Phytoplankton assemblage responses to massive freshwater inputs and anthropogenic toxic substances contamination in the Geum River Estuary, South Korea

This study investigated the relationships between phytoplankton assemblages and water contamination by persistent toxic substances (PTSs) and nutrients in an estuary with an artificial dam over one year. The distribution of PTSs, including 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 6 alkylphenols, and 8 metal(loid)s, along with nutrients, exhibited relatively high concentrations with irregular temporal fluctuations in the inner estuary. During winter and spring, phytoplankton communities showed good ecological quality, with an average of 28 species and a density of 1750 cells L