Investigation of spatial temporal variations of nutrient in the coastal Water of Banias city

Half quarterly water samples were collected during the period between March 2015 and February 2016 of four different stations from Banias city water that is subject to the effect of sewage and estuaries. The concentrations of nutrients (H3SiO4-, PO4-3, NO3-, NO2-, NH4+ ) and the concentrations of chlorophyll a were determined to find out how affected by the temporal and spatial variability. The highest concentrations of phosphate and ammonia ions were observed at station St3 (close to the sewage), while the highest concentrations of nitrate ions were registered at the stations St1 and St2 (estuaries). The results showed high values ​​of chlorophyll a in April (due to spring bloom of phytoplankton) and October (autumn bloom). The ions ratio ∑N/P revealed that phosphorus ions are limiting factor of the phytoplankton growth at St1 and St2, and that nitrogen ions are limiting factor of growth at the stations St3 and St4. The ratio Si/ΣN revealed that silicate ions are limiting factor of the growth of diatoms in all the stations.