Physicochemical Study of Coral Reef Water

In Tela Bay, located in the city of Tela, Atlántida, Honduras, a water study was carried out to determine the main causes of contamination to the coral reefs and to observe the quality of the marine water. Within this study we have considered three physical-chemical parameters which are Temperature, pH, and Turbidity and four microbiological parameters which are the most probable number of Fecal Coliforms, Nitrite, Ammonia and Nitrate. For the fecal coliform sampling, we selected 6 points at the two mouths of the Lancetilla and Highlandcreek Rivers and at 3 km and 6 km in each of the rivers to obtain more accurate fecal coliform samples and perform this test, which according to specialists has never been done in this area. The other samples for the other studies were taken at Point A (at the mouth of the Lancetilla River), Point B (3 km offshore in a straight line from Point A) and Point C (6 km offshore in a straight line from Point A and B). We consider Point C to be the most important since this is where the coral reefs begin to appear. After obtaining the samples we proceeded to carry out the corresponding studies which helped us to analyze in detail each one of the results, and we were able to use statistical techniques such as graphs, managing to represent and analyze the values presented by each one of the parameters, defining the maximum values and establishing the optimal limits for these studies. A series of tables were made for each of the points with their optimum limit to have a better reference of the results obtained throughout this research.