A dead zone area in the Gulf of Mexico along the coast of Louisiana and Texas is causing the marine life that call that place home to flee or perish due to uninhabitable levels of oxygen in the water. Dissolved oxygen near the bottom of that area only accounts for .000002% of the water composition--rendering aquatic life in that area non-existent or extremely futile. A surplus of nutrients being deposited via the Mississippi River is largely to blame, creating superfluous amounts of algae and zooplankton. These organisms then defecate, and the remnants then fall to the ocean floor and deplete oxygen levels--thus causing hypoxia or a dead zone.
Welcome to EcoLife! This blog, which is hosted by Portland State University students, aims to motivate, inform, and inspire change. We want you to learn about the complicated issues surrounding homelessness, while going beyond the tip of the iceberg. We hope to establish a connection with you through our posts regarding the lives and experiences of homeless individuals, expressed in these numerous stories and articles. We hope you enjoy our blog!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Dead Zones in the Gulf of Mexico
A dead zone area in the Gulf of Mexico along the coast of Louisiana and Texas is causing the marine life that call that place home to flee or perish due to uninhabitable levels of oxygen in the water. Dissolved oxygen near the bottom of that area only accounts for .000002% of the water composition--rendering aquatic life in that area non-existent or extremely futile. A surplus of nutrients being deposited via the Mississippi River is largely to blame, creating superfluous amounts of algae and zooplankton. These organisms then defecate, and the remnants then fall to the ocean floor and deplete oxygen levels--thus causing hypoxia or a dead zone.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment