What factor influences sediment accumulation in aquatic systems?

Sediment accumulation in aquatic systems is significantly influenced by surrounding development and activity. This factor encompasses various human activities such as construction, agriculture, and land use changes. These activities can lead to increased erosion and runoff, which transport debris, soil, and other materials into water bodies, thus affecting the amount of sediment that accumulates on the bottom.

When natural habitats are altered or when construction increases impervious surfaces, stormwater carries more sediments into lakes, rivers, and streams. This increased sediment load can affect water quality, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and smother aquatic habitats, particularly for species that depend on clean sediments or submerged materials.

While air temperature can affect water temperature and, to a lesser extent, biological processes in aquatic systems, it does not have a direct role in how sediment is accumulated. Water clarity, influenced by sediment levels, can reveal information about pollution and algal blooms but is itself a result of sediment presence rather than a contributing factor. Plant root systems do play a role in stabilizing soil and reducing erosion, but they do not primarily influence the accumulation of sediment in the broader context of external environmental factors. Thus, the surrounding development and activity lead to the most direct impact on sediment accumulation.