biogeographical cycles

How has the input of nutrients led to the decline to the Chesapeake Bay, what are thenutrients and what are their sources?

The decline of the Chesapeake Bay is largely due to an excess input of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients come from sources such as agricultural runoff (fertilizers and animal waste), sewage treatment plants, and urban stormwater. When too many nutrients enter the bay, they cause algal blooms that block sunlight and reduce oxygen levels in the water. This process, called eutrophication, leads to the death of fish, crabs, and underwater plants, damaging the bay's ecosystem.

system

a network of relationships among parts,elements, or components

feedback loop

a circular process in which a system's output serves as input to that same system

negative feedback loop

system changes and moves in one direction; that movement acts as an output, and as an input back into the system; the input then moves the system in the other direction(body temperature)

Positive feedback loop

system output causes the system to change in the same way and drives it further toward one extreme or another(caused mostly by humans)

lithosphere

rock and sediment

atmosphere

the air surrounding the planet

Hydrosphere

liquid, solid, or vapor water

biosphere

the planets living organism and the abiotic portions of the environment

Ecosystem

all organism and nonliving entities that occur and interact in an area at the same time

Carbon Cycle

water cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle