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Year-to-year variation in phytoplankton biomass in an anthropogenically polluted and complex estuary: A novel

Yoonja Kang¹, Yun-Ho Kang², Jong-Kyu Kim³

¹Department of Ocean Integrated Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Republic of Korea.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

|October 23, 2020

Abstract:

We examined the effects of nutrient availability and turbidity on phytoplankton biomass over 9 years in Gwanyang Bay, Korea, which is an anthropogenically polluted and complex estuary. While dredging and reclamation shaped geochemical features, river discharge with low-turbidity water and sewage treatment plants contributed to nutrient loading. The replete levels of nutrients and short water-residence time suggest the inapplicability of the washout theory, whereas the presence of NH₄⁺ suppressed the growth of phytoplankton. A reduction in the river discharge caused a concomitant decline in the loading and dilution of suspended particles. All these features led to an increase in SPM, light limitation, and NH₄⁺ concentration. GLM estimates revealed negative effects of NH₄⁺ and SPM on chlorophyll a over 9 years while SEM verified synergistic effects of NH₄⁺ and SPM compared with positive effects of NO₂ + NO₃^-. Our findings provide new insights into phytoplankton bloom dynamics in Gwangyang Bay.

Keywords:

Gwangyang Bay NH(4)(+)Nutrient availability Phytoplankton dynamics River discharge Turbidity

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