Year 8 Science: Eutrophication and Heavy Metals

Vocabulary terms based on Year 8 Science reading questions covering eutrophication, dissolved oxygen, algae, and heavy metals.

Eutrophication

The process where excessive nutrients enter lakes and coastal waters, causing rapid algae growth and reduced dissolved oxygen when the algae die, which harms fish and other aquatic organisms.

Dissolved oxygen

The oxygen present in water that can decrease when algae die, negatively impacting fish and other aquatic life.

Algae

Aquatic organisms that can grow rapidly when excessive nutrients enter the water, whose subsequent death leads to oxygen depletion.

Heavy metals

A group of metallic chemical substances discussed in environmental science that can enter and affect aquatic ecosystems.

Nutrients (in aquatic ecosystems)

Substances that can enter lakes and coastal waters from external sources and cause rapid overgrowth of algae when present in excess.