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Background: Actinomycetes are a well-known example of a microbiological origin that may generate a wide variety of chemical structures. As excellent cell factories, these sources are able to manufacture medicines, agrochemicals, and enzymes that are crucial. Results: In this study, about 34 randomly selected Streptomyces isolates were discovered in soil, sediment, sea water, and other environments. Using a qualitative fast plate assay, they were tested for L-glutaminase production, and nine of them produced a significant amount of pink L-glutamine. Streptomyces sp. strain 5 M was identified by examining the 16S rRNA gene in the promising strain G8. A pH of 7.5, an incubation temperature of 40 °C, and the use of glucose and peptone as the carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, produced the highest quantities of L-glutaminase. The molecular weight of the isolated L-glutaminase was estimated to be 52 kDa using SDS-PAGE analysis. At pH 7.5 and Temp., 40 °C, the isolated enzyme exhibited its highest levels of stability and activity. The isolated enzyme's Km and Vmax values were 2.62 mM and 10.20 U/ml, respectively. Strong toxicity against HepG-2, HeLa, and MCF-7 was observed due to the anticancer properties of the isolated L-glutaminase. Conclusion: Our findings include the discovery of Streptomyces sp. strain 5 M, which yields a free L-glutaminase and maybe a possible applicant for extra pharmacological investigation as an antineoplastic drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines the occurrence and fate of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments in South Africa. MPs were found in Tshwane and Johannesburg in drinking water samples, with concentrations as high as 0.189 particles/L. Concentrations in freshwater bodies were greater, sometimes reaching 0.33–56 particles/L. MP levels in marine sediments were greater than many worldwide averages, particularly along the southeast coast (up to 45,867 particles/kg) and the MP levels in air were 1–5 particles/m3. These values are in line with figures around the globe which stand at 0.1–10 particles/L, and 0.3–10 particles/m3 for water, and air respectively. Low-density PE, PP, and PE-HD were the most prevalent polymers identified. Although there is little data, inappropriate disposal of waste is a major cause of soil contamination, which is a serious concern. The study highlights how important it is to conduct more research to close knowledge gaps, especially regarding MPs in groundwater and their impact on human health. The findings emphasise the necessity of improved wastewater treatment technologies, public awareness initiatives, and stronger laws governing single-use plastics. Standardizing MPs detection techniques, improving our knowledge of MPs fate and transport, and estimating the effects of MPs exposure to human health should be the main goals for future research. Effective cooperation between researchers, legislators, and industry is necessary for mitigation initiatives to be successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing presence of compostable bioplastics as substitutes for conventional fossil-based plastics necessitates a deeper understanding of their environmental impacts, particularly in marine ecosystems, where they often accumulate. This study examines the leaching potential of different phthalic acid esters (PAEs) from commercial biodegradable plastic bags into natural seawater over a three-month period. Degradation experiments were conducted to investigate the release of PAEs under direct solar radiation exposure and in shielded conditions. 1H-NMR analysis of the seawater confirmed the release of phthalates, with higher concentrations observed in the samples exposed to sunlight. The leaching rate ranged from 264–342 microgram/g plastic under light exposure to 20–167 microgram/g in dark conditions. These results indicate that the accumulation of compostable plastic waste in coastal marine environments leads to the release of phthalic acid esters, with potential implications for marine ecosystem health and human exposure to these emerging contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This review examines the occurrence and fate of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments in South Africa. MPs were found in Tshwane and Johannesburg in drinking water samples, with concentrations as high as 0.189 particles/L. Concentrations in freshwater bodies were greater, sometimes reaching 0.33–56 particles/L. MP levels in marine sediments were greater than many worldwide averages, particularly along the southeast coast (up to 45,867 particles/kg) and the MP levels in air were 1–5 particles/m3. These values are in line with figures around the globe which stand at 0.1–10 particles/L, and 0.3–10 particles/m3 for water, and air respectively. Low-density PE, PP, and PE-HD were the most prevalent polymers identified. Although there is little data, inappropriate disposal of waste is a major cause of soil contamination, which is a serious concern. The study highlights how important it is to conduct more research to close knowledge gaps, especially regarding MPs in groundwater and their impact on human health. The findings emphasise the necessity of improved wastewater treatment technologies, public awareness initiatives, and stronger laws governing single-use plastics. Standardizing MPs detection techniques, improving our knowledge of MPs fate and transport, and estimating the effects of MPs exposure to human health should be the main goals for future research. Effective cooperation between researchers, legislators, and industry is necessary for mitigation initiatives to be successful.

In light of the axes of fish wealth development, marine fish farming, shrimp are considered marine fish of high quality and high prices, and with the success of shrimp hatching, it is an incentive to encourage farming in marine waters, especially with the deficit in the trade balance, which was estimated at more than 3 billion L.E in 2022, despite the availability of obstacles to farming represents only 0.22% of the volume of fish production from farming in Egypt in 2022, in addition to reliance on... On imports, about 63.5% of what is available for consumption. This study aimed to measure the productive and economic efficiency of marine shrimp farming. The study relied on published secondary data for the period (2011-2021), in addition to primary data from the Suez Canal Fish Farming Company for the year 2023. Descriptive statistics methods were used in addition to the Alpha Chang model to estimate the annual growth rate, and farm budget analysis to estimate profitability and product margin. The most important results were: The fluctuation of shrimp production during the study period, and the reliance on natural sources, especially production from the Mediterranean Sea, where production represents about 62% of the production of natural sources and about 53% of the total shrimp production in Egypt as an average for the study period. Production from shrimp aquaculture fluctuated, as it went through periods of increase (2011-2014) and then decline (2015-2019), then it increased in recent years with interest in cultivating and establishing new projects, including the city of Ghalioun, the Fayrouz Farm, the Suez Canal, and Diba, which represent these four government farms. About 53.65% of shrimp production is from farming and about 13.47% of the total Shrimp production, and private farms contribute about 13.17% of the total shrimp production in Egypt in 2021. As for shrimp seed, the Ghalioun hatchery, which has been operating since 2020, contributes about 95% of the total shrimp seed production in 2021, despite the reliance on private hatcheries until 2019. It was found that feed loading rates were about 100 thousand units per acre, and about 67 units per kilogram of product. The food conversion rate was estimated at about 1.8 kilograms of feed per kilogram of shrimp, and productivity per acre was estimated at about 1.5 tons. The loss rate ranged between 9.9% and 25.2%, with an average of 16.65%. The study estimated the average costs of producing a kilogram of shrimp at approximately 94.4 to 103.95, according to the analysis hypothesis. The importance of fixed costs ranged between 16.39% to 23.38% of the total average costs, the most important of which is the administration and general labor item, then finding the ideal. As for the variable costs, they ranged from 83.6% to 76.6%, the most important of which is Feed costs, which represent about 76% of variable costs, then seed for about 21%, that is, together they represent about 97% of the variable costs, that is, 81.15% of the total costs. The average price of a kilogram was estimated at approximately 163.2 pounds. Accordingly, this activity achieves a positive net profit after deducting all costs, ranging from 68.7 to 60.1 pounds per kilogram. This represents an incentive to expand this activity, since according to economic theory, this profit disappears in the long run. It was also shown that the product margin as a percentage of the selling price ranged from 42.11% to 36.83%, depending on the analysis assumption. The study showed that the problems of shrimp farming are expensive, just like fish farming, the most important of which is the provision of appropriate feed of the appropriate quality and price, in addition to the provision of seed, in addition to the phenomenon of moulting, which does not allow the production of large sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal marine environments are one of the most productive ecosystems. Nevertheless, anthropogenic activities have a significant influence on coastal marine biodiversity, resulting in functional changes in the microbial communities. The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in coastal marine water is a global public health threat. The current study aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance profile of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria isolated from coastal marine water in Jazan (Saudi Arabia). Seven coagulase-negative Staphylococci of five species were identified as Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus equorum, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Moreover, the Gram-negative isolates were identified as Providencia rettgeri, Providencia vermicola, and Pseudomonas oleovorans. Alarming levels of resistance were determined for the bacterial strains S. epidermidis MG13, S. haemolyticus MG14, and P. rettgeri MG7. The existence of multi-drug resistant opportunistic pathogenic bacteria in the coastal marine water in Jazan could pose a potential threat to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Archaeal communities play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, yet our understanding of their ecological and functional traits remains incomplete. This study focuses on northern Hangzhou Bay to fill gaps in knowledge regarding the biogeography and functionality of archaeal groups. Methods: We utilized a high-throughput sequencing dataset based on the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the archaeal community, aiming to identify biogeographic patterns and assess the influence of environmental factors on community structure. Results: The predominant phyla identified were Woesearchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Crenarchaeota. Archaeal community structure in sediments showed a geographical pattern along the environmental gradient, influenced by factors such as salinity, ammonium, total phosphorus, pH, and total nitrogen content. Network analysis revealed nonrandom cooccurrence patterns, with associations changing along the salinity gradient. Additionally, this study directly proved the existence of dispersal limitation in this strongly connected marine ecological system through null model analyses. Variation in the archaeal community was attributed to both environmental constraints and stochastic processes due to dispersal limitation. Furthermore, our results revealed that the key biogeochemical functions of the archaeal community also exhibited a clear salinity gradient, the functional differences appear to be influenced by salinity, and the critical roles of archaeal diversity were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of estuary and marine water quality is essential to check the suitability of a water source for the designated use. Therefore, the present study focuses on preliminary aspects of Physio-chemical parameters and identification of Zooplankton in the estuary and coastal area from Mela Vanjur, Nagapattinam, District, Tamil Nadu, India for this period of January 2023. Physico-chemical parameters like Smell, Flavour, Odour, Colour, Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity, Temperature, Electrical Conductivity, pH, Salinity, Total alkalinity, Total hardness, Nitrite, Nitrate, NH3, Phosphate, Iron, Total Suspended Solids, COD, BOD, DO, were varied in both sample in the same month. The present study revealed that all the Physico-chemical parameters were more low, normal and high value, which may be due to the industrial effluents mixing up with the estuary. Suitable remedial measures should be taken to prevent the mixing of domestic sewage and discharge of effluent into the river to maintain the quality of the Vettar estuary. The present study revealed 15 genera of zooplankton from the estuary and marine water belonging to the four groups namely, 1. Cladocere: Daphnia sp. Ceriodaphnia sp, Alonella sp, Diaphanosoma sp, Moina sp, 2. Copepoda: Cyclops sp, Tropocyclops sp, Nauplius sp, Diaptomus sp, Heliodiaptomus sp, 3.Rotifera: Brachionus sp, Conochilus sp, Filinia sp, 4.Ostracoda: Cypris sp, Stenocypris sp. The present work provides substantial evidence that water quality analysis from Vettar estuary and marine water. From the study, it is evident that zooplankton may be a promising non-polluted depending on the ecological condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are no reports of production and characterization of polysaccharides in the genera Chlorella and Spirulina cultivated in seawater (SW) and brackish groundwater (BGW). Furthermore, there are few studies on the cultivation of these microalgae in seawater for this purpose. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the production and composition of polysaccharides in Spirulina sp. LEB 18 and Chlorella fusca LEB 111 grown in seawater and brackish groundwater, with and without nutrient supplementation. In this study, 100% SW and 100% BGW were used as nutrient sources and supplemented with different concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and EDTA sources that make up the Zarrouk/BG-11 culture media. Cultivating Chlorella fusca LEB 111 in SW, without the addition of nutrients, resulted in an approximately 23% increase in starch production (g/g). The cultivation of Spirulina sp. LEB 18 in SW and BGW, without the addition of nutrients, showed an increase in glycogen concentrations (50.5 and 40.75 g/100 gbiomass, respectively) and highest levels of exopolysaccharides (0.34 and 0.50 g/100 gbiomass, respectively) compared to the control. Moreover, exopolysaccharides compositional analysis has shown an increase in glucose content with salinity, and a decrease in xylose and glucuronic acid. This cultivation strategy demonstrates the viability of utilizing SW and BGW as alternatives to freshwater culture medium for microalgae that have high nutritional requirements, with the potential to produce exopolysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenic viruses in environmental water are usually present in levels too low for direct detection and thus, a concentration step is often required to increase the analytical sensitivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate an automated filtration device, the Innovaprep Concentrating Pipette Select (CP Select) for the rapid concentration of viruses in saline water samples, while considering duration of process and ease of use. Four bacteriophages (MS2, P22, Phi6, and PhiX174) and three animal viruses (adenovirus, coronavirus OC43, and canine distemper virus) were seeded in artificial seawater, aquarium water, and bay water samples, and processed using the CP Select. The recovery efficiencies of viruses were determined either using a plaque assay or droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Using plaque assays, the average recovery efficiencies for bacteriophages ranged from 4.84 ± 3.8% to 82.73 ± 27.3%, with highest recovery for P22 phage. The average recovery efficiencies for the CP Select were 39.31 ± 26.6% for adenovirus, 19.04 ± 11.6% for coronavirus OC43, and 19.84 ± 13.6% for canine distemper virus, as determined by ddPCR. Overall, viral genome composition, not the size of the virus, affected the recovery efficiencies for the CP Select. The small sample volume size used for the ultrafilter pipette of the system hinders the use of this method as a primary concentration step for viruses in marine waters. However, the ease of use and rapid processing time of the CP Select are especially beneficial when rapid detection of viruses in highly contaminated water, such as wastewater or sewage-polluted surface water, is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research aims to investigate the effects of seawater parameters like salinity, pH, and temperature on the external corrosion behaviour and microhardness of offshore oil and gas carbon steel pipes. The immersion tests were performed for 28 days following ASTM G-1 standards, simulating controlled artificial marine environments with varying pH levels, salinities, and temperatures. Besides, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis is performed to study the corrosion morphology. Additionally, a Vickers microhardness tester was used for microhardness analysis. The results revealed that an increase in salinity from 33.18 to 61.10 ppt can reduce the corrosion rate by 28%. In contrast, variations in seawater pH have a significant effect on corrosion rate, with a pH decrease from 8.50 to 7 causing a 42.54% increase in corrosion rate. However, the temperature of seawater was found to be the most prominent parameter, resulting in a 76.13% increase in corrosion rate and a 10.99% reduction in the microhardness of offshore pipelines. Moreover, the response surface methodology (RSM) modelling is used to determine the optimal seawater parameters for carbon steel pipes. Furthermore, the desirability factor for these parameters was 0.999, and the experimental validation displays a good agreement with predicted model values, with around 4.65% error for corrosion rate and 1.36% error for microhardness.

This research aims to investigate the effects of seawater parameters like salinity, pH, and temperature on the external corrosion behaviour and microhardness of offshore oil and gas carbon steel pipes. The immersion tests were performed for 28 days following ASTM G-1 standards, simulating controlled artificial marine environments with varying pH levels, salinities, and temperatures. Besides, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis is performed to study the corrosion morphology. Additionally, a Vickers microhardness tester was used for microhardness analysis. The results revealed that an increase in salinity from 33.18 to 61.10 ppt can reduce the corrosion rate by 28%. In contrast, variations in seawater pH have a significant effect on corrosion rate, with a pH decrease from 8.50 to 7 causing a 42.54% increase in corrosion rate. However, the temperature of seawater was found to be the most prominent parameter, resulting in a 76.13% increase in corrosion rate and a 10.99% reduction in the microhardness of offshore pipelines. Moreover, the response surface methodology (RSM) modelling is used to determine the optimal seawater parameters for carbon steel pipes. Furthermore, the desirability factor for these parameters was 0.999, and the experimental validation displays a good agreement with predicted model values, with around 4.65% error for corrosion rate and 1.36% error for microhardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mohale, H.P.; Jawahar, P.; Jayakumar, N.; Swapnil, N.; Kadam, R.V.; Prakash, P.; Oli, G.A., and Ravikumar, T., 2024. Fishery, biology, and dynamics of Parapenaeopsis maxillipedo (Alcock, 1905) off the SE coast of Tamil Nadu (India). Journal of Coastal Research, 40(4), 779–791. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The current study was carried out between September 2022 to September 2023 from SE coast of Tamil Nadu for Parapenaeopsis shrimp. This shrimp, estimated to rank third in shrimp production, landed as 2216, 2032, and 1704 kg from Thoothukudi, Mandapam, and Nagapattinam landing centers, respectively. The catch per unit effort was calculated to check the abundance of this species and ranged from 21.83 to 96.41 kg, averaging 46.33% in both years. The total length of males and females was observed in the range of 5.5 to 10.5 cm and 6.5 to 12.5 cm, respectively. Female shrimp attained first maturity at 6.5 cm, whereas male shrimp were 5.5 cm. The gonadosomatic index was calculated and found to be the highest (5.64–5.78) in March and September and the lowest in April and October for both years. The absolute fecundity for P. maxillipedo was recorded and ranged from 38,500 to 1,32,000 ova per female. The highest index of relative importance was observed in October and April for both male (57.04) and female (73.82) shrimp. To estimate von Bertalanffy's growth equation in P. maxillipedo, the asymptotic length and growth coefficient (K) growth parameters were combined for both sexes and analyzedas 13.55 cm and 1.5 y–1, respectively. The total mortality and natural mortality (M) were observed as 3.04 and 2.86 y–1, respectively. Hence, fishing mortality was 0.18 y–1, and the exploitation rate (E) was 0.06. The length at first catch per length (LC/L) and M/K values were calculated using the Y/R model as 0.52 and 1.2 for males and 0.48 and 1.3 for females, respectively. E was observed as 0.06, which was lower than the maximum E of 0.4, which showed that the P. maxillipedo fisheries along the SE coast of Tamil Nadu were at unexploited conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding historical environmental determinants associated with the risk of elevated marine water contamination could enhance monitoring marine beaches in a Canadian setting, which can also inform predictive marine water quality models and ongoing climate change preparedness efforts. This study aimed to assess the combination of environmental factors that best predicts Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentration at public beaches in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, by combining the region's microbial water quality data and publicly available environmental data from 2013 to 2021. We developed a Bayesian log-normal mixed-effects regression model to evaluate predictors of geometric E. coli concentrations at 15 beaches in the Metro Vancouver Region. We identified that higher levels of geometric mean E. coli levels were predicted by higher previous sample day E. coli concentrations, higher rainfall in the preceding 48 h, and higher 24-h average air temperature at the median or higher levels of the 24-h mean ultraviolet (UV) index. In contrast, higher levels of mean salinity were predicted to result in lower levels of E. coli. Finally, we determined that the average effects of the predictors varied highly by beach. Our findings could form the basis for building real-time predictive marine water quality models to enable more timely beach management decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Marine microorganisms have evolved special metabolic pathways to produce numerous bioactive substances with novel structures and unique functions. This study analyzed the diversity of culturable bacteria in marine water samples from the South China Sea and screened the isolated bacteria with pathogenic fungi. A total of 200 culturable strains of 72 different bacteria were obtained from 56 water samples from the South China Sea. They belonged to three phyla and four classes, namely Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinomycetia. Bacilli was the dominant class, comprising up to 59.72%, followed by Gammaproteobacteria (20.83%). Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus and Rhizobium were the most dominant genera. Among these strains, HY-88 and HY-91 encoding BamC, FenB and PKSI genes were selected and identified as Bacillus subtilis. The respective inhibition rates of the HY-88 caused by plate confrontation against Magnaporthe grisea, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, anthrax and Botrytis cinerea were 90.91%, 54.29%, 52.17% and 51.72%, in comparison with HY-91 86.36%, 48.57%, 47.83% and 34.48%. In addition, the supernatant of HY-88 showed a lesion inhibition rate of 74.5%, which was significantly higher than HY-91 (60.55%). In addition, HY-88 and HY-91 showed strong antifungal activity to Colletotrichum viniferum on detached Shine Muscat grapes. Tolerance tests showed that the HY-88 and HY-91 grew at 10–40 °C, 7–10% NaCl and pH 3-11. HY-88 and HY-91 could inhibit various fungal plant diseases, which lays a foundation for the development of new biopesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western Subarctic Gyre (WSG) is one of the two gyre-systems in the subarctic North Pacific known for high nutrient and low-chlorophyll waters. However, the bacterioplankton in marine water of this area, either in terms of the taxonomic composition or functional structure, remains relatively unexplored. A total of 22 sampling sites from two water layers (surface water, SW and 50-m layer water, FW) were collected in this area. The physiochemical parameters of waters, Synechococcus, and bacterial density, as well as the bacterioplankton community composition and distribution pattern, were analyzed. The nutrient concentrations of DIN, DIP, and DSi, Chl-a concentration, and the average abundance of heterobacteria in FW were higher than those in SW. However, temperature and the average abundance of Synechococcus and pico-eukaryotes were higher in SW. A total of 3 269 OTUs were assigned, and 2 123 OTUs were commonly shared; moreover, similar alpha diversity patterns were observed in both SW and FW. The bacterioplankton community showed significantly obvious correlation with salinity, DIP, DIN, and Chl a in both SW and FW. Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Firmicutes were the main phyla while Synechococcus_CC9902, Psychrobacter, and Sulfitobacter were the dominant genera in each sampling site. Most correlations that happened between the OTUs in the cooccurrence network were positive and inter-module. Higher edges and graph density were found in SW, indicating that more correlations occurred, and the community was more complex in SW. This study provided novel knowledge on the bacterioplankton community structure and the correlation characteristics in WSG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodegradation rates of single-use blended bioplastic packaging nylon, nylon 6, and cellulose polymer were assessed in aquatic environments in an attempt to identify real biodegradable bioplastics (RBB). The natural biodegradation rates of the test samples in freshwater and marine water were assessed by respirometric method following the procedure of the American Standard Testing and Materials. The experimental design was arranged thrice in a completely randomized design of 2x4x3. The physicochemical parameters were obtained using the standard methods while the rates of biodegradation were obtained by titration method. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistical method. At the end of 120 days, there were steady increase in the rates of biodegradation of cellulose and bioplastic samples across the fourth month in both freshwater and marine water. However, the rate of biodegradation in marine water were higher than in freshwater following the trend cellulose in marine (342 %) > cellulose in freshwater (259%) > bioplastics packaging nylon in marine (193%) > bioplastics packaging nylon in freshwater (175%). For nylon 6, the rate (-14) of retardation in the biodegradation process in Nylon 6 soaked in marine water is greater than that of Nylon 6 soaked in freshwater (-13). Consequently, nylon 6 was recalcitrant to biodegradation both in freshwater and marine water. The study concluded that the blended bioplastic packaging nylon is a real biodegradable bioplastic and could be suggested as a feasible and environmentally-friendly option to replace traditional plastics in the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial fish catch in the Iraqi marine waters from December 2018 to December 2019 was investigated. The study is based on three stations:the first station is located at the Shatt Al-Arab estuary,the second represents the area between the Shatt Al-Arab Estuary and open marine waters, and the third is associated with the Iraqi territorial marine waters. The total weight of the catch was 1881 kg, represented by 500, 654, and 727 kg in the first, second and third stations respectively. The third station was the highest with a majority of the family Sciaenidae by 464 kg, while the lowest was the family Scombridae by 0.5 kg. The total number of species included 37 species, belonging to 27 genera, 19 families, and 6 orders, the largest order represented by a high number of species was the Perciformes and the lowest versatile orders were Oreclotiformes, Nemipterideaformes and Scombridaeformes;while the order Scorpaeniformes was found by only one species.

This study was conducted to generate information on the number of damselfish species in Palawan, the most common tropical reef-associated fishes in the world. Photos of reef-associated fishes taken in conjunction with other reef surveys in 10 localities between 2019 and 2021 were used and evaluated for the presence of damselfishes. A total of 4,038 photos of reef-associated fishes were compiled and analyzed. Only 60 species of damselfishes were identified wherein Puerco Island in the municipality of Roxas had the highest number (14 genera and 32 species) while Hartman's Beach in Puerto Princesa City had the lowest (3 genera and 8 species). Three of the identified damselfishes were potentially new records in Palawan: Amblypomacentrus clarus Allen & Adrim, 2000, Dischistodus darwiniensis (Whitley, 1928); and Pomacentrus aurifrons Allen, 2004. The current data make a total of 137 damselfish species already documented in Palawan. Continued photo-video documentation is encouraged to increase understanding on the species richness of damselfishes and other reef-associated fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the processing and during their lifetime, polymers are subjected to several environmental stresses—thermomechanical, photo-oxidative, etc.—that can strongly modify their chemical and molecular structure and, consequently, their morphology. Reduction of the molecular weight and formation of double bonds and oxygenated groups are the main changes observed as a consequence of the degradation. As a result of these changes, the macroscopic properties are dramatically modified. These changes can have a relevant effect if the post-consumer plastic manufacts are recycled. In this work, a sample of polypropylene subjected to two different degradation histories—photo-oxidation in air and in marine water—is reprocessed two times in a mini twin-screw extruder in the same processing conditions. The effect of the thermomechanical degradation during the reprocessing is different. Indeed, the less severe degraded sample shows a higher degradation level during reprocessing because the shear stress is larger. This means that the thermomechanical degradation kinetics is larger in the less degraded samples. Nevertheless, the final properties of the recycled polymers are different because the properties of the photo-oxidized samples before reprocessing were very different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) published a priority list of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are compounds that are studied in a variety of matrices due to their wide range of risks. Environmental compartments can be contaminated with PAHs from different sources, such as wastewater from industries and petroleum spills. For the case of Cameroon, there are no recorded data concerning the sources, distributions, and toxicity levels of PAHs in water and sediment from Cameroon beaches which are found in South-West, Littoral, and South Regions. In this work, only three beaches from South-West Region were studied regarding the sources, distributions, and toxicity levels of PAHs in water and sediment. The analyzed samples came from Bobende coastal beach, Down-beach, and Cape-Limboh beach. To achieve the analyses, liquid–liquid extraction and gas chromatography enabled the identification and quantification of PAH compounds from sediments and marine water. Out of the 16 PAHs listed by US-EPA, twelve were identified and quantified among which four of them were light molecular weight PAHs (acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and anthracene). Anthracene in the Cape-Limboh sample presented the highest concentration (477.57 ng/kg weight of dry sediment) of LMW-PAHs. Eight identified and quantified PAHs of high molecular weight as a whole, three absent PAHs (benzo[a]anthracene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene) in the Cape-Limboh sample, while only one is absent in the Bobende samples (dibenzo[a,h]anthracene) and Down Beach (benzo[g,h,i]perylene). According to the ratios used for the determination of the sources of PAHs, it came out that the source of PAHs from all beaches is pyrolytic. In all samples, BaA is the only high molecular weight PAH presenting serious toxicity and ecological risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine microorganisms have evolved special metabolic pathways to produce numerous bioactive substances with novel structures and unique functions. This study analyzed the diversity of culturable bacteria in marine water samples from the South China Sea and screened the isolated bacteria with pathogenic fungi. A total of 200 culturable strains of 72 different bacteria were obtained from 56 water samples from the South China Sea. They belonged to three phyla and four classes, namely Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinomycetia. Bacilli was the dominant class, comprising up to 59.72%, followed by Gammaproteobacteria (20.83%). Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus and Rhizobium were the most dominant genera. Among these strains, HY-88 and HY-91 encoding BamC, FenB and PKSI genes were selected and identified as Bacillus subtilis. The respective inhibition rates of the HY-88 caused by plate confrontation against Magnaporthe grisea, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, anthrax and Botrytis cinerea were 90.91%, 54.29%, 52.17% and 51.72%, in comparison with HY-91 86.36%, 48.57%, 47.83% and 34.48%. In addition, the supernatant of HY-88 showed a lesion inhibition rate of 74.5%, which was significantly higher than HY-91 (60.55%). In addition, HY-88 and HY-91 showed strong antifungal activity to Colletotrichum viniferum on detached Shine Muscat grapes. Tolerance tests showed that the HY-88 and HY-91 grew at 10–40 °C, 7–10% NaCl and pH 3-11. HY-88 and HY-91 could inhibit various fungal plant diseases, which lays a foundation for the development of new biopesticides.

Bio-based, biodegradable polymers can dramatically reduce the carbon dioxide released into the environment by substituting fossil-derived polymers in some applications. In this work, prototypes of trays for aquaculture applications were produced via injection molding by using a biodegradable polymer, Mater-Bi®. A characterization carried out via calorimetric, rheological and mechanical tests revealed that the polymer employed shows properties suitable for the production of tools to be used in aquaculture applications. Moreover, the samples were subjected to a biodegradation test in conditions that simulate the marine environment. The as-treated samples were characterized from gravimetrical, morphological and calorimetric point of views. The obtained data showed a relatively low biodegradation rate of the thick molded samples. This behavior is of crucial importance since it implies a long life in marine water for these manufacts before their disappearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional use of organic solvents in various branches of industry is being rethought as these compounds very often display high volatility, toxicity and lipophilicity (related to the ability to interact with biological membranes). More recently, developments in the field of Green Chemistry are focusing on the design of more sustainable and cost-effective solvent alternatives like Ionic Liquids (ILs), bio-based solvents and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). The present study aimed at performing an ecotoxicological screening of 15 NADESs using an extensive set of marine and freshwater bioassays, based on different endpoints as the following: immobilization of the crustacean Daphnia magna, growth inhibition of Raphidocelis subcapitata and of Phaeodactylum tricornutum, larval development alterations on the serpulid Ficopomatus enigmaticus and bioluminescence inhibition of Aliivibrio fischeri. What emerged was a general absence of toxicity of all samples. However, both algal assays showed a certain degree of biostimulation, up to over 100% growth increase in respect to controls with 8 out of 15 compounds tested with Raphidocelis subcapitata. Despite NADESs-induced negligible toxicity effects to invertebrates, encouraging their labelling as "sustainable" solvents, the liability of their intentional or accidental release into aquatic systems may represent a serious risk in terms of ecosystem functioning impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BSGF: Earth Sciences Bulletin is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the proximate composition and mineral content of Bangladesh's economically important freshwater and marine water fish. Proximate composition and mineral content was determined according to the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) standard method. All of the factors had a substantial variation (p < 0.05), according to the findings. The maximum protein content was observed in Lates calcarifer (18.673%) and minimum in Pangasius pangasius (15.616%). The content of lipid among the species varied from 0.316% to 13.396%, with Mugil cephalus having the highest lipid content and Channa striata having the lowest. The moisture content ranges from 68.343% to 81.160%. All the fishes have an average ash content of 0.850%–4.350%. The energy content is also significantly higher in marine water fishes. The mineral content was highly variable. Calcium content was lowest in Pangasius pangasius (0.555%) and highest in Setipinna phasa (3.495%). The magnesium content ranged between 0.281% and 1.885%. Phosphorus was lowest in Lepturacanthus savala (0.826%) and highest in Setipinna phasa (2.114%). The amount of sodium, potassium, and sulfur was relatively less for all fish species but there were substantial differences across the twelve samples. The PCA biplot's for proximate composition analyses has demonstrated positive affinity only between Lates calcarifer and Mugil cephalus in case of ash, lipid, and carbohydrate whereas Setipina phasa, Mugil cephalus, Lutjanus lutjanus, and Oreochromis mossambicus were grouped together with magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and sulfur in the case of mineral content. Overall, the marine water fishes can be a good food item in terms of nutrition which could provide better health benefits for human.

In Pakistan, marine pollution is a major problem that is caused by the waste from industrial, municipal, agronomy, and oil leak sources. The pollutant loads along with the coastline areas near Karachi is received from terrestrial contaminants including discharges from Karachi Harbour located on the estuary of the Lyari river. Karachi generates 472 Million Gallon per Day (MGD) of wastewater out of which only 55 MGD is treated and the rest is discharged in the sea. The prevailing sewage treatment plants are functioning at reduced capacity due to the insufficient transmission capacity of interceptors. Water sampling was carried out from the Lyari River and five different selected coastal point around Karachi harbour for physicochemical parameters and selected heavy metals. Results show that the Karachi Harbour area is noticeably polluted, whereas; the coastal environment in the vicinity of Karachi is also under the stress of pollution. High COD and BOD5 values were noticed at the Lyari river samples and the sampling locations close to the Lyari river outfall area. The Pb, Cd, Ni, and Hg heavy metals that pollute marine water are found. This situation is due to the discharge of mixed effluents of industrial and domestic wastes as well as dredging, cargo handling, dumping of ship waste and other coastal activities. The highest value of pollution observed at Karachi Harbour which is near Lyari river mouth, where the domestic and industrial effluents with organic and inorganic wastes have a greater influence on the water quality and the marine environment. At present, there is no effective controlling mechanism for industries to treat their waste, nor has any investigation to assess increasing marine pollution been carried out. As a result, there is an adverse impact on fish habitat and mangroves, corrosion of cargo ships, naval vessels and the residents living in the coastal area. Therefore, the government agencies and industrial sectors should work together to avert marine pollution and attain total environmental sustainability.

Perfluoroalkyls acids (PFAAs) have been emitted in the environment either as manufacturing by products or through degradation of its precursors. Development of efficient identification and quantification of PFAAs in different environmental media is important for environmental and human health risk assessments. In this study, different extraction methods were developed to determine nine (9) different PFAAs in seawater and seawater sandworm Perinereis wilsoni. P. wilsoni extracted using two methods: manual extraction and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Solid phase extraction method was used for the clean-up and preconcentration of PFAAs from the marine water samples. High-performace liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze PFAAs concentrations in the samples. Percent recoveries of surrogate (SUR) in marine water samples were between 52 to 72% (blank), 52 to 88% (1 ng), and 56 to 79% (10 ng). Manual extraction of sandworm resulted in 57 to 93% recovery of SUR compounds. ASE extraction gave higher recoveries of SUR compounds (62 to 92%). The developed analytical methods for seawater and sandworm extraction can assure production of good quality PFAAs data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensification of aquaculture allows emergent and resurgent viral pathogens to cause large die-offs in the wild and farms. The inherent capability of viruses to exist in multiple forms outside the hosts gives them an edge for easy transmission and translocation increasing the chances of infection. More efforts are needed for an in-depth understanding of viral epidemiology. Quantification of factors determining the virulence mechanisms and variability in disease expression is necessary to strengthen the basic knowledge on virology. The article is an update on the current understanding on viral diseases in fish causing loss to Indian aquaculture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Toxoplasma gondii are identified as public health priorities and are present in a wide variety of environments including the marine ecosystem. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that the marine bivalve blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) can be used as a tool to monitor the contamination of marine waters by the three protozoa over time. Methods and Results: In order to achieve a proof of concept, mussels were exposed to three concentrations of G. duodenalis cysts and Cryptosporidiumparvum/T. gondii oocysts for 21 days, followed by 21 days of depuration in clear water. Then, natural contamination by these protozoa was sought for in wild marine blue mussels along the northwest coast of France to validate their relevance as bioindicators in the field. Our results highlighted that: (a) blue mussels bioaccumulated the parasites for 21 days, according to the conditions of exposure, and parasites could still be detected during the depuration period (until 21 days); (b) the percentage of protozoa‐positive M. edulis varied under the degree of protozoan contamination in water; (c) mussel samples from eight out of nine in situ sites were positive for at least one of the protozoa. Conclusions: The blue mussel M. edulis can bioaccumulate protozoan parasites over long time periods, according to the degree of contamination of waters they are inhabiting, and can highlight recent but also past contaminations (at least 21 days). Significance and Impact of the Study: Mytilusedulis is a relevant bioaccumulators of protozoan (oo)cysts in laboratory and field conditions, hence its potential use for monitoring parasite contamination in marine waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) is one of the most widely cultured fish species, with a high market value. Although in the Black Sea there is a well-established tradition of cage farming in Turkish waters, in Romania rainbow trout farming has been limited to inland mountain areas. Whereas there is an increasing interest of Romanian economic operators to engage in sea cage farming, this research aimed at testing the adaptation of rainbow trout to the Romanian Black Sea marine environment, determining its growth rate, establishing the optimal size for transfer to saltwater, and increasing meat quality. The research was performed for 7 months, during the cold season, and comprised two batches of O. mykiss individuals transferred to marine water from a mountain trout farm (with initial mean biomasses of approximately 300 g and 180 g, respectively). Upon completion of the experiment, growth parameters showed values much higher compared to freshwater culture, and the biomass gain was remarkable in both batches (reaching final biomasses of approximately 1,700 g and 1,600 g, respectively), the results indicating smaller fish as best fitted for transfer to marine water. The carotenoid-enriched feed provided to the fish resulted in a highly nutritious meat, with the much-appreciated pink colorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Securing and managing underground water resources requires a good knowledge of the structure, texture and connections of the reservoir, in order to develop realistic and reliable hydrogeological models. On the coastline of the Gulf of Lion Margin (S. France), the Balaruc-les-Bains deep karst reservoir is subjected to interactions between fresh, marine and deep thermal waters, respectively. Water resource usage for drinking, spa resort, and fish-farming raises important economic and social issues. These were addressed by an integrated research program, involving drilling of an exploratory borehole across the Jurassic carbonate reservoir. This contribution analyses the 750 m cores, in order to (i) characterise the architecture and evolution of the karst reservoir and (ii) investigate the paleo-fluids circulations, witnessed by calcite and dolomite mineralization in the fractures, karst cavities, and as cement of tectonic beccia. The structure of the reservoir is characterised by the superposition of several aquifers separated by marly intervals. At shallow level, the initial grainstone is incompletely dolomitized in metre-thick intervals, while limestone in the 210–340 m interval was completely dolomitized at an early stage. Dolomite has been subjected to penetrative extensional cataclastic deformation, while the preserved limestone is affected by normal faulting, resulting from NNE–SSW extension. Distinct types of karsts have been documented, from the top of the reservoir (paleo-lapiaz filled with Burdigalian marine marls), down to 500 m depth (paleo-endokarst filled with continental silts). The upper reservoir (75–150 m) is intensely karstified, and includes 0.1 to 1 m-wide cavities, where present day water fluxes are documented. Analyses of calcite and dolomite crystallisation under natural light and cathodoluminescence indicate precipitation from distinct fluids: formation water in chemical equilibrium with the host rock, water rich in oxides and hydroxides, ascending hydrothermal fluid and corrosive water of meteoric origin. Alternate dolomitization and calcitization observed in the upper reservoir suggests alternate flows of karstic freshwater and marine salt-water. Vertical, metre-long and centimetre wide open cracks are presently used for large water flows; several generations of syntaxial calcite growth provide evidence for varying chemistry of the circulating fluids. Structural cross cutting relationships allowed us to establish a relative chronology of events, which can be correlated with the regional geodynamic evolution. The study reveals that the present-day reservoir architecture results from the superimposition of structures formed during the Early Cretaceous extension, Maastrichtian-Eocene Pyrenean shortening, and Oligocene rifting of the Gulf of Lion. The reservoir was also shaped by successive karstification episodes and marine transgressions. Although the present-day hydrological system is controlled by, and reactivates structures inherited from a long-term evolution, it is characterised by frequent turn-overs of the water flow, tuned by high-frequency external forcings such as sea-level changes driven by Pleistocene glacio-eustasy, or varying precipitation rates.

In the current study, Chryseobacterium cucumeris strain MW-6 isolated from Arabian seawater exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against indicator bacterial pathogens. The partially extracted antibacterial metabolites with ethyl acetate revealed promising activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined against indicator strains that ranged from 65–90 µg/ml. The genome size of C. cucumeris MW-6 is 4.81 Mbs containing 4227 coding DNA sequences, 74 tRNAs, 3 rRNAs, and 3 ncRNAs genes with 36.90% GC contents. The genome harbors nine putative biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) involved in the biosynthesis of lanthipeptide, NRPS-like, RiPPs-like, terpene, microviridin, T1PKS (hg1E-KS), resorcinol, and siderophore. Additionally, the strain encodes genes for sodium/proton antiporter, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and cold shock protein to survive under stress conditions such as osmotic, oxidative, and cold shock. These putative BGCs and stress-related genes can be associated with in-vitro antibacterial activities and adaptation of this strain to the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article concerns the issue of the long-term operation of hydromechanical fittings during their contact with aggressive water. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the significance of the quality of water during the operation of wind power farms and geothermal power stations, especially hydromechanical fittings during long-term operation at the base of the Baltic Sea and geothermal power stations. This article presents the properties of water and their impact on hydromechanical equipment during long-term operation in marine and geothermal waters. The paper includes the analysis and evaluation of their impact. Additionally, the article describes important problems with the operation of wind power farms and geothermal power stations. The results of periodical analyses of southern Baltic marine water and thermal groundwater from "Geotermia Podhalańska" were evaluated and used as the basis for future research. Every negative parameter of water, known as its aggressiveness, adversely affects the basic materials of wind masts and pipelines, as well as the hydromechanical equipment in contact with marine and thermal water. The presented results show the necessity of controlling the water quality prior to the operation of geothermal water and building wind power masts in coastal marine water. Attention was paid to corrosion during contact with aggressive water with unprotected materials. This issue is rarely seen in the literature but is very important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) for monitoring beach water quality is based on their co-occurrence with human pathogens, a relationship that can be dramatically altered by fate and transport processes after leaving the human intestine. We conducted a prospective cohort study at Avalon Beach, California (USA), where the indicator relationship is potentially affected by the discharge of sewage-contaminated groundwater and by solar radiation levels at this shallow, relatively quiescent beach. The goals of this study were to determine: 1) if swimmers exposed to marine water were at higher risk of illness than non-swimmers; 2) if FIB measured in marine water were associated with swimmer illness, and; 3) if the associations between FIB and swimmer health were modified by either submarine groundwater discharge or solar radiation levels. There were 7317 individuals recruited during the summers of 2007-08, 6165 (84%) of whom completed follow-up within two weeks of the beach visit. A total of 703 water quality samples were collected across multiple sites and time periods during recruitment days and analyzed for FIB using both culture-based and molecular methods. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) indicated that swimmers who swallowed water were more likely to experience Gastrointestinal Illness (GI Illness) within three days of their beach visit than non-swimmers, and that this risk was significantly elevated when either submarine groundwater discharge was high (AOR [95% CI]:2.18 [1.22-3.89]) or solar radiation was low (2.45 [1.25-4.79]). The risk of GI Illness was not significantly elevated for swimmers who swallowed water when groundwater discharge was low or solar radiation was high. Associations between GI Illness incidence and FIB levels (Enterococcus EPA Method 1600) among swimmers who swallowed water were not significant when we did not account for groundwater discharge, but were strongly associated when groundwater discharge was high (1.85 [1.06, 3.23]) compared to when it was low (0.77 [0.42, 1.42]; test of interaction: P = 0.03). These results demonstrate the need to account for local environmental conditions when monitoring for, and making decisions about, public health at recreational beaches. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Copyright of Journal of Animal & Poultry Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Mesopotamian Journal of Marine Science is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Natura Croatica is the property of Natura Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The textile industry is a sector completely dependent on water for its full functioning; on the other hand, water represents a very high cost in the production process. The textile chemical processing area is mainly responsible for the large consumption of water. On the opposite side of this high consumption there is an evident water crisis worldwide. That fact has led to many problems to textile companies, mainly for the preparation, dyeing and printing sectors. This present work focuses on an ecologically friendly alternative for cellulosic fiber dyeing processes using seawater. Dyeing cotton fabrics with reactive dye in three primary colors (blue, yellow and red) was performed, and the results compared with processes using distilled water. Samples dyed with seawater exhibit good uniformity, intense color (color strength – K / S) and excellent washing and rubbing fastness properties compared to the conventional process. It was possible to observe also that the use of seawater did not affect the mechanical properties of the substrate. Thereby, it was verified that the use of seawater presents as a potential and important alternative to applications in the textile dyeing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]