Nutrients and Water Quality in Aquatic Ecosystems

Ammonia Partitioning

Distribution of ammonia in aquatic systems.

Nitrogen Contamination

Excess nitrogen affecting water quality.

Phosphate Concentrations

Levels of phosphate in aquatic environments.

Chlorophyll α

Indicator of phytoplankton biomass.

Thermocline

Layer in water where temperature changes rapidly.

Photic Zone

Depth where light penetrates for photosynthesis.

Oxygen Sources

Oxygen from atmosphere and photosynthesis.

Oxygen Sinks

Oxygen consumed by respiration of organisms.

Dead Zones

Areas with low oxygen, harming aquatic life.

Nitrate Management

Strategies to control nitrate levels in water.

Reverse Osmosis

Water purification method using pressure through a membrane.

Ion Exchange

Process of exchanging ions between solutions and solids.

Ammonia Toxicity

Direct toxic effects of ammonia on aquatic organisms.

Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN)

Sum of ammonia and ammonium in water.

Ambient Water Quality Criteria (AWQC)

Standards for acceptable water quality levels.

Nitrate (NO3-)

Naturally occurring nutrient, low concentration in water.

Nitrite (NO2-)

Contaminant from pollution, harmful to health.

Blue Baby Syndrome

Condition caused by nitrite affecting hemoglobin.

Nutrient (Redfield Ratio)

Optimal nutrient ratios for marine productivity.

Colorimetry

Technique for measuring concentration via light absorption.

Molar Extinction Coefficient

Measure of how strongly a substance absorbs light.

Photosynthesis

Process converting light energy into chemical energy.

Zooplankton

Microscopic organisms feeding on phytoplankton.

Phosphorus Cycle

Movement of phosphorus through ecosystems.

Phosphate Sources

Origins of phosphates in aquatic systems.

Nutrient-Use Efficiency (NUE)

Ratio of nitrogen used in crops to applied.

Fluorometric Method

Technique using fluorescence to measure chlorophyll.

Satellite Data

Remote sensing for large-scale environmental monitoring.