Assessment of physical, chemical and biological parameters in the Nayband Mangrove Ecosystem (Bushehr Province, Iran)

In this study, the changes in nutrient concentration, chlorophyll a, total alkalinity and physicochemical parameters of surface water at mangrove and marine stations in Nayband mangrove ecosystem were investigated. Water samples were collected from 4 stations distributed throughout the mangrove forest and 3 stations in the coastal water of the Persian Gulf during two seasons of summer and winter. The results showed that the average of salinity and temperature at mangrove stations in the summer was significantly higher than the winter and the mean pH and dissolved oxygen in the winter was significantly higher than the summer (p<0.05). Statistical comparison showed that mean concentration of phosphate, silicate, chlorophyll a and total alkalinity in surface waters of mangrove forests in the summer was significantly higher than the winter (p<0.05), and mean concentration of nitrite, nitrate and ammonium in the winter was significantly higher than the summer at mangrove stations. In addition, the statistical comparison showed that the mean concentration of nutrients (phosphate, silicate, nitrite and ammonium) and chlorophyll a at mangrove stations was significantly higher than marine stations (p<0.05) in both seasons.