Impact Of Nutrients On Phytoplanton Productivity Of The Coastal Marine Waters Of Mtwapa, Mida And Kilifi Creeks, Kilifi County, Kenya

Major sources of coastal and marine pollution affecting coastal condition vary throughout the world, and there is an increasing body of research indicating that the nature and intensity of development activities, the state and type of industry and agriculture, and the size of human populations are significant contributing factors to each region’s unique problems. This study aimed at understanding the extend and impacts of coastal marine waters from land based pollution sources. The main objectives includes the determination of actual levels of three nutrients (PO4 - , NO3 - and NH3) and whether they are within acceptable limits, their relationship with ongoing human activities and their relationship with marine primary productivity. To achieve these objectives, marine water samples were sampled and analyzed from identified point and area pollution sources. A Quantitative one way ANOVA was used to determine the variations between treatments. Spearman correlation test between nutrients and carbon and nutrients and rainfall was also computed. The study revealed that the levels of nutrients kept on fluctuating throughout the entire study period along the entire three creeks and the sampling stations. The levels of nitrates were within the oligotrophic range in all the three creeks. Mtwapa creek recorded on average the highest levels of nitrates at α = 0.05 from June to November 2011. Phosphate levels in the three creek waters were not significantly different throughout the sampling period.