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Phosphorus is a substance vital to plant and
algae life. It acts as a building block for plants; it helps the plant
form RNA, DNA, and ATP. Levels of phosphorus can affect the levels of
algae; low levels of phosphorus can cause low levels of algae, while
high levels of phosphorus can lead to destructive algal blooms.
Phosphorus' effect on algae and plant life can affect animal
populations. |
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In the natural world, phosphorus originates in
rocks. When weathering occurs, phosphorus is released into the
environment. Water carries the phosphorus downstream to where it is deposited into
the soil. This process is known as leaching and is a major part of the
phosphorus cycle. Exposed bedrock in a stream can lead to the leaching
of phosphorus from the rocks. This phosphorus then travels downstream
and deposits itself in the sediment of streams or in the soil to be used
by plants. |
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Over the past 10 years, the phosphorus levels in Site 4 of
E.S.S.R.E have been
steadily increasing (E.S.S.R.E, 2001-2011). Site 3, uphill and upstream
of Site 4, has an exposed bedrock stream that eventually levels out in
Site 4. Given that the stream is flowing over bedrock, there is the
possibility of phosphorus being leached out of the rocks and running
downstream. We hypothesized that the phosphorus increase in Site 4 was
due to the leaching of the phosphorus from the bedrock in Site 3. |
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