During a study on water pollution, researchers measured the levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in a river at various locations along its course. The data collected is summarized in the table below, which shows the distance from the river's source (in kilometers) and the corresponding DO levels (in mg/L).
Distance (km) | Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) |
---|---|
0 | 8.5 |
5 | 7.0 |
10 | 6.0 |
15 | 5.5 |
20 | 6.5 |
Based on the data presented in the table, what trend can be observed regarding the levels of dissolved oxygen as the distance from the river's source increases?