RELATION BETWEEN WATER QUALITY AND PHYTOPLANKTON STANDING CROP IN THE RIVER NILE AT BENI SUEF (EGYPT)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Beni Suef University, Egypt

2 Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

Abstract

Water quality and phytoplankton standing crop were monitored seasonally for a year. Seasonal variability in effluent discharge explained much of the variation in water quality parameters; however, deviations from this correspondence were significant.  Nutrient (N and P) concentrations remained low through late fall and suddenly increased, which was hypothesized to be due to turnover in this large, relatively deep river.  Algal biomass increased earlier than nutrients, but decreased rapidly in early winter and remained low for approximately 3 months.  The winter decrease in algal biomass was hypothesized to be caused by elevated turbidity levels in the River Nile - associated with hyacinth removal and channel dredging activities. Diatoms dominated the phytoplankton throughout the year, with greater relative abundances of green algae near the city. Aulacosira granulata was the dominant species throughout the period of study. The city affected water quality by increasing the concentrations of nutrients and most other ionic compounds, as well as algal biomass

Keywords

References

Abdel-Hamid, M. I.; Shaaban, D.S. A. and Skulberg, O.M. (1992).Water Quality of the River Nile in Egypt: I. Physical and Chemical Characteristics. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, Supplement AHBSA8, 90(3): 283-310.
Abdin, G. (1948a). Physical and chemical investigations relating to algal growth in the river Nile, Cairo. Bulletin Institute d'Egypte, 29:19-44.
Abdin, G. (1948b). Seasonal distribution of phytoplankton and sessile algae from the River Nile. Cairo. Bulletin Institute d'Egypte, 29:369-82.
Abu Zeid, M. (1987). Environmental Impact Assessment for the Aswan High Dam. Water Research Center, Ministry of Irrigation. In: Biswas A. and Q. Geping (Eds) Environmental Impact Assessment for Developing Countries (pp 168-190). London.
APHA (1989). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, (17th ed.) American Public Health Association, Washington, DC,USA.
APHA (1992). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (18th ed.) American Public Health Association, Washington, DC,USA. 905 pp.
Bourrelly, P. (1970). Les Algues d'eau douce. Initiation à la Systématique. Tome III: Les Algues bleues et rouges. Les Eugléniens, Peridiniens et Cryptomonadines. Éditions N. Boubée & Cie, Paris, France. 512 pp.
Bourrelly, P. (1972). Les Algues d'Eau Douce. N. Boubee et Cie, Paris. Tome I. Les Algues Vertes. Éditions N. Boubée & Cie, Paris, France. 511 pp.
Bourrelly, P. (1981). Les Algues d'Eau Douce. Tome II. Les Algues Jaunes et Brunes, Chromophycees, Chrysophycees, Phéophycées, Xanthophycées et Diatomées. Second Edition. N. Boubée et Cie, Paris, France. 517 pp.
Descy, J.P.; Servais, P.; Smith, J.S.; Billen, G. and Everbecq, E. (1987). Phytoplankton biomass and production in the river Meuse (Belgium). Water Research, 21:1557-1566.
Dekov, V.M.; Komy, Z.; Araujo, F.; VanPut, A. and VanGrieken, R. (1997). Chemical Composition of Sediments, Suspended Matter, River Water and Ground Water of the Nile (Aswan-Sohag Traverse). Science of the Total Environment, 201(3):195-210.
del Giorgio, P.A.; Vinocur, A.L.; Lombardo, R. J. and Tell, H. G. (1991). Progressive changes in the structure and dynamics of the phytoplankton community along a pollution gradient in a lowland river-a multivariate approach. Hydrobiologia, 224:129-154.
Desikachary, T. V. (1959). Cyanophyta. I.C.A.R. Monographs, New Delhi. 686 pp.
El-Nayal, A. A. (1935). Egyptian Fresh Water Algae. Bulletin Faculty of Science Cairo University Egypt, 4: 1-106.
El-Nayal, A. A. (1936). Contributions to our Knowledge of the Fresh Water Algae of Egypt. Part I. Bulletin Faculty of Science Cairo University Egypt, 5:1-31.
El-Otify, A. M.; Shafik, H. M. and Szoke, E. (2003). Analyses of physico-chemical characteristics and phytoplankton communities of Lake Nasser during the last two decades. Acta botanica Hungarica, 45(1-2):75-100.
Fitzgerald, D. G.; Kott, E.; Lanno, R. P. and Dixon, D. G. (1998). A quarter century of change in the fish communities of three small streams modified by anthropogenic activities. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery, 6:111–127.
Griffiths, M. (2002). The European Water Framework Directive: An Approach to Integrated River Basin Management. European Water Management Online, Publication of the European Water Association (EWA). 15pp.
Holst, I. and Dokulil, M. (1987). Die steuemden Faktoren der planktischen Primärproduktion im Stauraum Altenworth an der Donau in Osterreich. 26. Arbeitstagung der IAD, Passau/Deutschland, Wiss. Kurzreferate: 133-137.
Jones, R. C. and Clark, C. C. (1987). Impact of watershed urbanization on stream insect communities. Water Resources Bulletin, 23:1047–1055.
Karyabwite, D. R. (2000). Water Sharing in the Nile River Valley. Project gnv011: using GIS/remote sensing for the sustainable use of natural resources UNEP/DEWA/GRID–Geneva, 93 pp.
Khan, M. A. and Kamuru, F. (1997). Seasonal changes in chemistry, algal populations, chlorophyll a and photosynthetic activity in the River Delimi, Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Hydrobiologia, 354:151-156.
Kohler, J. and Hoeg, S. (2000). Phytoplankton selection in a river-lake system during two decades of changing nutrient supply. Hydrobiologia, 424:13-24.
Logo South Country Programme Egypt (2006). Strengthening Water Companies in Egypt. The Hague, 62 pp.
Lowe, R. L. and Pan, Y. (1996). Benthic algal communities as biological monitors. In Stevenson RJ, Bothwell ML and Lowe RL (eds.) Algal ecology, freshwater benthic ecosystems. Academic Press, San Diego, p. 705-739.
Mahmoud, A. A. F. (1989). Evaluation of some inorganic nutrients limiting the phytoplankton growth in the River Nile using enrichment media. M. Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Egypt. 121 pp.
Markus, D. K.; Mckinnon, J. P. and Buccafuri A. F. (1985). Automatic analysis of nitrite, nitrate and ammonium-nitrogen in soils. Soil  Science Society of American Journal, 49:1208-1215. 
Massoud, A. H. S. and Abbas, M. H. (1985). Limnological investigations on the Rosetta branch of the Nile. III. Phytoplankton. Freshwater Biology, 15(6):661-669.
Miltner, R. J.; White, D. and Yoder, C. (2004). The biotic integrity of streams in urban and suburbanizing landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning, 69:87–100.
Palmer, C. M. (1962.) Algae in water supplies. US Public Health Service Publication 657, Washington, DC, USA. 88pp.
Palmer, W. R. and O’Keeffe, J. H. (1990). Downstream effects of impoundments on the water chemistry of the Buffalo River (Eastern Cape), South Africa. Hydrobiologia, 202:11-83.
Parsons, T. R. and Strickland, J. D. H. (1965). Particulate organic matter. III. I. Pigment analysis. III. I.I. Determination of phytoplankton pigments. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 8:117-127.
Prescott, G. W. (1954). How to know the freshwater algae. W.C. Brown Co., Dubuque Iowa. 272 pp.
Reynolds, C. S. (1988). Potamoplankton: paradigms, paradoxes and prognoses. In: FE Round (ed.) Algae and the Aquatic Environment, Biopress Ltd., Bristol, 285-311.
Reynolds, C. S. and Descy, J. P. (1996). The production, biomass and structure of phytoplankton in large rivers. Archieve Hydrobiologia, 113 (supplement): 161-187.
Sin, Y.; Wetzel, R. L. and Anderson, R. C. (1999). Spatial and temporal characteristics of nutrients and phytoplankton dynamics in the York River Estuary, Virginia: analyses of long term data. Estuaries, 22(2a):260-275.
Smith, G. M. (1950). The freshwater algae of the United States, 2nd ed., New York McGraw-Hill Book Co., 719 pp.
Stein, J. R. (1973). Hand book of phycological methods, culture methods and growth measurements. Cambridge University Press, 448 pp.
Stevenson, R. J. and Smol, J. P. (2003). Use of algae in environmental assessments. Pages 775–804 in J. D. Wehr, R. G. Sheath (editors) Freshwater algae of North America: ecology and classification. Academic Press, San Diego, California.
Stevenson, R. J. and White, K. D. (1995). A comparison of natural and human determinants of phytoplankton communities in the Kentucky River basin, USA. Hydrobiologia, 297:201-216.
Tubbing, D. M. J.; De Zwart, D. and Burger-Wiersma, T. (1995). Phytoplankton dynamics in the River Meuse as affected by pollution. Aquatic Ecology, 29(1):103-116.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2002). Research Strategy: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program. U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, DC, USA. 78 pp.
Uys, M. C. and O'Keeffe, J. H. (1997). Simple Words and Fuzzy Zones: Early Directions for Temporary River Research in South Africa. Environmental Management, 21(4):517–531.
Walsh, C. J. (2000). Urban impacts on the ecology of receiving waters: a framework for assessment, conservation and restoration. Hydrobiologia, 431:107–114.
Weaver, L. A. and Garman, G. C. (1994). Urbanization of a watershed and historical changes in a stream fish assemblage. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 123:162–172.
Wehr, J. D. and Descy, J.P. (1998). Use of phytoplankton in large river management. Journal of Phycology, 34(5):741-749.
Whitton, B.A.; Rott, E. and Friedrich, G. [eds.] (1991). Use of algae for monitoring rivers. Institut fur botanik, Universitat Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria, 193 pp.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics