Nitrogen Reduction

(Oceanservice.noaa.gov 2010)

The government put forth a plan to reduce the nitrogen load in the Gulf of Mexico by 30% because excess nitrogen is the main cause of hypoxia (Arbor 2004). Hypoxia is when there is a deficiency in oxygen reaching important parts of organisms, and is caused by a lack of oxygen in the water the organisms live in (Arbor 2004). This section of water is called the Dead Zone (noaa.gov). "Hypoxia occurs when increased nitrogen runoff causes algae blooms, which sink into bottom waters and are decomposed by bacteria, a process that consumes oxygen" (Arbor 2004). The oil spill affects the dead zone in two ways. It partially prevents the normal mixing of oxygen in the atmosphere with the water, and the microbes that break down oil also consume oxygen (noaa.gov). This condition can kill the vast majority of the marine species in water with this lack of oxygen (Arbor 2004). Consequently, by reducing nitrogen, this plan combats hypoxia and establishes a more suitable living environment for the shrimp affected by the spill.



Works Cited:

Arbor, A. (2004) Goals Unlikely to Protect Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Industry. Science Daily. (Date Accessed: February 13, 2013.) www.sciencedaily.com

Noaa.gov. (2010) Links Between Gulf Hypoxia and the Oil Spill. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2013) noaa.gov

Oceanservice.noaa.gov. (2010) Nonpoint Source Pollution. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Date Accessed: February 19, 2013) oceanservice.noaa.gov