What role have nitrates and phosphates played in damaging Muddy Creek?

Nitrates and phosphates lead to eutrophication and anoxia in the creek which caused aquatic animals to die and damaged the creek.

Explanation:

Nitrates (NO3-) are chemical compounds that contain nitrogen and oxygen molecules. They are salts that are commonly found in fertilizers and are soluble in water. Phosphates are also compounds that are used in agricultural processes.

Nitrates and phosphate found in water are usually from plants that  have been washed off by rain water and also from vehicles' exhaust.

When there are abnormally high levels of nitrates and phosphates in water, it becomes difficult for aquatic animals to survive. In bodies of water, the nitrates and phosphates become sources of food to algae and other plants, this causes them to become over stimulated, and lead to Eutrophication (a high concentration of nutrients) and Anoxia (lack of oxygen).

This causes the fishes to run out of oxygen and die. Then the water begins to change color (milky white or green), give off an offensive odor and gradually turns into a  swamp and eventually a meadow

the transfer of energy between two molecules spaced just nanometers apart plays a key role in many technologies, including photovoltaics, quantum information systems, lighting, and sensors, as well as in biophysics to measure nanometer distances and in photosynthesis. but an open question in this area is what effect, if any, the surrounding photonic environment has on this nanoscale energy transfer. by designing and performing a carefully controlled experiment to answer this question, scientists have settled the debate and found clues to improving the efficiency of many of the technologies that rely on this process.

explanation:

a. the production of carbon dioxide through the process of photosynthesis