Emma E. answered • 26d
Bachelors of Science: Marine Biology, Full-time Wildlife Biologist
The photic zone is the upper layer of a water body that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis, supporting primary producers like phytoplankton and algae. Its stability refers to consistent light penetration, nutrient availability, and temperature, which allow the ecosystem to maintain healthy productivity. Factors that threaten photic zone stability include pollution (e.g., nutrient runoff causing harmful algal blooms), turbidity from sediment or human activity that blocks sunlight, climate change affecting temperature and stratification, and overfishing or other disturbances that disrupt the food web and/or nutrient cycling. Loss of stability can reduce photosynthesis, lower oxygen levels, and harm organisms that depend on the photic zone for survival.
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