Eutrophication

Eutrophication is a process mostly associated with human activity whereby ecosystems accumulate minerals. This free course, Eutrophication, explains how this process occurs, what its effects on different types of habitat are, and how it might be managed.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• Describe the principal differences between a eutrophic and an oligotrophic ecosystem
• Explain the mechanisms by which species diversity is reduced as a result of eutrophication (Questions 2.1 and 2.2)
• Contrast the anthropogenic sources that supply nitrogen and phosphorus to the wider environment, and describe how these sources can be controlled (Question 3.1)
• Describe how living organisms can be used as monitors of the trophic status of ecosystems (Question 4.1)
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three different methods for combating anthropogenic eutrophication (Question 4.2).