Twelve leverage points: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:54, 29 July 2011

Revision as of 20:11, 29 October 2011

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{{quote|The [[eutrophication]] of a lake is a typical feedback loop that goes wild. In a eutrophic lake (which means well-nourished), lots of life can be supported (fish included).

An increase of [[nutrient]]s will lead to an increase of productivity, growth of [[phytoplankton]] first, using up as much nutrients as possible, followed by growth of [[zooplankton]], feeding up on the first ones, and increase of fish populations. The more available nutrients available there isare, the more productivity is increased. As plankton organisms die, they fall atto the bottom of the lake, where their matter is degraded by decomposers.

However, this degradation uses up available [[oxygen]], and in the presence of huge amounts of organic matter to degrade, the medium progressively becomes [[hypoxia (environmental)|anoxic]] (there is no more oxygen available). UponIn time, all oxygen-dependent life dies, and the lake becomes a smelly anoxic place where no life can be supported (in particular no fish).}}

=== 6. Structure of information flow (who does and does not have access to what kinds of information)===