Anoxic refers to an environment or condition completely devoid of dissolved oxygen. In such conditions, aerobic organisms cannot survive, and only anaerobic organisms can thrive.
Picture a sealed jar filled with water and some fish inside it. Now imagine sealing the jar tightly so that no fresh air can enter. As time passes, all the available oxygen gets used up by the fish until there's none left for them to breathe - this represents an anoxic environment.
Hypoxic: Hypoxic refers to an environment with low levels of dissolved oxygen but still contains some amount of it compared to an anoxic environment.
Eutrophication: Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes enriched with excessive nutrients, leading to increased plant growth. This excess plant growth can result in oxygen depletion and the creation of anoxic conditions.
Anaerobic Respiration: Anaerobic respiration is a metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen. It is used by certain organisms to break down organic matter and release energy.
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