Water Quality Quiz

What aspect of fertilizer pollution would have the greatest negative impact on the aquatic ecosystem?

• Algal blooms deplete oxygen and block the sunlight from penetrating a body of water.

• Nitrates poison the water that fish breathe though their gills.

Which type of organisms would most likely flourish in water near agricultural areas?

• plants

• fish

How do phosphate detergents contribute to water pollution?

• by over fertilizing plants in the water

• by killing plant life

Which best determines the health of a lake used as a source of freshwater?

• its temperature and pH

• its temperature and depth

If a body of water has high turbidity levels, what can most likely be concluded?

• it is unsafe to drink

• it is too hot to drink

Which will occur if humans continue to overload water systems with excess nutrients?

• eutrophication

• chemosynthesis

Which is the most likely effect of too much nitrogen and phosphorus flowing into a lake?

• algal blooms

• decreased turbidity

which does an increase in eutrophication indicate to scientists studying a body of water?

• an increase in fertilizer runoff

• a decrease in pollutants from farm runoff

Which groundwater contaminant contained in fertilizers and pesticides comes from farms?

• nitrates

• bacteria

which is a bioindicator?

• insect

• water