Glossary
Absorption (of Phosphorus)
The process by which living organisms take up phosphorus from their environment, typically from the soil by plants or from water by aquatic organisms.
Example:
Algae in a pond demonstrate absorption when they take in dissolved phosphate from the water to fuel their rapid growth during an algal bloom.
Algal Blooms
A rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system, often caused by an excess of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.
Example:
Warm temperatures combined with nutrient pollution can trigger massive algal blooms in coastal waters, sometimes creating visible green mats on the surface.
Dead Zones
Areas in aquatic ecosystems where oxygen levels are so low (hypoxia or anoxia) that most aquatic life cannot survive, often a severe consequence of eutrophication.
Example:
The Gulf of Mexico experiences a large seasonal dead zone due to nutrient runoff from the Mississippi River, severely impacting marine life and fisheries.
Decomposition (in Phosphorus Cycle)
The breakdown of dead organic matter by decomposers, which releases phosphorus back into the soil and water, making it available for new life.
Example:
When a leaf falls to the forest floor, fungi and bacteria facilitate its decomposition, returning stored phosphorus to the soil for other plants.
Eutrophication
The excessive richness of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, in a body of water, leading to dense plant growth (like algal blooms) and subsequent depletion of oxygen.
Example:
Runoff from suburban lawns and agricultural fields can cause severe eutrophication in local ponds, turning the water green and harming fish populations.
Geologic Uplift
A geological process where forces within the Earth's crust cause landmasses, including phosphorus-rich sedimentary rocks formed from ancient ocean sediments, to rise to the surface.
Example:
The formation of mountain ranges often involves geologic uplift, bringing ancient ocean floor sediments, rich in phosphorus, to the surface where they can weather.
Laundry Detergents
Cleaning agents that historically contained phosphates to improve cleaning effectiveness, which contributed to phosphorus pollution in wastewater before regulations were implemented.
Example:
While many modern products are phosphate-free, older formulations of laundry detergents were a significant source of phosphorus entering aquatic ecosystems through wastewater discharge.
Limiting Nutrient
A nutrient that is scarce or in short supply relative to the needs of organisms, thereby restricting the growth or population size of organisms in an ecosystem.
Example:
In many freshwater lakes, phosphorus acts as a limiting nutrient, meaning its availability controls the overall productivity and algal growth in the aquatic ecosystem.
Macronutrient
A nutrient that organisms need in relatively large quantities for proper growth, development, and essential biological functions.
Example:
Phosphorus is a vital macronutrient for plants, essential for energy transfer and genetic material, which is why it's a key component in many fertilizers.
Phosphate (PO4)
The primary chemical form in which phosphorus exists and cycles through the environment, typically as an ion.
Example:
Plants absorb phosphate ions from the soil through their roots to synthesize DNA, RNA, and ATP.
Phosphorus Cycle
The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, notably lacking a significant atmospheric phase.
Example:
Understanding the phosphorus cycle is crucial for managing agricultural runoff, as excess phosphorus can severely impact aquatic ecosystems.
Sedimentation (in Phosphorus Cycle)
The process where excess phosphorus settles out of water bodies and accumulates at the bottom, becoming incorporated into sediments and eventually sedimentary rocks.
Example:
In deep ocean basins, phosphorus-rich particles undergo sedimentation, slowly forming layers that can store the nutrient for millions of years.
Synthetic Fertilizers
Man-made chemical compounds containing essential plant nutrients, primarily nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, used to enhance crop growth.
Example:
Farmers applying synthetic fertilizers to their fields can inadvertently contribute to phosphorus runoff into nearby waterways, leading to eutrophication.
Transportation (of Phosphorus)
The movement of phosphorus, primarily as phosphate, from land to water bodies through processes such as surface runoff and groundwater flow.
Example:
After a heavy rain, excess phosphorus from agricultural fields undergoes transportation via surface runoff into nearby streams and rivers.
Weathering
The process by which rocks and minerals are broken down by physical, chemical, or biological forces, releasing stored nutrients like phosphorus into the soil and water.
Example:
Over centuries, the weathering of granite mountains slowly releases phosphorus into the surrounding ecosystems, making it available for plant uptake.