Nitrogen is used in many plant fertilizers. When it rains, the excess fertilizers run off into streams, rivers, and eventually are carried to the ocean. Algae in the water feed off of the nitrogen in the fertilizers. The excess nutrients can cause a huge mat of algae to grow, called an algal bloom.

Question

When the nitrogen is all used up, the algae die and decomposing bacteria begin to consume them. The bacteria multiply and consume most of the oxygen in the water, causing many of the fish and other larger organisms in the water to suffocate and die.

How could the problem of algal blooms be solved?
A.
Farmers and gardeners should use other methods to provide crops with the nitrogen they need.
B.
Fish should be trained to swim to other parts of a body of water when the oxygen levels in one area become too low.
C.
The government should start a program in which they clean out all the algae from the lakes and streams before they become a problem.
D.
Antibiotics should be added to the oceans to kill all of the bacteria before they can consume the dead algae.

Answer 1

The best solution to the problem of algal blooms among the given options is:

A. Farmers and gardeners should use other methods to provide crops with the nitrogen they need.

This approach addresses the root cause of the problem by reducing the amount of nitrogen runoff from fertilizers, thereby decreasing the likelihood of algal blooms forming in the water bodies. This method promotes sustainable agricultural practices, such as using organic fertilizers or crop rotation, which can minimize the environmental impact while still providing essential nutrients for crops.

The other options do not effectively address the underlying issue of nutrient pollution leading to algal blooms.