Why Is the Runoff from Fertilized Agricultural Fields, Even If

question 56

Multiple Choice

Why is the runoff from fertilized agricultural fields, even if free of pesticides, often harmful to the ecosystems of temperate lakes?

• A) Fertilizer compounds create large hydrothermal vent communities that kill lake organisms.
• B) The runoff causes heavy growth of algae, which eventually die and decompose, causing oxygen depletion.
• C) Runoff water pools at the lake's bottom, where the fertilizer compounds react with materials in the sediment to form toxic substances.
• D) The runoff is acid, and acidification kills key lake organisms.

---

Definitions:

Lifelong Processes

Activities or developments that occur throughout an individual's life, from birth to death.

Middle Childhood

A developmental stage occurring roughly between the ages of 6 to 12 years, characterized by significant growth in social and cognitive skills.

Performance Data

Information and statistics that measure the output, efficiency, or effectiveness of an individual, group, or organization's work.

Retail Store Manager

An individual responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a retail store, including sales, staff management, and inventory control.