DISTRIBUTION OF NUTRIENT SALTS IN THE'WATER AND POREWAT'ER OF THE WESTERN HARBOUR OF ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT.

DISTRIBUTION OF NUTRIENT SALTS IN THE’WATER

AND POREWAT’ER OF THE WESTERN HARBOUR OF

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT.

RAMZY B. NESSIM AND A. B. TADROS.

Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet Bey, Alexandria, Egypt.

ABSTRACT
Water and surface sediment samples were collected
seasonally during the year 1985 from nine stations in
Alexandria western harbour. The nutrient salts; Phosphate,
Nitrate, Nitrite and Silicate as well as AIImonia
concentrations were stUdied in water column and porewater
of sediment. Seasonal distribution’ paterns of the nutrient
contents were detected at different parts of the !)arbour.
The P : N : Si average ratio, which is 1 : 23 : 27 in the
water and 1 : 129 : 49 in the porewater of the harbour,
deviate strongly from the normal oceanic ratio. The sediment
interstitial water contains much nutrient concentrations
than the overlying water column. particularly all1llonia.
silicate and phosphate.
The concentration ratios of (porewater: water) for
different nutrient salts are calculated. The harbour receives
Pollutants;–,drainage and industrial waters frOID El-Noubaria
canal and domestic wastes at El~Mahmoudia area. the pollutants
disposed into the harbour may creat an eutrophicat1on condit1on
not greatly different from tha t in brack j sh Egypti an delta
lakes.