Human impact on the phosphorus cycle, Biology

Assignment Help:

Human Impact on the Phosphorus Cycle

Like other biogeochemical cycles, human activities have altered the phosphorus cycle. Human beings mine phosphate rocks and guano deposits to make phosphorus available for production of fertilisers, detergents, animal feed, medicines, pesticide: and numerous other products. This mining exposes phosphate deposits made over millions of years. Phosphates are removed from soil through cropping of vegetation and to replace it phosphate fertilisers have to be added. Because of the abundance of calcium, iron and aluminium in the soil much of the phosphates get immobilised as insoluble salts. Thus more fertilisers have to be added. This results in high concentration of phosphates in agricultural runoffs. Similarly concentration of phosphorus in detergents, wastes of food processing plants, animal feed lot, sewage, etc., add to a considerable quantity of phosphorus poured in natural waters.

This problem becomes acute in urban areas. As said earlier, in aquatic ecosystems the phosphorus is taken up rapidly by the vegetation resulting in a sudden explosive growth of algae. Like nitrogen, this leads to cultural eutrophication of the water body. The producers cloud the water and forms a scum on the surface, blocking sunlight for the submerged plants. This is one example of the result of accumulation of nutrients at one stage of the nutrient cycle. It is important to note that the means of returning phosphorus to the cycle are inadequate to compensate for the loss. Sea birds have traditionally played-an important part in returning phosphorus to the cycle via their droppings (for example guano deposits off the coast of Peru) but apparently not at the rate at which it has occurred in the past. Unfortunately human activities appear to hasten the rate at which phosphorus is lost and thus make the cycle 'less perfect'. You could think our present use of phosphorus which is washed out into the rivers and finally into the oceans as an accelerated 'pouring' of phosphorus from the source to the sink.


Related Discussions:- Human impact on the phosphorus cycle

Morphology in relation to taxonomy, Q. Morphology in relation to taxonomy? ...

Q. Morphology in relation to taxonomy? Morphology is the basic tool of taxonomy, because identification is primarily based on the characters of the plant. The morphological cha

Name the interstitial spaces of the kidney medulla, Select the processes as...

Select the processes assist in the maintenance of high levels of dissolved solutes in the interstitial spaces of the kidney medulla? A. Net flux of sodium ions from intracellul

Skeleton, biological significant of a skeleton

biological significant of a skeleton

Microbiology, 2. Vaccinations against various childhood diseases have contr...

2. Vaccinations against various childhood diseases have contributed to the entry of women, particularly mothers, into the fulltime workplace. a. Is this statement supported by data

General reproduction, write about the asexual reproduction in mucor

write about the asexual reproduction in mucor

Flagellates - parasitic protozoan, Flagellates - Parasitic Protozoan S...

Flagellates - Parasitic Protozoan Several flagellate protozoa parasitise man and live in the blood stream or tissues of the reticulo-endothelial system. Most significant of th

Illustrate steps of polymerase chain reaction , There are three steps of PC...

There are three steps of PCR a) Denaturation.  The reaction combination is heated to 95°C for a short time period (about 15-30 sec) to denature the goal DNA into one strands w

Acute complications of ptca, Acute Complications of PTCA :  The incide...

Acute Complications of PTCA :  The incidence of complications after PTCA that require emergency surgery has reduced considerably in the present era. Introduction of stents, pe

The number of electrons in their outer energy level, The bonding geometry o...

The bonding geometry of C,O,N is determined by- Select one: a. The number of electrons in their outer energy level b. SP3 hybridization of orbitals in the valence shell

Dietary modification, Q. Dietary modification? Dietary modification inc...

Q. Dietary modification? Dietary modification includes nutritional support that allows normal growth and development. Plasma phenylalanine concentration between the range of 40

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd