What Is Hypoxia?

• A zone in the Gulf of Mexico's Texas-Louisiana Shelf with seasonally low oxygen levels (<2mg/l)

What Causes Hypoxia?

• Hypoxic zone results from excessive nutrients, primarily nitrogen, carried to the Gulf by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers

How Large is the Hypoxic Zone?

• Hypoxic zone covers a 5-year running average of 5,454 sq mi in northern Gulf.

How Does Hypoxia effect Fish and Widllife?

• ^{Due to an overabundance of nutrients excessive algal growth (eutrophication) can result. Excessive demand for oxygen results in a decrease of dissolved oxygen in the bottom water and a corresponding loss of aquatic habitat in the water column and benthic layer. Mobile organisms leave the hypoxic zone; those that cannot leave die or are weakened.}

Links

NEW!! - Deadzone Area in Gulf Could Be Increasing
April 27, 2005

HYPOXIA IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Progress towards the completion of an Integrated Assessment

Nutrients National Synthesis Project