What changes can occur in an aquatic ecosystem as a result of nutrient loading? (site 1)

Nutrient loading generally refers to the amount of nutrients that infiltrates an ecosystem at a particular period of time. The presence of these nutrients at a definite proportion is helpful for the ecosystem. But an excessive amount of nutrients can cause a negative impact on the ecosystem.

The essential nutrients present in the ecosystem are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and oxygen (O). These are needed to be present at a specific amount in order to maintain the overall quality of an ecosystem. An increasing amount of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus lead to a rapid increase in the number, blooming, and thickening of aquatic plants and algae. The water intake path of these plants gets blocked, as a result of which it dies, using up most of the dissolved oxygen that is present in water. This reduction of oxygen affects the other living species of existing in that aquatic system.

Thus, nutrient loading causes a lot of changes in the aquatic system.