Define cultural eutrophication.

Eutrophication is defined as the addition of nutrients to an aquatic system. At first glance this may seem like a good thing; increased nutrient levels result in increased primary productivity and thus a more productive system. Unfortunately eutrophication can have many negative effects on ecosystems that are normally nutrient low systems. Eutrophication is a process that occurs naturally in bodies of water; however human activities have greatly increased the rate of the process of eutrophication (Horne and Goldman p. 496). Eutrophication results in an increase in primary productivity, often in the form of huge algal blooms. These algal blooms may shade out plants that would normally live lower in the water column resulting in a loss of biodiversity. Eutrophication can also result in the development of hypoxic conditions.