Trace element bioaccumulation in edible red seaweeds (Rhodophyta): A risk assessment for consumers.

As a precursor to risk assessment and risk management through consuming contaminated seafood, food safety needs to be quantified and assured. Seaweed is an increasing dietary component, especially in developing countries, but there are few studies assessing uptake rates of contaminants from this route. As such, the present study determined likely human uptake due to the trace elemental (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Hg, and As) concentrations in the edible red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) Gelidium pusillum and Hypnea musciformis, growing in the industrialised Cox's Bazar coastal area of Bangladesh. Metal and metalloid concentrations in G. pusillum were in the order (mg/kg): Fe (797 ± 67) > Mn (69 ± 4) > Ni (12 ± 5) > Zn (9 ± 4) > Cu (9 ± 4) >Se (0.1 ± 0.1) > Hg (0.1 ± 0.01), and in H. musciformis: Fe (668 ± 58) > Mn (28 ± 5) > Ni (14 ± 2) > Zn (11 ± 5) > Cu (6 ± 4) >Se (0.2 ± 0.03) > Hg (0.04 ± 0.01). Despite the industrial activities in the area, and based on 10 g. day-1 seaweed consumption, it is concluded that these concentrations pose no risk to human health as part of a normal diet according to the targeted hazard quotient and hazard index (THQ and HI) (values < 1). In addition, and as a novel aspect for seaweeds, Selenium Health Benefit Values (Se-HBV) were determined and found to have positive values. Seaweed can be used as an absorber of inorganic metals for removing contamination in coastal waters. The results are a precursor to further research regarding the efficiency and rate at which seaweeds can sequester metal contamination in water. In addition, management techniques need to be developed thereby to control the contaminant inputs.

The Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Soft Sediment Communities in Tanjung Bungah, Malaysia: A Preliminary Study.

Benthic faunal communities are important components in the intertidal zones. The diversity and abundance of the benthic communities are subjected to different natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The study was conducted as one off sampling on 6th November 2013 (1) to investigate the abundance and distribution of soft sediment communities in relation to environmental variables and (2) investigate the changes of population structure and diversity using spatial scales of 1 m, 10 m, and 100 m. Results indicated a total of 110 individuals of macrobenthos consisting of 7 different groups (Annelida, Bivalvia, Crustacea, Gastropoda, Nematoda, Nemertea, Polychaeta) and 4 different groups of meiobenthos (Copepoda, Nematoda, Ostracoda, Polychaeta) consisting 920 individuals were recorded. Dissolved oxygen played the most significant role in affecting the distribution of soft sediment communities while ammonia concentrations only affected marcobenthic organisms. However, sediment grain size did not show significant correlation (p>0.05) on soft sediment communities. Hence, understanding how different properties of benthos respond to changes in environmental variables is crucial in determining how the impacts on the sediment are tolerated by the benthic organisms.

The Identification of Octocorals from the Northern Region of Straits of Malacca.

Coral reefs in the northern region of the Straits of Malacca have a diverse group of octocorals growing on its bed. The octocorals identified in this study are from islands along the Straits. In this study, 23 specimens were identified, belonging to 4 sub-orders, which have been subdivided into 8 families. From these 8 families, 15 different genera have been identified. The identification process for this research was conducted based on five important keys; the external form and colouration, polyps or colonial and fundamental structure of colonies, monomorphic or dimorphic, the arrangement of polyps, and the arrangement of sclerites.

Light as a key driver of freshwater biofouling surface roughness in an experimental hydrocanal pipe rig.

Biofouling in canals and pipelines used for hydroelectric power generation decreases the flow capacity of conduits. A pipeline rig was designed consisting of test sections of varying substrata (PVC, painted steel) and light levels (transparent, frosted, opaque). Stalk-forming diatoms were abundant in both the frosted and transparent PVC pipes but negligible in the painted steel and opaque PVC pipes. Fungi were slightly more abundant in the painted steel pipe but equally present in all the other pipes while bacterial diversity was similar in all pipes. Photosynthetically functional biofouling (mainly diatoms) was able to develop in near darkness. Different biological fouling compositions generated differing friction factors. The highest friction factor was observed in the transparent pipe (densest diatom fouling), the lowest peak friction for the opaque PVC pipe (lowest fouling biomass), and with the painted steel pipe (high fouling biomass, but composed of fungal and bacterial crusts) being intermediate between the opaque and frosted PVC pipes.

THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PARAMETERS AND RECOVERY OF TWO TEMPERATE BENTHIC MICROALGAE, AMPHORA CF. COFFEAEFORMIS AND COCCONEIS CF. SUBLITTORALIS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)(1).

Temperature and irradiance are the most important factors affecting marine benthic microalgal photosynthetic rates in temperate intertidal areas. Two temperate benthic diatoms species, Amphora cf. coffeaeformis (C. Agardh) Kütz. and Cocconeis cf. sublittoralis Hendey, were investigated to determine how their photosynthesis responded to temperatures ranging from 5°C to 50°C after short-term exposure (1 h) to a range of irradiance levels (0, 500, and 1,100 µmol photons · m(-2 ) ·( ) s(-1) ). Significant differences were observed between the temperature responses of maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax), photoacclimation index (Ek ), photosynthetic efficiency (α), and effective quantum yield (ΔF/Fm' ) in both species. A. coffeaeformis had a greater tolerance to higher temperatures than C. sublittoralis, with nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) activated at temperatures of 45°C and 50°C. C. sublittoralis, however, demonstrated a more rapid rate of recovery at ambient temperatures. Temperatures between 10°C and 20°C were determined to be optimal for photosynthesis for both species. High temperatures and irradiances caused a greater decrease in ΔF/Fm' values. These results suggest that the effects of temperature are species specific and that short-term exposure to adverse temperature slows the recovery process, which subsequently leads to photoinhibition.