contributing to the algal growth.
The presence of dense algal layers could lead to oxygen depletion in the lower layers of the water due to a lack of mixing and light penetration, causing the lower areas to become anaerobic and altering the aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, testing the water for higher nutrient concentrations, particularly those from agricultural fertilizers, would provide evidence to either support or refute this hypothesis.