Species identification, reproductive biology, and nutritional value of marine shellfish (Meretrix lyrata) in the Bay of Bengal.

Meretrix lyrata which is under the family of Veneridae and under the order of Venerida, is a nutritionally and economically important edible mussel in Bangladesh. However, studies on species identification and nutritional value in M. lyrata are scarce. Therefore, a detailed investigation was conducted on (i) species identification of the common edible mussel through DNA-barcoding and morphometrics, (ii) reproductive features, such as size at sexual maturity, spawning, and peak-spawning seasons under different environmental factors, and (iii) nutritional status through proximate analysis of M. lyrata mussel collected from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. The results indicated that the size at sexual maturity for M. lyrata was 4.2 cm and the spawning seasons were significantly affected by the dissolve oxygen and salinity. The study also demonstrated that the spawning of M. lyrata occurred from January to June and December while peak spawning season was May in the Bay of Bengal. The higher protein and moisture contents with lower fat in M. lyrata indicated that are value-added seafood with higher nutritional values for consumers.

Effects of water temperature and light intensity on the acute toxicity of herbicide thiobencarb to a green alga, Raphidocelis subcapitata.

The present study investigated how principal environmental factors such as temperature and light intensity change the toxicological properties of thiobencarb (TB) herbicide to the green alga, Raphidocelis subcapitata. At first, we investigated the inhibitory effect of TB (0, 15.6, 31.2, 62.4, and 125 µg L-1) on growth of R. subcapitata at five temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 °C) for 144 h exposure and calculated 72- and 144-h effective concentration values (EC10, 20, and EC50) for growth rate. All EC values significantly decreased with an increasing temperature. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II in R. subcapitata exposed to 125 µg L-1 of TB was also significantly inhibited with increased temperature. These physiological effects could explain the lower EC values at high temperatures. Then, single and interactive effects of TB, temperature, and light intensity on growth rate were investigated by three-way of analysis of variance. As a result, single and interactive effects were detected in all explanatory variables. These results suggest that temperature and light intensity change the acute toxicity parameter in R. subcapitata exposed to TB and must be considered in evaluating the risk of TB.

Diuron causes sinking retardation and physiochemical alteration in marine diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana and Skeletonema marinoi-dohrnii complex.

The present research investigated the effect of diuron on sinking rate and the physiochemical changes in two marine diatoms, Thalassiosira pseudonana (single-celled species) and Skeletonema marinoi-dohrnii complex (chain-forming species). The results revealed that the sinking rate of both diatoms exposed to diuron at a level of 50% effective concentration for growth (EC50) decreased significantly compared with the control. Photosynthetic performance (Fv/Fm and PIABS) of both diatoms also decreased significantly with diuron exposure. The number of cells per chain in S. marinoi-dohrnii decreased significantly with diuron treatment, but T. pseudonana cell diameter remained stable. Neutral lipid concentration per cell was significantly higher compared with control at 72 h in both diatom species exposed to EC50 level diuron. And water-soluble protein concentration per cell at 72 h was lower than control in the T. pseudonana EC50 group only. These biochemical changes may decrease specific gravity of cells and seems to cause a decreased sinking rate in diatoms. The positive significant correlation between the numbers of cells per chain and sinking rate in S. marinoi-dohrnii indicated that chain length is also an important factor in sinking rate regulation for chain-forming diatoms. Thus, our present study suggested that suppression of photosynthetic performance and the resultant physiochemical changes induced the decreased sinking rate that may inhibit the normal survival strategy (avoidance from the surface layer where strong light either causes photo-inhibition or interrupts resting cell formation). Therefore, the use of antifouling agents should be considered for the sustainable marine environment.

Elevated water temperature reduces the acute toxicity of the widely used herbicide diuron to a green alga, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata.

In the actual environment, temperatures fluctuate drastically through season or global warming and are thought to affects risk of pollutants for aquatic biota; however, there is no report about the effect of water temperature on toxicity of widely used herbicide diuron to fresh water microalgae. The present research investigated inhibitory effect of diuron on growth and photosynthetic activity of a green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata at five different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C) for 144 h of exposure. As a result, effective diuron concentrations at which a 50% decrease in algal growth occurred was increased with increasing water temperature ranging from 9.2 to 20.1 µg L(-1) for 72 h and 9.4-28.5 µg L(-1) for 144 h. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F v/F m ratio) was significantly reduced at all temperatures by diuron exposure at 32 µg L(-1) after 72 h. Inhibition rates was significantly increased with decreased water temperature (P < 0.01). Intracellular H2O2 levels as an indicator of oxidative stress were also decreased with increasing temperature in both control and diuron treatment groups and were about 2.5 times higher in diuron treatment groups than that of controls (P < 0.01). Our results suggest water temperatures may affect the toxicokinetics of diuron in freshwater and should therefore be considered in environmental risk assessment.

Thiobencarb herbicide reduces growth, photosynthetic activity, and amount of Rieske iron-sulfur protein in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.

We investigated the effects of the herbicide thiobencarb on the growth, photosynthetic activity, and expression profile of photosynthesis-related proteins in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Growth rate was suppressed by 50% at a thiobencarb concentration of 1.26 mg/L. Growth and photosystem II activity (Fv /Fm ratio) were drastically decreased at 5 mg/L, at which the expression levels of 13 proteins increased significantly and those of 11 proteins decreased significantly. Among these proteins, the level of the Rieske iron-sulfur protein was decreased to less than half of the control level. This protein is an essential component of the cytochrome b6 f complex in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Although the mechanism by which thiobencarb decreased the Rieske iron-sulfur protein level is not clear, these results suggest that growth was inhibited by interruption of the photosynthetic electron transport chain by thiobencarb.

Alterations in social behavior of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) in response to sublethal chlorpyrifos exposure.

The behavioral and biochemical responses of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) to acute and subacute (sublethal) levels of chlorpyrifos were studied. In the acute exposure test, medaka were exposed to 0.018, 0.055, 0.166, or 0.500 mg L(-1) chlorpyrifos for 4 d. As a result, fish showed hypoactivity compared to the control (at 0.018, 0.055, and 0.166 mg L(-1), swimming speeds were 55.6%, 39.0%, and 27.3% those of the control), Brain acetylcholinesterase activity and swimming speed were significantly correlated. In the subacute toxicity test, medaka were exposed to 0.012 mg L(-1) chlorpyrifos (10% of LC(50)) for 8 d. On day 4, there were no significant differences in behavioral and biochemical endpoints in exposed fish as compared to the control. On day 8, exposed fish became hyperactive, and the swimming speed of the social group increased to 2 times that of the control, whereas acetylcholinesterase activity was decreased to 68% that of the control. In addition, fish exhibited significant alterations in social behavior (schooling duration increased to 2.6 times and solitary duration decreased to 28% that of the control). Our findings clearly demonstrate a subacute effect of chlorpyrifos on the social behavior of medaka, which may pose a risk at population level because of the disturbance of social behavior. In addition, the recorded behavioral alterations may provide a useful tool for assessing the toxicity of organophosphorous pesticides to aquatic organisms.

Growth-phase dependent variation in photosynthetic activity and cellular protein expression profile in the harmful raphidophyte Chattonella antiqua.

This study investigated temporal variations in the potential maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (F(v)/F(m) ratio) and growth-phase dependent cellular protein expressions of Chattonella antiqua under laboratory conditions. Despite the culture conditions, significant positive correlations between the F(v)/F(m) ratio and daily growth rate were observed. Threshold F(v)/F(m) ratios associated with positive cell growth were calculated to be >0.44, >0.44, and >0.37, and those associated with active cell growth (growth rate >0.5 div. d(-1)) were >0.58, >0.60, and >0.49 under control culture, low nutrient and intense light conditions, respectively. Proteome profiles obtained by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) indicated that 42 protein spots were differentially expressed at various growth phases of C. antiqua, which indicates changes in cellular physiological status throughout the growth cycle, and suggests that oxygen evolving enhancer 1 and 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin play roles in maintaining the positive growth of C. antiqua.