Abstract
Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations were measured at four sites around Unguja, Zanzibar during the northeast (NE) and southeast (SE) monsoon seasons. Data for Chl- a , nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, sea sur - face temperature, pH and salinity were collected once a month from March 2008 to March 2009. The SE monsoon had insignificantly higher Chl- a compared to the NE monsoon season when Chl- a for Bawe, Chumbe, Pongwe and Mnemba were combined (W = 234, p = 0.93). The drivers of high Chl- a during the SE monsoon were ammonia and nitrate. Results from individual sites showed that Pongwe and Mnemba had higher median Chl- a during the SE- than the NE monsoon season. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and ammonia were the major factors that influenced high Chl- a at these sites. In contrast, Chumbe and Bawe had higher median Chl- a during the NE- than the SE mon- soon season. The major factors influencing high Chl- a in the NE at Chumbe and Bawe were high levels of nutrients, mainly from sewage effluent and various human activities around the coast in Zanzibar town. The interaction of Chl- a between monsoon seasons (NE and SE) and sites (Bawe, Chumbe, Pongwe and Mnemba) was insignificant (F (1,3) = 1.3144, p = 0.2949). The principal component analysis revealed that different physical and chemical environmental variables affect Chl- a concentration over time and location.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
