Establishing the thermal threshold of the tropical mussel Perna viridis in the face of global warming.

With increasing recognition that maximum oxygen demand is the unifying limit in tolerance, the first line of thermal sensitivity is, as a corollary, due to capacity limitations at a high level of organisational complexity before individual, molecular or membrane functions become disturbed. In this study the tropical mussel Perna viridis were subjected to temperature change of 0.4 °C per hour from ambient to 8-36 °C. By comparing thermal mortality against biochemical indices (hsp70, gluthathione), physiological indices (glycogen, FRAP, NRRT) and behavioural indices (clearance rate), a hierarchy of thermal tolerance was therein elucidated, ranging from systemic to cellular to molecular levels. Generally, while biochemical indices indicated a stress signal much earlier than the more integrated behavioural indices, failure of the latter (indicating a tolerance limit and transition to pejus state) occurred much earlier than the other indices tending towards thermal extremities at both ends of the thermal spectrum.

Bioassay and biochemical studies of the status of pirimiphos-methyl and cypermethrin resistance in Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Singapore.

Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) and Ae. (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) were sampled from five regions of Singapore (Central, North East, North West, South East and South West) and tested with diagnostic concentrations of the technical grade insecticides, pirimiphos-methyl and cypermethrin. Biochemical assays were performed on the same populations of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus to determine activities of detoxifying enzymes, including non-specific esterase (EST), monooxygenase (MFO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The diagnostic test showed that all Ae. aegypti populations were susceptible to pirimiphos-methyl (mortality = 99 to 100%), but resistant to cypermethrin (mortality = 11 to 76%). Resistance to pirimiphos-methyl was observed in all Ae. albopictus populations (mortality = 49 to 74%) while cypermethrin resistance was detected in most Ae. albopictus populations (mortality = 40 to 75%), except those from Central (mortality = 86%) and South East (mortality = 94%) showing incipient resistance. The biochemical assays showed that there was significant enhancement (P < 0.001) of MFO activity in pyrethroid-resistant Ae. albopictus populations and most Ae. aegypti populations. The biochemical assay results suggested that AChE could play a role in pirimiphos-methyl resistance of Ae. albopictus in South West, South East and North East regions. The small but significant increase in EST activities in Ae. aegypti from all regions suggest that it may play a role in the observed cypermethrin resistance.

Environmental effects of dredging on sediment nutrients, carbon and granulometry in a tropical estuary.

This monitoring study encompassed a period prior to dredging, during dredging and post dredging between July 1999 to June 2000 in Ponggol estuary located along the northeastern coast of Singapore. Mean concentrations of sediment nutrients in mg x Kg(-1) (+/- standard error of means) prior to dredging, during dredging and post dredging were 9.75 +/- 4.24, 8.18 +/- 4.29 and 11.46 +/- 4.74 for ammonium, 0.08 +/- 0.05, 0.06 +/- 0.02 and 0.09 +/- 0.01 for nitrite, 0.04 +/- 0.04, 0.11 +/- 0.17 and 0.25 +/- 0.30 for nitrate, 4.83 +/- 3.48, 0.77 +/- 0.48 and 8.33 +/- 9.73 for phosphate respectively. Pre dredge, dredge and post dredge levels of total carbon (TC) were 18.5 +/- 3.7, 20.2 +/- 3.5 and 34.6 +/- 12.0, of total organic carbon (TOC) were 10.5 +/- 2.9, 19.5 +/- 3.6 and 34.6 +/- 12.0 and of total inorganic carbon (TIC) were 7.9 +/- 1.0, 0.7 +/- 0.4 and non detectable in the sediments, respectively. Both, sediment nutrients and carbon registered lower concentrations with onset of dredging, with the exception of nitrate and TOC. A shift in sedimentary carbon from inorganic carbon to organic carbon was also observed with the onset of the dredging activities when the organically enriched historically contaminated layer was exposed. Sediment granulometry showed that the sediments in the estuary were predominantly silt and clay prior to dredging, which changed to sand with onset of dredging. Silt load in the sediments was highest post-dredge. Sediment nutrients and sediment organic carbon were observed to associate with the finer fractions (silt and clay) of sediments. Finer fractions of sediments get resuspended during a dredging event and are dispersed spatially as the result of tides and water movements. Prior to this study, the potential for nutrient release and sediment granulometry due to dredging have been suggested, but there have been few studies of it, especially in the tropics. The baseline information gathered from this study could be used to work out effective management strategies to protect similar tropical ecosystems elsewhere, should there be no other alternative to dredging.

Environmental impacts of diesel fuel on bacteria and phytoplankton in a tropical estuary assessed using in situ mesocosms.

Dissolved or dispersed petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations (DDPH) were monitored in Ponggol estuary, Singapore, fortnightly from July 1999 to June 2000. DDPH concentrations ranged from 4.4 to 248.9 microg l(-1) and 0.4 to 1099.7 microg l(-1) for surface and subsurface waters, respectively and with mean concentrations of 41.01 microg l(-1) in the water column. Absorbed or adsorbed petroleum hydrocarbon (AAPH) concentrations measured in sediments ranged from 20.6 to 541.0 mg kg(-1), with mean concentrations of 148.23 mg kg(-1). In situ mesocosm studies of bacteria and phytoplankton were based on field monitoring of environmentally measured concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, using diesel fuel as the source of contaminant. The mesocosm comprised of 25 L clear polycarbonate carboys incubated in situ for 6 days. Water and sediments from a clean site with undetectable levels of petroleum hydrocarbons were used in controls. The treatment mesocosms comprised of mean and highest concentrations of DDPH and AAPH. The study revealed signs of acute toxicity to autotrophs viz., phytoplankton and autotrophic bacteria in treatments simulating concentrations of diesel fuel found in the sediments. A stimulatory effect was seen at lower concentrations. Bacterial heterotrophs responded positively to all concentrations of diesel fuel because of the abundance of a carbon source, reduced grazing pressure and reduced competition for nutrients from phytoplankton.

Environmental impact of heavy metals from dredged and resuspended sediments on phytoplankton and bacteria assessed in in situ mesocosms.

Past and on-going reclamation, dredging, construction and shipping activities impact Ponggol Estuary, located on the northeastern coast of Singapore. Tin, lead, nickel, cadmium, and copper in particulate and dissolved fractions and sediments ranged from ND (undetectable)-92 ppm, ND-303.2 ppm, ND-2818.4 ppm, ND-74.4 ppm and ND-1117.7 ppm, respectively. Intensive dredging activity during the monitoring period may have led to the resuspension and bioavailability of particulate metals. This was tested by the exposure of phytoplankton and bacteria in mesocosms to previously measured environmental levels of heavy metals and the contaminated sediments with the highest heavy metal concentrations from one of the impacted sites. The results showed significant copper toxicity to phytoplankton and autotrophic bacteria, followed by nickel and lead at all concentrations tested. Enhanced rates of heterotrophic bacterial production and total bacterial abundance were observed in treatments with higher metal concentrations. Among the various treatments, particulate and sediment metal concentrations were significantly different from those of the control. Mesocosms using contaminated sediments with the highest metal concentrations compared with the control showed a bioavailability of metals that resulted in the inhibition of phytoplankton and autotrophic bacteria. High concentrations of copper (5.52-11.35 mg L(-1)) and nickel (2.42-2.71 mg L(-1)) observed in the aqueous phase of treatment mesocosms, and attributed to release from the contaminated sediments could account for the toxicity to phytoplankton and autotrophic bacteria.

In situ microcosms to study the impact of heavy metals resuspended by dredging on periphyton in a tropical estuary.

Ponggol estuary, located on the northeastern coast of Singapore, is heavily impacted by reclamation, dredging, construction and shipping. Tin, lead, nickel, cadmium, copper and zinc in the particulate and dissolved fraction and in sediments were monitored biweekly in the estuary from July 1999 to June 2000. The concentrations of tin, lead, nickel, cadmium, copper and zinc were observed to range from ND-92 ppm, ND-303 ppm, ND-2818 ppm, ND-74 ppm, ND-1117 ppm and ND-137000 ppm, respectively, in the dissolved, particulate and sediments fractions. Intensive dredging activity occurred during the monitoring period, and this may have led to the resuspension and increased bioavailability of particulate metals. Periphytic algae were established on glass slides and exposed to previously measured environmental levels of heavy metals using in situ estuarine microcosms. The toxicity of heavy metals in various fractions to periphytic algae was assessed from the changes in their chlorophyll a content. Cadmium had the least significant effect followed by lead, zinc, nickel, tin and copper at all concentrations tested. A reduction in periphyton biomass (with respect to controls) of 95-100% was observed for treatments with metals in particulate form. In addition, exposure to contaminated sediments for 3 days significantly decreased chlorophyll a by 90-99% compared to controls. High concentrations of zinc (9893-17240 mg l(-1)), copper (5-11 mg l(-1)) and cadmium (1-1.8 mg l(-1)) recorded in the aqueous phase of treatment microcosms, and attributed to release from the contaminated sediments, could account for the toxicity to periphyton.