Environmental Marine Ecosystems: Biological Invasions Essay Hypoxic or so-called dead zones are areas of the ocean (and rarely in lakes or even rivers) which lack oxygen te provide normal ‘marine fe (Simon, n.d). This condition is usually caused by a complex of reasons which includes chemical, biological, and physical aspects. | consider that the emergence of hypoxic zones mainly depends on the area and human activity there. For ‘example, in agricultural areas, the major reason for hypoxic zones will be chemicals since the water is rich in “nitrogen and phosphorous from agricukural runoff” (Simon, n.d). The growth of concentration of chemical nutrients in the water causes the active algae blooming which drains underwater oxygen thus conditioning the lack of oxygen (Simon, n.d). However, other {factors such a8 “sewage, vehicular and industrial emissions and even natural factors” have an impact on the development of hypoxic zones (Simon, n.d) It is considered that hypoxic zones can have natural roots. Nevertheless, their prevalence inthe seas and oceans near the locations of big industrial or agricultural facllies proves the human impact (Simon, n.d). As of 2008, there were over 400 hhypoxle zones detected around the world (Simon, n.d) ne of the biggest hypoxic zones inthe US (area of 8,500 square miles sin the Gulf of Mexico (Simon, nd). The Mississippi River runs inte the Guf flies with nutrents from farms, The cendlton of water In the area caused the dectine of the shrimp Industry. Moreover, lack of oxygen conditioned the reproductive problems for fish Thus, a chemical reason caused biological ‘one. However, hypoxic zonas can be reversible in case the factors conditioning them are reduced or removed [At present, biological invasions are a burden for marine ecosystems. These invasions are an extensive global change that's a threat to the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources" (Simberloff etal, 2013, p.$8). Invasion science which emerged ‘at a intersection of ecologic stucies, socal sciences, resource management, and economics investigates biological invasions. ‘The influences of invasions by allen species are varied and hard to evaluate since ther effect is often delayed. Different researchers define these impacts as “good” or "bad (Simberlotf eta, 2013). However, the impacts of marine invasive species ‘are mainly detrimental. For example, the migration of rabbitfish (Siganus spp) reduced the habitat complexity and species richness. Moreover, it changed food webs in the area (Simberloff et al, 2013). Another example is the introduction of Nile perch (Cates nifoticus} which le to the extinction of more than 150 native fish species, increase of algal blooms, and rapid growth of prawn populations (Simberloff et a, 2013). Sometimes the effect of biological invasion can touch ecosystems other than ‘marine. Thus, an introduced predator such as Rainbow tout {Oncortynchus mykiss) usurped terrestrial insects which made local char to migrate for food. In its tur, it caused the growth of algal Biomass and decreases insect and spider populations (simberlff et al, 2013) Research by Preston, Henderson, and Johnson (2012) investigated the effects of alien fish predators and alien bullfrogs on ‘marine communities. They revealed the facts that mosquitfish, for example, reduced the survival rate of tree-trog from 74% to 7% (Preston et al, 2072, p1258). Also, alin fish species had an impact on nutrients and plankton. However, despite a substantial influence on the local species, invaders did not have a significant impact st one another. References Preston, BL, Henderson, 1S, & Johnson, P. (2012). Community ecology of invasions: Direct and indirect effects of multiple invasive species on aquatic communities. Ecology, 8316), 91254-1261 Simberlff,D, Martin, JL, Genovesi,P, Maris, V., Wardle, DA, Aronson, J, . Vila, M, (2013) Impacts of biological invasions: |What's wnat and the way forward. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 28, 58-66, ‘Simon, R. (nt). hal causes ocean “Dead zones?” Scientific American, Web