Phytoplankton-environment dynamics in a tropical estuary of the northeastern Arabian Sea: a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) approach

Abstract

Phytoplankton are diverse photosynthetic organisms in estuarine ecosystems and sensitive indicators of environmental changes. This study employed Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to explore the impact of environmental variables on the abundance of six dominant phytoplankton species in the tropical Karanja estuary, India. Data were collected from five sampling stations between January 2022 and March 2023. The GAM model explained ≥ 55% of the variability in species distribution, predicting that the Karanja estuary provides a suitable habitat for these phytoplankton. Spatiotemporal predictions revealed higher abundances of Asterionellopsis glacialis, Coscinodiscus sp., Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, Skeletonema costatum and Thalassionema frauenfeldii during post-monsoon and lower in pre-monsoon. Conversely, Odontella sinensis thrived during pre-monsoon. Optimal growth conditions included a water temperature range of 24–32 °C for O. sinensis, P. pungens and S. costatum, while chlorophyll-b concentrations between 1 and 20 mg/m³ favored A. glacialis, O. sinensis, P. pungens, S. costatum and T. frauenfeldii. P. pungens, S. costatum and T. frauenfeldii exhibited broad salinity tolerance ranging from 10–40‰. Additionally, Coscinodiscus sp., P. pungens and T. frauenfeldii were found in environments with nitrate content of 0.1–1 mg/L, while O. sinensis preferred silicate levels of 1–10 mg/L. Notably, these species serve as indicators of eutrophication, providing insights into ecosystem health. This study represents the first application of GAM for exploring phytoplankton-environment interactions in India, offering critical data for water quality management, pollution control and food web preservation. Policymakers can use these findings to develop evidence-based regulations that support proactive coastal management, enhance estuarine resilience to climate stressors and ensure sustainable resource conservation.