Given below are two statements:

Statement I : The nutrient deficient water bodies lead to eutrophication.

Statement II : Eutrophication leads to decrease in the level of oxygen in the water bodies.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Question

Given below are two statements:

Statement I : The nutrient deficient water bodies lead to eutrophication.

Statement II : Eutrophication leads to decrease in the level of oxygen in the water bodies.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Accepted Answer

C. 1. **Understand the correct meaning of eutrophication before evaluating Statement I.**

Eutrophication is a process where a water body becomes **excessively enriched with nutrients** (such as phosphates and nitrates), usually from agricultural runoff or sewage, leading to explosive growth of algae and other plants.

2. **Evaluate Statement I against this definition.**

Statement I claims that **nutrient-deficient** water bodies lead to eutrophication, but this is the **opposite** of the truth — it is **nutrient-rich** water bodies that undergo eutrophication. So Statement I is **incorrect**.

3. **Evaluate Statement II by considering what happens after excessive algal growth.**

When the algae and plants from eutrophication eventually die, they are decomposed by bacteria, which **consume dissolved oxygen** in the water in large amounts. This leads to a **decrease in oxygen levels**, harming fish and other aquatic organisms (a condition called hypoxia). So Statement II is **true**.

4. **Combine the two conclusions.**

Since Statement I is false and Statement II is true, the correct choice reflects this combination.

Hence, the answer is **C**.