Solved by a verified expert:Nitrates act as a pollutant creating dead zones such as the one in the gulf of Mexico. Which is the mechanism that creates these dead zones?Nitrates cause growth of disease-causing bacteria that bring about declines in populations of marine organisms.Nitrates trigger algal blooms; subsequent increases in decomposer populations consume the dissolved oxygen causing other marine organisms to die.Nitrates kill marine life because they are toxic in high concentrations.Nitrates trigger algal blooms whose rapid growth removes nutrients from the water causing declines in populations of other marine organisms.