Impact of trace metals and nutrients levels on phytoplankton from the Kuwait Coast

The impact of marine pollution was estimated from seven stations of Kuwait coastal waters. The mean concentrations of all trace metals in seawater (0. 07-7.04 mug/l) and in phytoplankton (14.90-52.01 mug/g) revealed less phyto plankton abundance in Stations IV-VI during the four seasons. However, a re lative surge in the phytoplankton abundance, with an increase in the mean c oncentrations of all trace metals in seawater (0.15-8.94 mug/l) and phytopl ankton (22.82-61.25 mug/g), was observed in Station II. A low phytoplankton abundance was noted in Stations I, III, and VII despite low mean concentra tions of all the trace metals in seawater (0.11-5.77 mug/l) and phytoplankt on (1.40-20 mug/g) during the four seasons. Statistical tests revealed sign ificant difference in Fe, Ni, and Pb between the four seasons in seawater a nd Fe and Co in phytoplankton. No significant difference in trace metals be tween locations was observed in seawater and in phytoplankton. The major nu trients in all the four seasons were found in the magnitude of SiO3 > NO3 > PO4 in all the stations, and thus, support the presence of rich diatoms an d dinoflagellates than other phytoplankton groups. The seven stations also represented indicator species of oil and industrial waste pollution. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.