Impact of trace metals and nutrients levels on phytoplankton from the Kuwait coast

The impact of marine pollution was estimated from seven stations of Kuwait coastal waters. The mean concentrations of all trace metals in seawater (0.07-7.04 μg/l) and in phytoplankton (14.90-52.01 μg/g) revealed less phytoplankton abundance in Stations IV-VI during the four seasons. However, a relative surge in the phytoplankton abundance, with an increase in the mean concentrations of all trace metals in seawater (0.15-8.94 μg/l) and phytoplankton (22.82-61.25 μg/g), was observed in Station II. A low phytoplankton abundance was noted in Stations I, III, and VII despite low mean concentrations of all the trace metals in seawater (0.11-5.77 μg/l) and phytoplankton (1.40-20 μg/g) during the four seasons. Statistical tests revealed significant difference in Fe, Ni, and Pb between the four seasons in seawater and Fe and Co in phytoplankton. No significant difference in trace metals between locations was observed in seawater and in phytoplankton. The major nutrients in all the four seasons were found in the magnitude of SiO₃>NO₃>PO₄ in all the stations, and thus, support the presence of rich diatoms and dinoflagellates than other phytoplankton groups. The seven stations also represented indicator species of oil and industrial waste pollution.