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International Journal of Marine Science 2013, Vol.3, No.16, 128-134
http://ijms.sophiapublisher.com
128
Research Article Open Access
Spatial and Temporal Variation of Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus in
Major River Systems of Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh
S.M. Bazlur Rahaman, Md. Sharif Hasan Sohag, Alokesh Kumar Ghosh , Sudhin Kumar Biswas, Lipton Sarder,
Joyanta Bir, S.M. Shahjahan Siraj
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh
Corresponding author email: alokesh_ku@yahoo.com
International Journal of Marine Science, 2013, Vol.3, No.16 doi: 10.5376/ijms.2013.03.0016
Received: 11 Mar., 2013
Accepted: 09 Apr., 2013
Published: 12 Apr., 2013
Copyright
©
2013 Rahaman, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Rahaman at al, 2013, Spatial and Temporal Variation of Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus in Major River Systems of Sundarbans Mangrove Forest,
Bangladesh, International Journal of Marine Science, Vol.3, No.16 128
-
134 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2013.03.0016)
Abstract
Mangrove provides a unique ecological environment for diverse communities and Sundarbans is a rapidly changing
ecosystem due to various anthropogenic activities. In order to assess the spatial and temporal variation of total Nitrogen and total
Phosphorus concentration in Major River Systems of Sundarbans, a study was carried out from September, 2010 to February, 2011.
Fourteen sampling location from major River systems were chosen. During post monsoon and winter seasons the range of total
Phosphorus (0.326~0.409 mg/L and 0.091~0.371 mg/L respectively) and total nitrogen (2.52~3.50 mg/L and 3.43~5.25 mg/L
respectively) were observed in Rupsha-Passur River system. On the other hand the range of total Phosphorus (0.475~0.144 mg/L and
0.060~0.113 mg/L respectively) and total nitrogen (2.31~3.61 mg/L and 3.22~5.95 mg/L respectively) were found in
Arpangashia-Malancha River system during post monsoon and winter seasons. The nutrients of water of Baleswar-Bhola River
system during rainy and dry seasons were found in the range of total Phosphorus (0.106~0.364 mg/L and 0.053~0.075 mg/L
respectively) and total nitrogen (2.59~3.57 mg/L and 2.87~5.60 mg/L respectively). Total Nitrogen and total phosphorus levels were
relatively higher than the EPA standards for surface water during the two seasons. The Dynamic nutrients level observed in the study
area may have severe consequences on the in-dwelling aquatic flora and fauna.
Keywords
Nutrients; Post monsoon; Winter; Arpangashia; Baleswar
Introduction
Mangrove ecosystems are important contributors of
organic Nitrogen, Phosphorus and other nutrients to
the adjacent coastal ecosystems. The mangrove
ecosystem may significantly influence adjacent
coastal areas through various mechanisms such as
nutrient and carbon export. The mangroves provide
nutrients for phytoplankton growth, thus enhancing
secondary production and promotion of commercial
fisheries. The net primary production of mangroves
derived inputs into mangrove creeks seems to be an
important factor affecting the direction and
magnitude of material fluxes (Parikh and Datye, 2003).
The distribution and behavior of nutrients are usually
affected by tidal, seasonal and weather conditions.
Sediments suspended in the water column are
deposited in mangroves during flooding, enriching
mangrove soil and water. The nutrient cycle and
nutrient fluctuation of Mangrove Rivers has direct
effects on the organisms. The SRF has also
importance as for diverse plants, reptiles, fishes and
birds. The vegetation of SRF provides food for
various fishes, crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic
organisms. Nitrogen and Phosphorus are dietary
requirement for all organisms, because they are
constituent of all proteins and nucleic acids.
Phosphorus present in small quantity but has a
dramatic effect on water nutrition system. Nitrogen is
essential for plants, and can be found in air in large
amounts. This elementary nitrogen and Phosphorus
cannot be taken up directly. Nitrogen must first be
bound and converted, for instance to nitrate.
Nitrogen and phosphorus are necessary nutrients
for organisms, and are also major elements that
cause eutrophication when exceeding the assimilation
capacity of receiving waters (Abal et al., 2005). The
transportation of nitrogen and phosphorus from the
land to sea is an important process component in
bio-geochemical cycling (Turner et al., 2003). Many
studies have shown that, major factors contributing to