Question:

Natural ageing of lake due to enrichment of nutrients is known as:

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Eutrophication leads to oxygen depletion (BOD increases), causing the death of fish and other aquatic animals.
Remember: Oligotrophic means young and low nutrients; Eutrophic means aged and high nutrients.
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • Eutrophication
  • Biomagnification
  • El nino
  • Algal blooms
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the specific scientific term used to describe the gradual biological ageing of a lake caused by nutrient enrichment over time.

Step 2: Key Concept and Approach:
Lakes undergo a natural transition from nutrient-poor (oligotrophic) to nutrient-rich (eutrophic) systems over hundreds or thousands of years.
We will define each of the terms in the options to find the one that specifically describes this ageing process.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

Eutrophication: This is the correct term.
It represents the natural or accelerated ageing of a water body due to nutrient enrichment (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus).
This enrichment promotes excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae, leading to a shallowing of the lake.

Biomagnification: This refers to the progressive increase in the concentration of toxic substances at successive trophic levels.
It has no relation to the ageing of lakes.

El Nino: This is a climatic phenomenon characterized by the warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
It is not related to lake nutrient levels.

Algal blooms: This refers to the rapid accumulation of algae in a water system.
While it is a symptom and consequence of eutrophication, it is not the term for the overall ageing process of the lake.


Step 4: Final Answer:
The natural ageing of a lake due to nutrient enrichment is eutrophication.
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