Marny’s Page
Meet Marny and learn more the process by which a lake, pond or stream becomes too rich in nutrients.
Eutrophication is a natural process that occurs in water bodies but anthropogenic nutrient loading accelerates the process so that it is detrimental and fatal to organisms in that water body. When excess nutrients are added to a water body, excessive plant algae and aquatic plant growth occurs. Algae growth blocks out sunlight, causing submerged plants die. The bacteria which decompose the plants consume oxygen, resulting in the lake environment becoming anoxic. Insufficient oxygen is available for other organisms and may result in decreased biodiversity, simplification of biotic community structure, and instability of the ecosystem.
Unnatural eutrophication is a result of human interference in the ecosystem. The nutrients that are discharged into the water body are nitrogen and phosphorus. Human activities that cause the release of nitrogen and phosphorus include industrialization, urbanization, agriculture, and may also be from point sources at the household level.
Marny Girard
I have completed a graduate program in Environmental Management and Assessment from Algonquin College and I have previously obtained an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Carleton University. Through my studies, I have learned about the cultural and historical significance of the Ottawa River. I have also had the opportunity to collect and analyze samples from the Ottawa River in order to measure the influence of various pollutants. I have lived in Ottawa my entire life and have had many wonderful experiences on the Ottawa River. I have enjoyed canoeing, kayaking, and swimming in the Ottawa River and I frequently ride my bike along the Ottawa River Parkway. The issues and concerns surrounding the Ottawa River are multi-faceted and require a collaborative effort. The river unites us, as it is the water we all drink. It flows through each of us and we have a moral obligation to maintain its quality and biodiversity.
We all have some special connection to water. These are our watermarks and I’ve archived mine with the Watermark Project. Read my watermark here and take a minute submit your own!