We assessed ecological quality status (EQS) of coastal waters following claims of increasing sea turtle fibro-papillomatosis (FP) infections in Kenya, a disease hypothesized to be associated with ‘poor’ ecological health. We established widespread phosphate (P) and silicate (Si) limitation, dissolved ammonium contamination and an increase in potential harmful algal blooming species. Variations in the EQS was established in the sites depending on the indicators used and seasons. Generally, more sites located near hotels, tidal creeks, and estuarine areas showed ‘poor’, and ‘bad’ EQS during rainy period compared to dry season. Additionally, 90.1 % of the sites in ‘poor’ and ‘bad’ EQS based on dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Low dissolved oxygen, elevated temperature, salinity and ammonium, ‘poor’ EQS based on DIN, and potential bio-toxin-producing phytoplankton species characterized the FP prevalent areas, specifically during the dry season suggesting environmental stress pointing to the hypothesized connection between ecological and sea turtle health.
Oduor N.A., Munga C.N., Imbayi L.K., Botwe P.K., Nyanjong E.O., Muthama C.M., Mise N.A. and Moosdorf N. (2023) Anthropogenic nutrients and phytoplankton diversity in Kenya's coastal waters: An ecological quality assessment of sea turtle foraging sites. Marine Pollution Bulletin 199: 115897. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115897
@article{Oduor2023,
Title = {Anthropogenic nutrients and phytoplankton diversity in Kenya's coastal waters: An ecological quality assessment of sea turtle foraging sites},
Author = {Oduor, Nancy A. and Munga, Cosmas N. and Imbayi, Linet K. and Botwe, Paul K. and Nyanjong, Ezekiel O. and Muthama, Charles M. and Mise, Neville A. and Moosdorf, Nils},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},
Year = {2023},
Pages = {115897},
Volume = {199},
Doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115897},
Abstract = {We assessed ecological quality status (EQS) of coastal waters following claims of increasing sea turtle fibro-papillomatosis (FP) infections in Kenya, a disease hypothesized to be associated with ‘poor’ ecological health. We established widespread phosphate (P) and silicate (Si) limitation, dissolved ammonium contamination and an increase in potential harmful algal blooming species. Variations in the EQS was established in the sites depending on the indicators used and seasons. Generally, more sites located near hotels, tidal creeks, and estuarine areas showed ‘poor’, and ‘bad’ EQS during rainy period compared to dry season. Additionally, 90.1 % of the sites in ‘poor’ and ‘bad’ EQS based on dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Low dissolved oxygen, elevated temperature, salinity and ammonium, ‘poor’ EQS based on DIN, and potential bio-toxin-producing phytoplankton species characterized the FP prevalent areas, specifically during the dry season suggesting environmental stress pointing to the hypothesized connection between ecological and sea turtle health.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Oduor, Nancy A.
AU - Munga, Cosmas N.
AU - Imbayi, Linet K.
AU - Botwe, Paul K.
AU - Nyanjong, Ezekiel O.
AU - Muthama, Charles M.
AU - Mise, Neville A.
AU - Moosdorf, Nils
TI - Anthropogenic nutrients and phytoplankton diversity in Kenya's coastal waters: An ecological quality assessment of sea turtle foraging sites
T2 - Marine Pollution Bulletin
PY - 2023
SP - 115897
VL - 199
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115897
AB - We assessed ecological quality status (EQS) of coastal waters following claims of increasing sea turtle fibro-papillomatosis (FP) infections in Kenya, a disease hypothesized to be associated with ‘poor’ ecological health. We established widespread phosphate (P) and silicate (Si) limitation, dissolved ammonium contamination and an increase in potential harmful algal blooming species. Variations in the EQS was established in the sites depending on the indicators used and seasons. Generally, more sites located near hotels, tidal creeks, and estuarine areas showed ‘poor’, and ‘bad’ EQS during rainy period compared to dry season. Additionally, 90.1 % of the sites in ‘poor’ and ‘bad’ EQS based on dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Low dissolved oxygen, elevated temperature, salinity and ammonium, ‘poor’ EQS based on DIN, and potential bio-toxin-producing phytoplankton species characterized the FP prevalent areas, specifically during the dry season suggesting environmental stress pointing to the hypothesized connection between ecological and sea turtle health.
ER -
