A plume's evolution determines its effects on marine plants and animals. For example, the total suspended solids in the plume affects the amount of light that can pass through it, and this may harm marine life, which needs a certain amount of light to thrive. Similarly, the plume's constituents can alter the water column's salinity or oxygen content—and these changes can harm certain organisms. Also, should the plume's constituents settle in places ill-suited to their presence, e.g., where fish would normally lay their eggs, a necessary element of an ecosystem may be disrupted.
