Title: Monitoring of phytoplankton biomass and nutrients in a polluted stream

Authors: E. Kocum, O. Dursun

Addresses: Ecology Section, Department of Biology, Onsekiz Mart University 17020 Canakkale, Turkey. ' Ecology Section, Department of Biology, Onsekiz Mart University 17020 Canakkale, Turkey

Abstract: The spatial and temporal variations in the concentrations of nutrients (NH₄⁺, NO₂⁻, PO₄³⁻, SiO₄⁻) and chlorophyll a were monitored simultaneously in a slow-flowing watercourse (Saricay Stream, Turkey), which runs in a rural–urban gradient. Chlorophyll a concentrations ranged between 0.044 µg l^-1 and 206.15 µg l^-1 and, in general, the higher concentrations of chlorophyll a and ammonium were measured downstream of the raw sewage outfalls. Nitrate was by far the most abundant form of inorganic nitrogen, and its concentration ranged between 411.71 µM and 87.25 µM. Silicates and phosphates were always potentially limiting to biomass relative to nitrogen. Agricultural run-off and point discharges from urban sources greatly affected the chemical composition of the water in the Saricay Stream and drove the system towards eutrophication.

Keywords: chlorophyll a; nutrients; phytoplankton biomass; eutrophication; Turkey; water pollution; environmental pollution; streams; nitrates; agricultural run-off; urban point discharges; eutrophication.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.014236

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2007 Vol.29 No.4, pp.505 - 517

Published online: 26 Jun 2007 *

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