The Impact of Coastal Forest Ecosystems on the Hydrochemical Characteristics of Svēte River and its Tributaries under Anthropogenic Load: A Year-Long Assessment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/jsml.vol14.1.12.2026Keywords:
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Eutrophication, Buffer zones, Seasonal dynamicsAbstract
The aim of the research was to assess the impact of coastal forest ecosystems on the hydrochemical characteristics of the Svēte River and its tributaries. The methodology involved year-long monitoring at 16 sites with monthly water sampling and laboratory analysis of physicochemical parameters. The results revealed a pronounced seasonal pattern of nitrogen concentrations, with maximum values during the winter-spring period (up to 14.0 mg/L) and minimum values in summer (around 1.0 mg/L). Phosphorus concentrations showed high spatial variability, with extreme peaks of up to 43.0 mg/L in the estuarine zone and background levels ranging from 0.02 to 0.2 mg/L. Riparian buffer zones wider than 15 m with continuous forest cover reduced nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations by 61% and 76%, respectively, compared with sites lacking buffer vegetation. Stability of the acid-base balance (pH 7.0-8.2) and dissolved oxygen content (8-12 mg/L) was observed, along with the absence of excessive heavy metal concentrations. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of coastal forest ecosystems in mitigating agricultural nutrient inputs and support their application in river basin water quality management and buffer zone restoration.
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