Modeling the effects of brine outflow from desalination plants on coastal food-webs of the Levantine basin (eastern Mediterranean Sea)

摘要: Abstract Population growth and climate change have led to an increasing demand for freshwater, subsequently exponential of the seawater desalination industry in which number reverse osmosis-based plants is constantly increasing. The purpose this study was examine possible impact brine discharge on marine food-web by constructing analyzing models from two plant environments located along Israeli coastline. were constructed using Ecopath Ecosim with Ecospace modeling suite, analyses collected samples used calibration validation. Additionally, we conducted a series scenarios order evaluate increased salinity temperature food-web. A comparison between model output measured isotopic δ15N values yielded good fit. In addition, results illustrated importance zooplankton groups both terms biomass trophic level. indicated that most functional decreased compared "no desalination" scenario. indicate elevated likely has greater effect than food-web, there general decrease due desalination.