Effects Of Hypoxic Zones

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There are more than 500 hypoxic zones worldwide (Trujillo). Hypoxic zones are areas in a body of water where oxygen levels are lower than 2 mg 1-1 O2. In areas of the Pacific, Indian and Western Atlantic oceans where up welling occurs hypoxic zones occur naturally (Helly).When oxygen levels are this low the water cannot support life and as a result the area becomes a dead zone. Hypoxia can lead to harmful algal blooms, and other side effects such as increased turbidity currents, loss of habitat for fish and other marine animals, and fish kills. (Rabalais). Benthic animals are most at risk in because they can’t leave the oxygen starved area (Trujillo). Hypoxic zones generally form from late spring to late summer due to phytoplankton cycles, and can occur in waters from 5 m deep to 30 m deep (Rabalais). For hypoxic zones to be formed and maintained two conditions have to be met: the water has to be stratified, and there has to be a decomposition of organic matter. These areas of low oxygen can cause problems when they start to expand, this is happening in the Northern Gulf of Mexico....

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