Abstract
Data are reported for an inland artificial lagoon (Ayla) to evaluate the impact of the lagoon’s modeled design and water replenishment system on its water quality and the coastal ecosystem. This study focused on Ayla’s upper lagoon (UL) only, due to its isolation from the two other lagoons and the ambient seawater in the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA). Nutrient measurements (nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, and silicate) in addition to Chlorophyll a (Chl a) data were collected between July 2012 and June 2013. Chl a values in the UL were not significantly different from ambient seawater in the GoA, and the UL did not show seasonal differences (p = 0.456). Significant variability for nitrite was observed in the UL between spring and summer (p < 0.0001) and between fall and winter (p < 0.0001). Nitrite showed a stronger seasonal effect in the GoA seawater than in the UL (p = 0.056). Phosphorus showed a seasonal effect and remained similar between the UL and GoA. Nutrient stoichiometry showed a Redfield-like nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N:P) ratio for the ambient GoA seawater around the inlet pumping source and an increased N:P ratio inside the UL. This study emphasizes the importance of modeled lagoon design and seawater replenishment system in preventing and inhibiting eutrophication of the lagoon and therefore minimizing contamination in the coastal ecosystem.
Highlights
Coral reef ecosystems are a complex interwoven assembly of different species, playing key roles in maintaining marine biodiversity [1,2]
This study provides the first opportunity to compare water quality data from an artificial lagoon (Ayla lagoons) specially equipped with a seawater pumping system, which pumps ambient seawater into the lagoons to maintain “close to ambient” in-lagoon water quality
There was no overall difference in Chlorophyll a (Chl a) levels between the upper lagoon (UL) and reference sites (p = 0.456), but there were seasonal differences
Summary
Coral reef ecosystems are a complex interwoven assembly of different species, playing key roles in maintaining marine biodiversity [1,2]. There is a scarcity of water quality and system dynamics data in public databases for artificial lagoons equipped with water replenishment systems. Such data are necessary to develop management plans capable of preserving the lagoons’ natural chemical properties, productivity, and biodiversity [14,15,16,17]. Ayla lagoon’s design was subjected to different environmental models before the actual design was modeled and constructed, resulting in the design of a seawater pumping system which pumps ambient seawater from the GoA into the lagoons, in an attempt to minimize eutrophication and maintain “close to ambient” in-lagoon water quality, and thereafter minimal impact on the adjacent ambient water of the GoA
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