Study on some physico-chemical parameters in the southern of Caspian Sea- Mazandarn Province

This study was conducted to determine physico-chemical characteristics of water and their spatial and temporal fluctuations in the Mazandaran coastal of Caspian Sea in 6 months, four seasons at 4 transects (Tonekabon, Nowshahr, Babolsar, Amirabad) during 2012-2013. 72 samples were collected at surface layer of water in 5, 15 and 30m depths. Then the sampls analyzed based on standard methods. Results showed that the mean of water and air temperature were 19.46±0.85 and 20.25±0.78 ◦C, respectively. Minimum and maximum of water temperature were recorded in winter (7.00) and summer time (28.10). Mean of salinity was 12.35±0.13 ppt. The maximum salinity was recorded in summer and minimum in winter in all transects. Mean of transparency (SD) in the present study was 2.63±0.18m. The mean of pH was observed 8.51±0.02 which was higher than the pervious sampling periods. The mean of DO was observed 6.00±0.07 ml/l during sampling period. Annual concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN= NH4 +, NO2-, NO3-) has a fairly wide variation in diferents months and transects. Percentage of nitrogen components out of DIN were varied 6-53, 0.14-26.0 and 37.0-94.0 respectively. In this study, percentage of DIN was lower than 15% and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was higher than 80%. Mean of annual dissolved inorganic phosphorous (DIP) and organic phosphorous were 0.58± 0.04 and 0.48± 0.02 µM, respectively. DIP and DOP percentages recorded 54 and 46 respectively. Mean annual of dissolved silicon (DSi) obtained 9.5± 0.2 µM. Based on the results, the system was in phosphorus limitation during spring and summer but it shifted to nitrogen limitation in autuman and winter. Phytoplankton development was not limited by DSi at any seasons. Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute Published