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  • Natural waters often contain complex mixtures of unknown contaminants potentially posing a threat to marine communities through chemical interactions. Here, acute effects of the photosystem II-inhibiting herbicides diuron, tebuthiuron, atrazine, simazine, and hexazinone, herbicide breakdown products (des- ethyl-atrazine (DEA) and 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA)) and binary mixtures, were investigated using three tropical benthic microalgae; Navicula sp. and Cylindrotheca closterium (Ochrophyta) and Nephrosel- mis pyriformis (Chlorophyta), and one standard test species, Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Ochrophyta), in a high-throughput Maxi-Imaging-PAM bioassay (Maxi-IPAM). The order of toxicity was; diuron > hexazi- none > tebuthiuron > atrazine > simazine > DEA > 3,4-DCA for all species. The tropical green alga N. pyri- formis was up to 10-fold more sensitive than the diatoms tested here and reported for coral symbionts, and is recommended as a standard tropical test species for future research. All binary mixtures exhibited additive toxicity, and the use of herbicide equivalents (HEq) is therefore recommended in order to incor- porate total-maximum-load measures for environmental regulatory purposes.

    Author(s): Marie Magnusson, Pamela Quayle, Kirsten Heimann, Andrew P. Negri
  • As early as 1927, Prof. M. O. P. Iyengar gave a brief account of the flora of Krusadai Island and other collecting grounds in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay areas near Mandapam. Later on, Boergesen (1937a, b ; 1938) reported a large number of the algae occurring around Mandapam in his contributions on south Indian algal flora, but the green algae of this area were not included in this work. Since then, detailed attempts have not been made to study the algal flora of Mandapam, but for a provisional list of algae of Krusadai Island (Chacko et ah, 1955) and a paper on a new species of Halicystis (Iyengar & Ramanathan, 1954). While working on some ecological aspects of marine algae of Mandapam, the author had the opportunity to collect algae in the different seasons of the year, in the vicinity of Mandapam (79°8' E, 9''17' N) and nearby places like Pudumadam and Kilakarai. Among the collections made since 1964 some plants have not been previously recorded from Mandapam area ; a list of these algae is given in this report with brief notes on their distribution.

    Author(s): Rao, M Umamaheswara
  • To determine the effect of the defatted H. pluvialis meal in diet on shrimp growth proformance and pigmentation.

    Author(s): Zhi Yong Ju, PH. D.
  • Cultivated kelps (brown algae) are a sustainable biomass resource and a potential feedstock for conversion to biofuels and chemicals. Due to seasonal variations, and a short period with optimal biomass composition, preservation and storage of the biomass is required for a year-round operation of a seaweed processing plant. For use of the biomass as a carbon source for fermentation to biofuels, only low-cost preservation methods are feasible. Preservation of Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp) by sulphuric and formic acid has been evaluated as a method to maintain the fermentable carbohydrates laminaran and mannitol. In milled biomass, stored anaerobically for up to 6.5 months at different pH values, laminaran and mannitol were efficiently preserved in samples stored at pH below 3.7, obtained by addition of sulphuric acid. When a combination of sulphuric and formic acid was used, no sugar loss could be detected up to pH 4. The content of free glucose increased during the storage period in the well-preserved samples without loss of sugars. The free glucose levels were highest at the highest storage pH, providing strong evidence for the presence of endogenous β- glucanases that hydrolyse laminaran to glucose. Our work was primarily aimed at preservation of the biomass for application as a carbon source for fermentation. However, the method will be equally suited for other applications of the biomass, such as extraction of valuable compounds for use in functional food, feed or other areas.

    Author(s): Ingrid S. Sandbakken, Jon Funderud, Maren Sæther, Inga Marie Aasen
  • To bring our interconnected food and climate systems within a ‘safe operating space’ for people and the planet, the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change has outlined seven major areas for policy action. Over the past year, I have worked with my colleagues on the Commission to harvest the practical solutions detailed in the many recent authoritative reports on food security and climate change. By combining this thorough review of the substantive evidence base with the diverse perspectives and disciplinary expertise of the 13 Commissioners, we have crafted a succinct roadmap for policy makers. We offer no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions, but rather point the way forward to foster national, regional and sectoral innovation that can aggregate up to meaningful global change.

    Author(s): Sir John Beddington, Mohammed Asaduzzaman, Megan Clark, Adrian Fernández, Marion Guillou, Molly Jahn, Lin Erda, Tekalign Mamo, Nguyen Van Bo, Carlos A Nobre, Robert Scholes, Rita Sharma, Judi Wakhungu
  • Accumulation and the effects of copper and zinc on the macroalga Padina gymnospora were assessed in the laboratory after artificial exposure to copper and zinc (separately or in combination). Exposure concentrations of copper used were 0, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 µg l-1. Concentrations of zinc exposure were 0, 50, 100, 250, 1,000 and 5,000 µg l-1. The simultaneous (or combined) addition of copper and zinc (Cu+Zn) involved 25+50, 50+100, 100+250, and 500+1,000 µg l-1. Accumulation patterns were determined by measuring tissue contents of copper and zinc, while the tolerance was assessed by measuring growth rate and photosynthetic performance, as maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm). Furthermore, the influence of major nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) on algal-metal-accumulation was estimated after additions of nitrate (1, 10 and 20 mg l -1) and phosphate (0.1, 1 and 2 mg l-1). The data obtained showed that the accumulation increased linearly with the increase in metal concentration in the growth media. However, the presence of additional nitrate and phosphate reduced both the metal accumulation and their toxic effects. Both algal growth rate and maximum quantum yields were negatively affected in proportion to the increase in metal concentrations and exposure time. At exposures to 50, 100 and 500 µg l-1 copper, inhibition in growth was greater than 50%, while an exposure to 1,000 µg l-1of zinc was needed to cause the same effect on growth and Fv/Fm. Growth rate was a more sensitive indicator of stress than maximum quantum yield in response to exposure to copper and zinc. 

    Author(s): Florence A. Mamboya, Mats Björk, Matern Mtolera, Harischandras B. Pratap
  • The effects of salinity and acclimation time on the net photosynthetic responses of 3 estuarine red algae, Bostrychia radicans Mont., Caloglossa leprieurii (Mont.) J. Ag., and Polysiphonia subtilissima Mont., from Great Bay Estuary, New Jersey, USA, were investigated. The algae were cultured in a series of synthetic seawater media of 5, 15, 25 and 35% S for acclimation periods of 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 days prior to determining their photosynthetic responses. All species were euryhaline, and demonstrated photosynthesis at all the above salinities. B. radicans, which was more common towards the mouth of the estuary, had a maximum photosynthetic rate at 25% S, whilst C. leprieurii and P. subtilissima, which were more common towards the head of the estuary, had photosynthetic maxima between 15 and 25%, and at 15%, respectively. The curves relating net photosynthesis to salinity were usually similar within a species at different acclimation periods, although statistically significant differences were sometimes noted. The acclimation periods producing maximal net photosynthesis were 0, 2 and 4 days for B. radicans, and 4 days for C. leprieurii, whilst for P. subtilissima there was no significant difference in response for any acclimation period over the range of salinities studied.The effects of salinity and acclimation time on the net photosynthetic responses of 3 estuarine red algae, Bostrychia radicans Mont., Caloglossa leprieurii (Mont.) J. Ag., and Polysiphonia subtilissima Mont., from Great Bay Estuary, New Jersey, USA, were investigated. The algae were cultured in a series of synthetic seawater media of 5, 15, 25 and 35% S for acclimation periods of 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 days prior to determining their photosynthetic responses. All species were euryhaline, and demonstrated photosynthesis at all the above salinities. B. radicans, which was more common towards the mouth of the estuary, had a maximum photosynthetic rate at 25% S, whilst C. leprieurii and P. subtilissima, which were more common towards the head of the estuary, had photosynthetic maxima between 15 and 25%, and at 15%, respectively. The curves relating net photosynthesis to salinity were usually similar within a species at different acclimation periods, although statistically significant differences were sometimes noted. The acclimation periods producing maximal net photosynthesis were 0, 2 and 4 days for B. radicans, and 4 days for C. leprieurii, whilst for P. subtilissima there was no significant difference in response for any acclimation period over the range of salinities studied.

    Author(s): S. Casey, P. Edwards, C. Yarish
  • Several species of Kappaphycus were intentionally introduced into Kane’ohe Bay, Hawai’i in the 1970s. Subsequent research has demonstrated that these algae have spread rapidly throughout the bay and can be found in a variety of reef habitats overgrowing and killing corals. This study was conducted to (a) quantify Kappaphycus spp. abundance both spatially and temporally, and (b) investigate control options including manual removal and the use of biocontrol agents. Kappaphycus spp. distribution has increased in the bay over the period between surveys conducted in 1999 and 2002, with variation among reefs. The biomass of Kappaphycus spp. removed, and the amount of time required to manually remove them from the reef varied with habitat type, but in all cases amounted to at least 10 kg/m2 requiring almost 2 per- son-hours to clear 1 m2. Re-growth of the algae following their removal was rapid at most sites, likely due to the experimentally demonstrated ability of the algae to re-grow from minute attachment points and the low palatability of the algae to native herbivorous fishes. The native sea urchin, Tripneustes gra- tilla, reduced the biomass of Kappaphycus spp. in small experimental enclosures and may be a useful bio- control agent. Because Kappaphycus spp. are still spreading in Kane’ohe Bay and can overgrow over 50% cover on some reefs, we recommend that rapid management action be taken to prevent further damage and spread to other Hawaiian coral reefs.

    Author(s): Eric J. Conklin , Jennifer E. Smith
  • Due to frequent viral disease outbreaks, a large proportion of shrimp aquaculture in South-East Asian countries has switched from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) to P. vannamei, an exotic species originally imported from Latin America. One of the causes of disease outbreaks is thought to be poor water and sediment conditions in the shrimp ponds, which may aggravate disease symptoms. To obtain basic information for co-culture methods of black tiger shrimp and sandfish (Holothuria scabra) for possible mitigation of shrimp-pond eutrophication and prevention of disease outbreaks, basic laboratory experiments were conducted at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center—Aquaculture Department in Iloilo, the Philippines. A feeding trial of juvenile sandfish showed that they do not grow well with fresh shrimp feed on hard substrate. Another trial indicated that sand substrate enhances the growth of juvenile sandfish fed with shrimp feed. A feeding trial using shrimp tank detritus, shrimp faeces and Navicula ramosissima (a benthic diatom) as food sources showed that sandfish grew fastest with the faeces, followed by detritus and N. ramosissima. Dissolved oxygen consumption and acid-volatile sulfur levels in the shrimp tank detritus were reduced by sandfish feeding. This suggests that sandfish are capable of growing with organic matter in shrimp ponds, and can bioremediate shrimp-pond sediment.

    Author(s): Satoshi Watanabe, Masashi Kodama, Jacques M. Zarate, Maria J.H. Lebata-Ramos, Marie F.J. Nievales
  • The South African abalone cultivation industry has developed rapidly and is now the largest producer outside Asia. With a rapid decline in wild abalone fisheries, farming now dominates the abalone export market in South Africa. Kelp (Ecklonia maxima) constitutes the major feed for farmed abalone in South Africa, but this resource is now approaching limits of sustainable harvesting in kelp Concession Areas where abalone farms are concentrated. This paper gives an overview of the development of the South African abalone industry and analyses how abalone farming, natural kelp beds and seaweed harvesting are interlinked. It discusses options and constraints for expanding the abalone industry, focussing especially on abalone feed development to meet this growing demand.Kelp will continue to play an important role as feed and kelp areas previously not utilised may become cost-effective to harvest. There are many benefits from on-farm seaweed production and it will probably be a part of future expansion of the abalone industry. Abalone waste discharges are not at present regarded as a major concern and farming brings important employment opportunities to lower income groups in remote coastal communities and has positive spillover effects on the seaweed industry and abalone processing industry.

    Author(s): M. Troell, D. Robertson-Andersson, R.J. Anderson, J.J. Bolton, G. Maneveldt, C. Halling, T. Probyn

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