Capacity of nutrient assimilation of phytoplankton in Nha Trang estuaries in rainy season

Abstract

Nha Trang bay, located in the South Center part of Viet Nam, has two main sources of water contributed by Be and Cai river estuaries with abundance sources of inorganic nutrients from the waste of industrial, people living and aquaculture activities. As a result, both soil and water quality of Nha Trang bay are put under pressure to be degraded significantly. The purpose of this thesis project is to investigate the capacity of photosynthesis of phytoplankton in Nha Trang estuaries in rainy season using environmental parameters, two photosynthetic parameters, PBm, ; nutrient uptake rate and chlorophyll-a growth rate based on two tide times for future sustainable development and related scientific researches. The results indicated that Be estuary had the highest nutrient assimilation rate but lowest primary productivity with PBmax and  ranged from 6.943- 25.053 and 0.008- 0.109, respectively. Meanwhile, Cai estuary had the highest value of PBmax and  ranged from 6.537- 61.801 and 0.030-0.294. Meanwhile, PBmax and  of Nha Trang port ranged from 6.415- 32.726 and 0.021-0.167 with highest nutrient rate. The primary productivity of Cai and Be estuary also fluctuated along with tide conditions. Furthermore, the results of this project is the initial research to figure out the self-purification capacity of Nha Trang bay as well as suggesting the solutions, recommendations for sustainable development as well as minimize the environmental impacts on aquatic ecosystem of Nha Trang bay. Keywords: Phytoplankton Photosynthesis Nutrient assimilation Primary productivity Estuary Rainy season