In the SP 6 "aquatic organisms" (IGeo of TU Braunschweig) long time information (one to several decades) about water quality and water balance are derived by analysis of aquatic organisms. This information is of importance due the poor availability of data. They can be compared with the new findings from the monitoring program or the results of model calculations of other sub projects. In this respect SP6 will take sediment samples from the mangrove forests - also the study plots of SP 5 - and the Thi Vai estuary to examine them on their species of aquatic organisms as well as heavy metal and nutrient contents. To define direct relationships between organisms and water quality correspondence analysis will be carried out. On the basis of fossil species associations from continuously deposited sediments and the geochemical signature of the sediments the development of mangrove and estuarine ecosystem for the past decades can be reconstruct. Following that, the development of the species composition will be related to climate characteristics and water quality parameters. The sampling and dating of suitable sediment cores from most undisturbed areas of the estuary and the mangroves and the linkage of analysis results of SP 6 with the model investigations of other SP will be of specific scientific challenge.
Costa-Böddeker, S., Thuyên, L.T., Schwarz, A., Huy, H.D., Schwalb, A. (2014): Spatial distribution of diatom assemblages in surface sediments of a coastal zone in Southern Vietnam. In: Meon, G., Pätsch, M., Phuoc N.V., Quan N.H. (eds.) 2014. EWATEC-COAST: Technologies for Environmental and Water Protection of Coastal Zones in Vietnam. Contributions to 4th International Conference for Environment and Natural Resources, ICENR 2014. Cuvillier, Göttingen, Germany. ISSN: 2363-7218. ISBN: 978-3-95404-852-6.
Costa-Böddeker, S., Thuyên, L.X., Schwarz, A., Huy, H.D., Schwalb, A. (2016): Diatom Assemblages in Surface Sediments Along Nutrient and Salinity Gradients of Thi Vai Estuary and Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Southern Vietnam. Estuaries and Coasts 40 (2), 479-492; https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-016-0170-5
Costa-Böddeker, S., Hoelzmann, P., Thuyên, L.X., Huy, H.D., Nguyen, H.A., Richter, O., Schwalb, A. (2017): Ecological risk assessment of a coastal zone in Southern Vietnam: Spatial distribution and content of heavy metals in water and surface sediments of the Thi Vai Estuary and Can Gio Mangrove Forest. Marine Pollution Bulletin 114 (2), 1141-1151; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.046