Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Microplastics in Tallo River, Makassar, Eastern Indonesia.

Attention towards microplastic (MP) pollution in various environments is increasing, but relatively little attention has been given to the freshwater-riverine environment. As the biggest city in the eastern Indonesia region, Makassar can be a potential source of MP pollution to its riverine area. This study aimed to determine the spatial trends, seasonal variation, and characteristics of MPs in the water and sediment of Tallo River, as the main river in Makassar. Water samples were collected using a neuston net and sediment samples were collected using a sediment corer. The samples collected contained MPs with an abundance ranging from 0.74 ± 0.46 to 3.41 ± 0.13 item/m3 and 16.67 ± 20.82 to 150 ± 36.06 item/kg for water and sediment samples, respectively. The microplastic abundance in the Tallo River was higher in the dry season and tended to increase towards the lower river segment. Fragments (47.80-86.03%) and lines (12.50-47.80%) were the predominant shapes, while blue (19.49-46.15%) and transparent (14.29-38.14%) were the most dominant color. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the common MP polymers found in the Tallo river. Actions to prevent MP pollution in the Makassar riverine area are needed before MP pollution becomes more severe in the future.

Increasing CO2 concentration impact upon nutrient absorption and removal efficiency of supra intensive shrimp pond wastewater by marine microalgae Tetraselmis chui.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing CO2 concentration on the growth and the capability of Tetraselmis chui. in removal of nitrate, ammonium and phosphate from shrimp pond wastewater (SPWW). The factorial experimental design was used with the treatment of SPWW percentage in culture medium, namely: 100% SPWW, 75% SPWW + 25% Sea Water (SW) and 75% SW + 25% SPWW coupled with three CO2 concentration treatments: 390 ppm, 550 ppm and 1000 ppm using CO2 system. Growth of T. chui. for lengh of cultivation period tended to be higher at treatments of 390 ppm CO2 and 100% SPWW, however there was a declining growth over period of cultivation for both treatments. The growth rate of T. chui was higher for all percentage of SPWW treatments in culture medium at 390 ppm CO2 concentration compared to other percentage of SPWW treatments and CO2 concentration treatments. There was a decreasing of growth rate with increasing CO2 concentration at 100% SPWW and 75% SPWW + 25% SW in culture medium. Nitrogen removal efficiency and removal rate by T. chui. were strongly affected by CO2 concentration. However, there was no significant effect of increasing CO2 concentration to removal efficiency and rate of PO4 by T. chui.

Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution is a planetary threat, affecting nearly every marine and freshwater ecosystem globally. In response, multilevel mitigation strategies are being adopted but with a lack of quantitative assessment of how such strategies reduce plastic emissions. We assessed the impact of three broad management strategies, plastic waste reduction, waste management, and environmental recovery, at different levels of effort to estimate plastic emissions to 2030 for 173 countries. We estimate that 19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems. Considering the ambitious commitments currently set by governments, annual emissions may reach up to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030. To reduce emissions to a level well below this prediction, extraordinary efforts to transform the global plastics economy are needed.

Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption.

The ubiquity of anthropogenic debris in hundreds of species of wildlife and the toxicity of chemicals associated with it has begun to raise concerns regarding the presence of anthropogenic debris in seafood. We assessed the presence of anthropogenic debris in fishes and shellfish on sale for human consumption. We sampled from markets in Makassar, Indonesia, and from California, USA. All fish and shellfish were identified to species where possible. Anthropogenic debris was extracted from the digestive tracts of fish and whole shellfish using a 10% KOH solution and quantified under a dissecting microscope. In Indonesia, anthropogenic debris was found in 28% of individual fish and in 55% of all species. Similarly, in the USA, anthropogenic debris was found in 25% of individual fish and in 67% of all species. Anthropogenic debris was also found in 33% of individual shellfish sampled. All of the anthropogenic debris recovered from fish in Indonesia was plastic, whereas anthropogenic debris recovered from fish in the USA was primarily fibers. Variations in debris types likely reflect different sources and waste management strategies between countries. We report some of the first findings of plastic debris in fishes directly sold for human consumption raising concerns regarding human health.

Scalarane-based sesterterpenoid RCE-protease inhibitors isolated from the Indonesian marine sponge Carteriospongia foliascens.

Two new 20,24-bishomo-25-norscalaranes, compounds 1 and 2, and two new and two known 20,24-bishomoscalaranes, compounds 3-6, have been isolated from the Indonesian marine sponge Carteriospongia foliascens. The structures of 1-6 were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 3-6 inhibit RCE-protease activity.

Meroterpenoid MAPKAP (MK2) inhibitors isolated from the indonesian marine sponge Acanthodendrilla sp.

(+)-Makassaric acid (1) and (+)-subersic acid (2), new meroterpenoid inhibitors of the protein kinase MK2, have been isolated from the marine sponge Acanthodendrilla sp. collected in Indonesia. The structures of (+)-makassaric acid (1) and (+)-subersic acid (2) were determined by spectroscopic analysis.

Boneratamides A-C, new sesquiterpenoids isolated from the marine sponge Axinyssa aplysinoides.

Three new sesquiterpenoids, boneratamides A (1)-C (3), have been isolated as their methyl esters 4-6 from extracts of the marine sponge Axinyssa aplysinoides collected in Indonesia. The structures of methyl esters 4-6 were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 4.

Latonduines A and B, new alkaloids isolated from the marine sponge Stylissa carteri: structure elucidation, synthesis, and biogenetic implications.

[structure: see text] Latonduines A (6) and B (7), two new alkaloids with unprecedented heterocyclic skeletons, have been isolated from the Indonesian marine sponge Stylissa carteri. The structures of the latonduines were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and confirmed by the total synthesis of latonduine A (6). It is proposed that ornithine is the biogenetic precursor to the aminopyrimidine fragment of the latonduines.