Phosphorus



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 * Phosphorus is an essential element for plant life, but when there is too much of it in water, it can speed up *Eutrophication, a reduction in dissolved oxygen in water bodies caused by an increase of minerals and organic nutrients, in rivers a lakes.

*__Eutrophication:__ process whereby water bodies, such as lakes, or slow-moving streams receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth
 * algae
 * periphyton
 * attached algae

This enhanced plant growth, often called an algal bloom, reduces dissolved oxygen in the water when dead plant material decomposes and can cause other organisms to die.