Turbidity affects the growth rate of algae (micro-aquatic plants) and other aquatic plants in streams and lakes because increased turbidity causes a decrease in the amount of light for photosynthesis.
Turbidity can also increase water temperature because suspended particles absorb more heat.
High levels of turbidity can affect aquatic life in several ways.
Too much turbidity might make it difficult for plants to complete photosynthesis, which in turn affects the amount of dissolved oxygen.
Fish cannot see well in turbid water making finding food difficult.
High turbidity reduces the penetration of sunlight into water and can limit photosynthesis and hence the growth of aquatic plants.
Explanation:
Turbidity is the measure of relative clarity of a liquid. The higher the intensity of scattered light, the higher the turbidity. Material that causes water to be turbid include clay, silt, very tiny inorganic and organic matter, algae, dissolved colored organic compounds, and plankton and other microscopic organisms
