Seasonal destribution and behaviour of nutrients in the creek and coastal waters of Gopalpur, East Coast of India

Abstract

Seasonal distribution and behaviour of nitrate, phosphate and silicate was studied for one year (October 1987-September 1988) in two different environments, viz., a brackishwater creek and the adjacent sea at Gopalpur on the East Coast of India. Wide fluctuation was observed with respect to each of them. They showed inverse relationship with salinity, indicating that their main source of supply was the freshwater discharged into the environments. The interrelationship of nutrients revealed positive correlation between them in both the environments even though the level of significance differed considerably from station to station. The mean monthly ratios of nitrate : phosphate varied from 0.86:1 to 4.05:1 in the creek, and from 0.15:1 to 19.33:1 in the nearshore waters respectively