Fluctuations of pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrient in Cayos Miskitos, municipality of Puerto Cabezas, Autonomous Region of the North Atlantic (RAAN)

Authors

  • Yader Santiago Caballero Arbizú Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, Managua. Centro para la Investigación en Recursos Acuáticos de Nicaragua (CIRA). https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2742-6103

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5377/rtu.v10i29.12743

Keywords:

Ocean acidification, alkalinity, nutrients, physical-chemical parameters

Abstract

Ocean acidification is the drop in pH caused by the absorption of anthropogenic carbon dioxide produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, among other human activities, increasing the acidity of water and decreasing the availability of carbonates, which threatens the survival of Calcareous marine species: corals, oysters, crabs and lobsters, among others. These effects constitute a threat in the Nicaraguan Caribbean, so a monitoring of the physical-chemical parameters of the water was carried out in Cayos Miskitos (Puerto Cabezas, Autonomous Region of the North Atlantic, RAAN) in July, September and November 2018; February and March 2019. The samplings were carried out with the collaboration of IREMADES-URACCAN technicians. The physical-chemical parameters measured were: pH, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients; they were analyzed by standard methods. The pH presented normal values for seawater (8.05 and 8.19 pH units), while alkalinity showed values slightly above the typical values for seawater (118 to 124 mg/ l-1 as CaCO3). NTD concentrations at all sampled sites represented approximately 50% of NT concentrations, while the presence of FT, FTD and FRD is due to the phenomenon of outcrop to the surface of deeper waters. These results highlight the importance of studying pH and alkalinity to know its impact on the evolution of ocean acidification and its effects to support policies aimed at mitigating the phenomena of warming and adaptation to climate change.

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Published

2021-11-01

How to Cite

Caballero Arbizú, Y. S. (2021). Fluctuations of pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrient in Cayos Miskitos, municipality of Puerto Cabezas, Autonomous Region of the North Atlantic (RAAN). Torreon Universitario Magazine, 10(29), 154–165. https://doi.org/10.5377/rtu.v10i29.12743

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Sciences