Nutrient levels in Guinea current large marine ecosystem (GC-LME) waters

Abstract

As part of the UNIDO/GEF/GCLME capacity development programme in the GC-LME countries, water and sediment samples were collected at some stations off Lagos Bar and off the Niger Delta. The nutrient levels were determined spectrophotometrically after appropriate color development following standard methods. Phosphate levels were relatively higher in the sediments. Phosphate and Nitrate levels in the water samples were higher than natural background levels. However, the phosphate and Nitrate levels obtained were similar to those obtained in previous studies on selected wetlands in Ghana. Nitrate levels were relatively higher in water samples while nitrite levels were generally lower than Nitrate levels.

Keywords: nutrients, GC-LME – Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem, gulf of guinea, nitrate, nitrite, silicate, available
phosphate, human activities, land-based pollution, marine pollution