Forest Sciences Commons^™

Responses Of Problematic Algae To Copper-Based Algaecide, Aaron Slevin, Clayton Rushing, James Cunningham, Joseph Watkins, Michael Deguenther

Undergraduate Research Conference

Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. These typically promote excessive growth of algae. As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish. Eutrophication is a natural, slow-aging process for a water body, but human activity greatly speeds up the process (USGS.gov). Golf Courses are often fertilized numerous times a year and can be major problem in fertilizer runoff in ponds surrounding the course. In east …