Effects of Coastal Freshwater Discharge on Plankton Community Succession in Shallow Marine Waters

Freshwater discharge in the coastal area is a key factor that affects the physical, chemical, and biological properties of shallow marine ecosystems. Changes in the intensity of freshwater discharge may have an impact on salinity profiles, nutrients, water stratification, and phytoplankton growth, and consequently lead to a change in the planktonic succession. There is a need for such research as a result of increased variability of freshwater discharge due to rainfall and riverine contributions as well as coastal hydrology. The innovation of this research is in its approach to the study of the relationship between freshwater discharge properties, physicochemical properties of seawater, and plankton succession in the form of comparative ecological assessment. The methodology includes selection of the sampling stations in shallow marine areas exposed to the freshwater discharge as well as not exposed to it, seasonal water samples collection, plankton taxonomy, abundance evaluation, chlorophyll-a content analysis, physicochemical parameters evaluation, and statistical analysis, including diversity indices, correlation analysis, and multivariate community analysis. Phytoplankton and zooplankton composition and their abundance and seasonal distribution will be considered in the study. The analysis will concentrate on variations in salinity levels, nutrient concentration, stratification due to freshwater flow, and ecological relationships affecting community succession. The possible result will be acquiring new knowledge about the impact of coastal fresh water discharge on the development of planktonic communities.