AccScience Publishing / AJWEP / Volume 20 / Issue 5 / DOI: 10.3233/AJW230059
Submit to AJWEP
Cite this article
9
Views
Journal Browser
Volume | Year
Issue
Search
Forthcoming Issue
Current Issue
View All
News and Announcements
View All
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Transmission Effectiveness of the Dissolved Nutrients (N, P, Si) Through a South Mediterranean Estuary (Seybouse, Algeria) Under Large Anthropogenic Forcing

Ziouch Omar Ramzi1* ,  Daifallah Tarek1 ,  Chenaker Houda1 ,  Moujari Zoubir1 ,  Dali Naouel1 ,  Zebsa Rabeh2
Show Less
1 Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Science, University Abbes Laghrour, Khenchela, Algeria
2 Department of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, University Guelma, Algeria
AJWEP 2023, 20(5), 1–7; https://doi.org/10.3233/AJW230059
Received: 21 April 2022 | Published online: 8 March 2023
© 2023 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Download PDF
Cite
XML
Abstract

The Seybouse Estuary (SE) is the downstream of the second great river in Algeria draining one of the main country’s watersheds (6471 km2, 1.5 million inhabitants). This study highlights the effect of the estuarine part on the distribution and the flux of dissolved nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si) through the SE. Surface water sampling was taken and analysed in the dry (September 2016) and wet (April 2017) seasons. Physical parameters and water discharge data were jointly recorded in parallel to sampling dates. Very low flows varying between 0.3 and 4.7 m3 s-1 were recorded at the outlet in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The SE outlet waters were 2.6 and 10 folds higher than upstream in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphates (PO4) levels, respectively. However, the silicates (SiO4) levels decreased by about 1/2 in the outlet waters. In terms of flux, the SE delivered to the coast 84 t·yr-1, 9 t·yr-1 and 56 t·yr-1 of DIN, PO4 and SiO4, respectively. The high DIN:PO4 = 137 and low SiO4:DIN = 0.52 molar ratios classify SE as one of the strong anthropised estuaries. The estuarine part amply modifies cycles and budgets of riverine nutrients introduced to the coast.

Keywords
Nitrogen
phosphorus
silicon
outlet
estuary.
References
  1. Agence des bassins hydrographiques Seybouse-MellagConstantinois (ABH) (1999). Bassin de la Seybouse,  Actualisation, Les cahiers de l’agence. pp. 1-7.
  2. Agence des bassins hydrographiques Seybouse-MellagConstantinois (ABH) (2013). Le bassin de la Seybouse en  quelques chiffres, Actualisation, Les cahiers de l’agence.  pp. 1-16.
  3. Aminot, A. and M. Chaussepied (1983). Manuel des analyses  chimiques en milieu marin. CNEXO, Brest, 395 pp. Aounallah, O. (2015). Distribution and fluxes of  biogeochemical variables in the Seybouse River Estuary,  SW Mediterranean. Advances in Environmental Biology,  9(11): 101-108.
  4. Bao, L., Chen, J., Tong, H., Qian, J. and X. Li (2022).  Phytoplankton dynamics and implications for eutrophication  management in an urban river with a series of rubber dams.  Journal of Environmental Management, 311(1): 114865.
  5. Cozzi, S., Ibáñez, C., Lazar, L., Raimbault, P. and M. Giani  (2018). Flow regime and nutrient loading trends from the  largest south European watersheds: Implications for the  productivity of Mediterranean and Black Sea’s coastal  areas. Water, 11(1): 1. 
  6. Dali, N., Ziouch, O.R., Dali, H., Daifallah, T., Berkani, C. and  S. Hassad (2023). Remote sensing, and (GIS) approach, for  morphometric assessment and sub-watershed prioritization  according to soil erosion and groundwater potential in an  endorheic semi-arid area of Algeria. Arabian Journal of  Geosciences, 16(1): 95
  7. Dürr, H.H., Meybeck, M., Hartmann, J., Laruelle, G.G. and  V. Roubeix (2011). Global spatial distribution of natural  riverine silica inputs to the coastal zone. Biogeosciences,  8(3): 597-620. https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-6-1345-2009.
  8. European Environment Agency [EEA] (2014). Nutrients in  freshwater (CSI 020). In: Assessment Created September  2014, EEA Core Set Indicator No. 20. European  Environment Agency.
  9. Fellah, A. and N. Dali-Youcef (2014). Concentration,  enrichment and distribution of heavy metals in sediments  of the Tafna estuary (Algeria). In: International Congress  on “Estuaries and Coastal Marine Protected Areas”, Izmir,  Turkey, 325-333.
  10. Foudil-Bouras, A.E., Buscail, R. and H. Pauc (2011). Suspended materials characterization for the Mazafran  River and estuary (Algeria) and their particulate organic  carbon (POC%) and total nitrogen (N total %) contents  during an annual cycle (November 2005-Ocotber  2006). Bulletin du Service Géologique National, 22(2): 213-231.
  11. Haridi, A., Taamallah, F.Z., Ounissi, M. and O.R. Ziouch  (2012). Le phosphore dissous dans la rivière-estuaire du  Mafrag: Répartition et niveaux de concentrations. Nature  et Technologie, 07:102-108.
  12. Justic, D., Rabalais, N.N. and R.E. Turner (1995).  Stoichiometric nutrient balance and origin of coastal  eutrophication. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 30: 41-46.
  13. Kies, F. (2015). Assessment of surface water chemistry and  algal biodiversity in the Bay of Mostaganem and the  Cheliff estuary: North-western Algeria. Sustainability,  Agri, Food and Environmental Research, 3(1): 1-16.
  14. Li, S., Xu, Y.J. and M. Ni (2021). Changes in sediment,  nutrients and major ions in the world largest reservoir:  Effects of damming and reservoir operation. Journal of  Cleaner Production, 318: 128601.
  15. Ludwig, W., Dumont, E., Meybeck, M. and S. Heussner  (2009). River discharges of water and nutrients to the  Mediterranean and Black Sea: Major drivers for ecosystem  changes during past and future decades? Progress in  Oceanography, 80(3-4): 199-217. 
  16. Meddi, M.M., Assani, A.A. and H. Meddi (2010). The  temporal variability of annual rainfall in the Macta and  Tafna catchments, Northwestern Algeria. Water Resour.  Manage., 24: 3817-3833.
  17. Ounissi, M. and N. Bouchareb (2013). Nutrient distribution  and fluxes from three Mediterranean coastal rivers  (NE Algeria) under large damming. Comptes Rendus  Geoscience, 345(2): 81-92.
  18. Ounissi, M., Amira, A.B. and F. Dulac (2018). Riverine and  wet atmospheric inputs of materials to a North Africa  coastal site (Annaba Bay; Algeria). Prog. Oceanogr.,  165: 19-34.
  19. Ounissi, M., Khammar, H., Ziouch, O. R., Saker, I. and A.  Haridi (2008). Apports d’azote et de phosphate au littoral  d’Annaba par les effluents urbains, industriels et par la  rivière Seybouse (Algérie). In: International Conference  on Rapid Urbanization and Land Use Conflicts in Coastal  Cities, Izmir, Turkey, INOC. 13: 181-186.
  20. Ounissi, M., Laskri, H., Ziouch, O.R. and D. Justić (2021). Riverine and wet atmospheric nutrient inputs to the  Southwestern Mediterranean region of North Africa.  Marine Chemistry, 228: 103915.
  21. Ounissi M., Ziouch O.R. and O. Aounallah (2014). Variability  of the dissolved nutrient (N, P, Si) levels in the Bay of  Annaba in relation to the inputs of the Seybouse and  Mafragh estuaries. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 80(1): 234-244. 
  22. Parsons, T.R., Maita, Y. and C.M. Lalli (1989). A Manual of  Chemical and Biological Methods for Sea Water Analysis.  Pergamon Press, Oxford., 173p.
  23. Preston, S.D., Bierman, Jr., V.J. and S.E. Silliman (1989).  An evaluation of methods for the estimation of tributary  mass loads. Water Resources Research, 25(6): 1379-1389.
  24. Redfield, A.C., Ketchum, B.H. and F.A. Richards (1963).  The influence of organisms on the composition of sea  water. In: H111, M.N, Eds., The Sea, John Wiley, New  York, 11: 26-77.
  25. Rodier, J., Bazin, C., Broutin, J.P., Chambon, P., Chapsaup,  H. and L. Rodi (1996). L’analyse de l’eau: Eaux naturelles,  eaux résiduaires, eaux de mer. Ed. Dunod, Paris, France,  30-1086.
  26. Romero, E., Garnier, J., Lassaletta, L., Billen, G., Le Gendre,  R., Riou, P. and P. Cugier (2013). Large-scale patterns  of river inputs in southwestern Europe: seasonal and  interannual variations and potential eutrophication effects at the coastal zone. Biogeochemistry, 113(1-3): 481-505.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-012-9778-0.
  27. Tréguer, P., Nelson, D.M., Van Bennekom, A.J., DeMaster,  D.J., Leynaert, A. and B. Quéguiner (1995). The silica  balance in the world ocean: A reestimate. Science, 268: 375-379.
  28. UNEP/MAP/MED POL Report (2013). Rivers of the  Mediterranean Sea: Water Discharge and Nutrient Fluxes.  UNEP/MAP, MED POL CEFREM, pp. 30.
  29. Vörösmarty, C.J., Fekete, B.M. and B.A. Tucker (1998).  Global River Discharge 1807-1991, RivDIS v1.1.  Available from: http://www.daacsti.ornl.gov//RIVDIS/ guides/rivdis_guide.html. Last update: June 2004.
  30. Wang, H., Yan, H., Zhou, F., Li, B., Zhuang, W. and Y.  Shen (2019). Changes in nutrient transport from the  Yangtze River to the East China Sea linked to the ThreeGorges Dam and water transfer project. Environmental  Pollution, 256: 113376. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. envpol.2019.113376.
  31. Wolanski, E. (2007). Protective functions of coastal forests  and trees against natural hazards. In: Braatz S., Fortuna  S., Broadhead J. and R. Leslie (eds.). pp. 157-179. 
  32. Ziouch, O.R. (2014). Nutrient distribution in the Bay of  Annaba under the influence of the Seybouse and the  Mafragh estuaries inputs (South-Western Mediterranean).  In: Doctoral Thesis: Coastal Environment. University  (Annaba), Algeria. http://biblio.univ-annaba.dz/wpcontent/uploads/2014/09/ZIOUCHOmar-Ramzi.pdf.
  33. Ziouch, O.R., Laskri, H., Chenaker, H., Ledjedel, N.E.,  Daifallah, T. and M. Ounissi (2020). Transport of nutrients  from the Seybouse River to Annaba Bay (Algeria, SW  Mediterranean). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 156: 111231.  doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.11123.
Share
Back to top
Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Electronic ISSN: 1875-8568 Print ISSN: 0972-9860, Published by AccScience Publishing
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here
Accept