dissolved oxygen concentration

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen that is physically present in water, which aquatic plants and animals need to survive. It's similar to the oxygen humans breathe, but it’s dissolved in the water itself. Healthy water bodies have sufficient DO levels to support aquatic life; low DO can cause stress or death of fish and other organisms. Factors like pollution, temperature, and water movement influence DO levels. Monitoring dissolved oxygen helps assess water quality and ecosystem health, ensuring aquatic environments remain balanced and capable of supporting diverse life forms.