Recipe for Hypoxia₂

Abstract

Dead zones—areas experiencing low levels of dissolved oxygen—are growing in shallow ocean waters around the world. Research has shown that dead zones form as a result of a specific type of pollution, called nutrient enrichment or eutrophication, and are found in almost every coastal zone where humans have large populations. Concepts related to eutrophication are not complicated individually, but they frequently confuse students. The activity presented in this article is a game designed to help middle and high school students understand the processes that encourage formation of dead zones. Postgame discussions encourage students to consider natural and human causes of dead zone formation, as well as ways in which human contributions to it can be reduced.

Keywords:

• dead zone
• eutrophication
• hypoxia
• nutrient
• phytoplankton
• pollution
• pycnocline
• salinity
• stratification