Carbon isotopic and biochemical fingerprints of sedimentary organic matter in lower Narmada and Tapi rivers,north-west coast of India

Sources of organic matter (OM) in lower Narmada and Tapi river-estuaries were examined using organic carbon to nitrogen ratio (C_org/N), stable carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C_org) and lignin phenol biomarkers. The signature of lower C_org (av. 0.50%) and higher δ¹³C_org (av. –20.3‰) in Narmada and, higher C_org (av. 0.85%) and lower δ¹³C_org (av. –22.8‰) in Tapi highlight the difference in OM characteristics of both systems, nevertheless they flow adjacent to each other. The OM in Tapi was predominated by fresh plant tissues, as indicated by higher Λ8?=?1.2–3.2?mg/100?mg C_org, lower Ad/Al_v?=?0.22–0.46 and lower LPVI?=?17–23. The plant OM present in the sediments of Narmada was previously degraded and mixed with soil. The OM contribution from algae was restricted to estuarine stations in both the rivers, which was ～50% in Narmada and ～35% in Tapi. The contribution of OM from fresh vascular plant was higher (20% to 63%) in Tapi than Narmada (2% to 35%). This study illustrated the benefits of using lignin phenols along with C_org/N and δ¹³C_org to identify the potential OM sources in two large river–estuary systems of India, which highlighted the complex interaction of natural and anthropogenic processes acted on the terrestrial OM compositions.     

Field experiment on biological contact oxidation process to treat polluted river water in the Dianchi Lake watershed

In this study two types of biological contact oxidation processes (BCOP), a step-feed (SBCOP) unit and an inter-recycle (IBCOP) unit, were designed to investigate the treatment of heavily polluted river water. The Daqing River, which is the largest pollutant contributor to the Dianchi Lake, one of the most eutrophic freshwater lakes in China, was taken for the case study. It was found that the SBCOP had higher adaptability and better performance in the reduction of COD, TN, and TP, which made it applicable for the treatment of polluted river water entering the Dianchi Lake. Nitrification rate was observed to be greatly affected by the influent temperature. During each season, the nitrification in the SBCOP was higher than that in the IBCOP. TN removal efficiency in the SBCOP was higher than that in the IBCOP during the winter and spring but poorer during the summer, possibly due to the inhibition of denitrification by higher dissolved oxygen level in the summer. Moreover, symbiotic algaebacteria growth may be conducive to the removal of pollutants.     

Assessment of industrial effluent and its impact on soil and plants

The present study deals with the assessment of industrial water of an electronic component manufacturing unit with electroplating and its subsequent effects on soil and plants receiving the effluent. The physico-chemical parameters of the effluent samples showed higher value than that of ground water. The treated effluent was within the permissible limit. Microtox test was conducted and determined the degree of toxicity of untreated, treated effluents as well as the water sample collected at effluent discharge point of receiving river (confluence point). The physico- mechanical parameters of the soil samples were not changed due to irrigation of the treated effluent, but the concentration of metals were comparatively higher than the control soil. Higher accumulation of metals was found in the plant parts in naturally growing weeds and cultivated crop plant irrigated with treated effluent. Elevated accumulation of metals in Eichhornia crassipes and Marsilea sp. growing along the effluent channel has been identified as a potential source of biomonitoring of metals particularly for Cu and Ca and can be utilised for the removal of heavy metal from wastewater.     

Quantification of polyphenols during retting and characterization of bacteria from the Kadinamkulam Backwaters, Kerala

The retting environment which provides a competitive niche for specialized microbes is speculated to harbour a variety of microbes with high biodegradation potential. In this context, an effort has been made to isolate and identify bacterial species having high tolerance to phenol In vitro. Maximum polyphenol (1.897 mg l(-1)) as observed during the initial period of retting, which decreased as retting proceeded. Based on biochemical characterization, the isolated bacterial strains were identified as Micrococcus sp., Moraxella sp. strain MP1, Moraxella sp. strain MP2 and Moraxella sp. strain MP3, Pseudomonas sp. strain PP1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain PP2, Amphibacillus sp., Brucella sp. strain BP1 and Brucella sp. strain BP2, Aquaspirillum sp., Escherichia coli strain EP1 and Escherichia coli strain EP2, Campylobacter sp., Aeromonas sp., Neisseria sp., Vibrio sp., Erwinia sp. and Mesophilobacter sp. These strains were found to tolerate maximum concentration of phenol viz. 200 to 1000 mg l(-1). Plasmid analysis of phenol resistant bacterial isolates showed that almost all the cultures had at least one plasmid of size > 1Kb. Studies on the protein profile of isolated bacterial cultures showed the presence of proteins with molecular sizes ranging from 10 to 85 KDa with exception of Mesophilobacter and Neisseria having still high molecular weight protein (95 KDa). Bacterial strains isolated from coir-ret-liquor showed tolerance to high phenol concentration.     

In situ evaluation of the genotoxic potential of the river Nile: I. Micronucleus and nuclear lesion tests of erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

This study aimed to investigate the genotoxic potential of chemicals present along the course of the river Nile using frequencies of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear lesions (NL) in erythrocytes of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus niloticus and African catfish Clarias gariepinus, as biomarkers. Results showed that most of the physicochemical parameters detected and heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in the water collected from the estuaries of the river Nile compared to other sites of the upper Nile. The frequencies of MN and NL in peripheral blood erythrocytes of Nile tilapia and African catfish were significantly higher in estuary sites in Damietta and Rosetta compared to upper sites. The lowest level of genotoxicity was observed at two sites (Aswan and Kena), considered to be less contaminated. Our results suggested that higher frequencies of MN and NL determined at Damietta and Rosetta sites may be indicative of damage produced by pollutants in these areas. The most remarkable result was that MN and NL frequencies appear to be strongly related to water quality at different sites examined, indicating that MN frequencies may serve as a reliable biomarker for testing genotoxicity in situ. The positive correlation between MN and NL induction suggested that NL may be a useful complementary assay for genotoxicity analyses when fish are used as experimental animals. It was also found that seasonal variations in MN and NL frequencies might contribute to a better understanding of genotoxic responses in the field. The use of fish as indicator organisms for monitoring the presence of genotoxic-inducing contaminants in the environment seemed justified because the effects of exposure to a “complex mixture” such as river water were obtained. Nile tilapia appears to be a more suitable bioindicator species than African catfish in studying genotoxic chemical pollution in the river Nile attributed to a higher sensitivity.     

Analysis and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments: a case study from Luan River,Northern China

Concentrations of the heavy metals Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cr were examined in surface water and sediment from the Luan River inChina,. With a decline in Cu and Ni concentration found in surface water at downstream stations. This finding suggests that water currents are a major explanatory factor in heavy metal contamination. The abundance of Cr, Pb, and Cd observed in the middle reaches of the river indicates heavy metal contamination in local areas, although there was an obvious decrease in concentrations in the water downstream of the Daheiting Reservoir. The significant rising trend in Cu, Pb, and Ni seen the sediment farther away from the river also suggests that anthropogenic activities contribute to heavy metal pollution Sediments were therefore used as environmental indicators, with sediment assessment was conducted using the geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and the potential ecological risk index (RI). The I_geo values revealed that Cd (3.13) and Cr (2.39) had accumulated significantly in the Luan River. The RI values for most (89%) of the sampling stations were higher than 300, suggesting that sediment from the Luan River poses a severe ecological risk, with the potential ecological risks downstream higher than that in the upper and middle streams. Good correlations among Pb/Ni, Pb/Cd, Cu/Pb, and Cu/Cd in the water and Cr/Ni in the sediment were observed. Cluster analysis suggested that Cd may have various origins, being derived from anthropogenic sources.     

等毒性配比法研究镉、铬和铅对淡水发光细菌的联合毒性

当待测生物暴露在混合污染物中时,由于混合物中各组分相互影响,会产生联合毒性作用,表现为加和作用、协同作用和拮抗作用。为了深入了解重金属混合物的联合毒性对发光细菌的作用,利用淡水发光细菌——青海弧菌Q67(Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.nov-Q67)发光值的测定方法,采用联合毒性单位法,在测定了硝酸镉、重铬酸钾和硝酸铅单一毒性EC50的基础上,对硝酸镉 重铬酸钾、硝酸镉 硝酸铅、硝酸铅 重铬酸钾3种重金属二元混合物的联合毒性进行了评价。结果表明,硝酸镉 重铬酸钾、硝酸铅 重铬酸钾是拮抗作用,硝酸铅 硝酸镉是协同作用。     

Heavy metal speciation,leaching and toxicity status of a tropical rain-fed river Damodar,India

Speciations of metals were assessed in a tropical rain-fed river, flowing through the highly economically important part of the India. The pattern of distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were evaluated in water and sediment along with mineralogical characterization, changes with different water quality parameters and their respective health hazard to the local population along the Damodar River basin during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The outcome of the speciation analysis using MINTEQ indicated that free metal ions, carbonate, chloride and sulfate ions were predominantly in anionic inorganic fractions, while in cationic inorganic fractions metal loads were negligible. Metals loads were higher in sediment phase than in the aqueous phase. The estimated values of I_geo in river sediment during both the seasons showed that most of the metals were found in the I_geo class 0–1 which represents unpolluted to moderately polluted sediment status. The result of partition coefficient indicated the strong retention capability of Cr, Pb, Co and Mn, while Cd, Zn, Cu and Ni have resilient mobility capacity. The mineralogical analysis of sediment samples indicated that in Damodar River, quartz, kaolinite and calcite minerals were dominantly present. The hazard index values of Cd, Co and Cr were >?1 in river water, which suggested potential health risk for the children. A combination of pragmatic, computational and statistical relationship between ionic species and fractions of metals represented a strong persuasion for identifying the alikeness among the different sites of the river.     

Prevalence and Intensity of Intestinal Parasites in Mantled Howling Monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in Northeastern Costa Rica: Implications for Conservation Biology

I examined the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasitic infections in a population of mantled howling monkeys ( Alouatta palliata ) at La Selva Biological Reserve, a rainforest in northeastern Costa Rica. I collected fresh fecal samples from individual bowler monkeys from two focal troops from October 1991 through October 1992. The presence of parasite ova and larvae in samples was determined by using a formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. Three types of endoparasites were found: (1) a roundworm, Parabronema sp., (2) a physalopterid roundworm, species undetermined, and (3) a fluke, species undetermined. No differences were found in the prevalence of parasitic infections between sexes or troops. No statistical differences were found between the sexes for the intensity of infection. The troop that lived along the river showed a statistically significant higher intensity of nematode infection than the troop that lived mostly in primary forest. Parabronema sp. was found only from individuals in the river group. The prevalence of parasitic infection observed in howlers at La Selva (100%) is higher than has been reported for bowlers in a dry deciduous forest at La Pacifica, Costa Rica (47%). Microclimatic factors, ranging patterns, and home-range size are identified as important variables that may affect parasitic infections of howler populations. Data from this study suggest that narrow corridor designs may be inappropriate for conservation of primates and possibly other species of arboreal animals.     

Potential fluoride contamination in the drinking water of Marks Nagar,Unnao district,Uttar Pradesh,India

This study was conducted in the summer season (May, 2007). The fluoride concentration along with other physico-chemical parameters in ground water samples was determined in Marks Nagar of Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh (India), since it is the only source of drinking water for the villagers. The fluoride concentration in the water varied from 0.8 to 13.9 mgl⁻¹ with a mean of 4.02 mgl⁻¹. The correlation analysis revealed that fluoride had a positive correlation with pH, CO₃, HCO₃, and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), whereas a negative correlation with Ca and Mg was found. A soil profile was also dug in the area to assess depth-wise fluoride content in the soil. The soil samples and underneath calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) concretion were analyzed for fluoride content. The percent of soluble fluoride to total fluoride in the soil varied from 25.15 to 4.76% down the soil profile. The soluble fluoride was found to decrease with the increase in the clay content in the soil. The total leachable fluoride in CaCO₃ concretions was found to be 6.08%. It was inferred from this study that the soil and underneath layer of CaCO₃ concretions may be the potential source of fluoride contamination in the shallow drinking water sources of the area.     

Zooplankton diversity and physico-chemical conditions in three perennial ponds of Virudhunagar district, Tamilnadu

Plankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters are an important criterion for evaluating the suitability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes. In this study we tried to assess the zooplankton species richness, diversity and evenness and to predict the state of three perennial ponds according to physico-chemical parameters. A total of 47 taxa were recorded: 24 rotifers, 9 copepods, 8 cladocerans, 4 ostracods and 2 protozoans. More number of zooplankton species were recorded in Chinnapperkovil pond (47 species) followed by Nallanchettipatti (39 species) and Kadabamkulam pond (24 species). Among the rotifers, Branchionus sp. is abundant. Diaphanosoma sp. predominant among the cladocerans. Among copepods, numerical superiority was found in the case of Mesocyclopes sp. Cypris sp. repeated abundance among ostracoda. Present study revealed that zooplankton species richness (R1 and R2) was comparatively higher (R1: 4.39; R2: 2.13) in Chinnapperkovil pond. The species diversity was higher in the Chinnapperkovil pond (H': 2.53; N1: 15.05; N2: 15.75) as compared to other ponds. The water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity alkalinity salinity, phosphate, hardness, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand. Higher value of physico-chemical parameters and zooplankton diversity were recorded in Chinnapperkovil pond as compared to other ponds. The zooplankton population shows positive significant correlation with physico-chemical parameters like, temperature, alkalinity phosphate, hardness and biological oxygen demand, whereas negatively correlated with rainfall and salinity. The study revealed that the presence of certain species like, Monostyla sp., Keratella sp., Lapadella sp., Leydigia sp., Moinodaphnia sp., Diaptomus sp., Diaphanosoma sp., Mesocyclopes sp., Cypris sp. and Brachionus sp. is considered to be biological indicator for eutrophication.     

Low efficiency of sewage treatment plants due to unskilled operations in India

Centralized sewage treatment plants may not be a sustainable solution for a developing country such as India. Therefore, we conducted for the first time an integrated assessment of the different technologies currently used for sewage treatment in the state of West Bengal, India. Five decentralized sewage treatment plants and one centralized sewage treatment plant located in different parts of Kolkata were evaluated. We compared influent and effluent water quality, energy consumed, capital and operating costs, and treated wastewater reuse potential. F test was used to validate results on the effect of working days and holidays and seasons on treated water quality. Wastewater management strategy was assessed by performance indicators. Our results show that treatment efficiency was lowest in anaerobic plants not because of faulty technology but due to unskilled operation. Therefore, performance improvement of plants is expected if factors such as monitoring, training of staff, regular and scrupulous desludging, reuse aspects, and rational water tariff are implemented earnestly.     

Chlorophenol tolerant and degradative bacteria isolated from a river receiving pulp mill discharges

A screening was carried out in a river receiving pulp mill discharges (BioBio river, central Chile) to study the bacterial population able to tolerate and degrade chlorophenols. In four selected stations and at different seasons, water samples were taken from the river. Total bacterial population and the number of chlorophenol tolerant bacteria were counted. Bacterial tolerance to 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml of 2,4‐dichlorophenol (DCP), 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) was determined. Strains able to tolerate at least 400 μg/ml chlorophenols were found. Eighteen bacterial strains able to use chlorophenols as the sole carbon source were isolated: five of them were Pseudomonas fluorescens, two Alcaligenes sp., one Citrobacter freundii, one Aeromonas sp. and nine unidentified Gram negative bacilli. A good correlation (r ² = 0.758) between the logarithm of DCP tolerant bacteria and the content of adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) at low dilution in the river water was established. Four groups of tolerant bacteria were found: growing on PCP and DCP, growing on PCP and TCP, growing only on PCP and growing only on TCP.     

Estimating Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis migration using a mass balance model expressed by hydrological distribution parameters in a major limpid river basin in Japan

We examined the influence of several hydrological and meteorological parameters on the migratory movements of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis in central Japan. When comprehensively evaluating rivers and ayu behaviour on a catchment scale, the subjects of analysis typically include human activities and hydrological and meteorological phenomena. However, limiting analyses to such factors may be too restrictive when human activities are being conducted. Accordingly, we incorporated a biological viewpoint into the evaluation method, analysing hydrological data (river discharge, river water temperature, sea water temperature) to determine watershed characteristics and examining the relationship between these characteristics and the habitat conditions of ayu. Then we constructed a numerical model for ayu migratory runs that incorporated ayu ecology and watershed characteristics. Analyses of ayu movements from a lower estuarine dam demonstrated that downstream displacements were associated with high water flows of more than 200 m³ s⁻¹ at the beginning of summer. We conclude that it is important to consider the effects of environmental parameters on the movements of different fish species to understand the causes of spatial variation in fish distribution in lowland rivers.     

基于高通量分析方法的长江干流重庆段抗生素种类特征及来源初探

采用高通量分析方法对长江干流重庆段11个流域断面、2个市政污水处理厂进水和6个养殖场废水的潜在抗生素进行筛查,并结合抗生素使用调查探讨其来源。结果表明,(1)共检出83种抗生素,其中流域内检出36种,污水处理厂和养殖场废水中检出70种;磺胺间甲氧嘧啶检出率最高,在流域水体和废水的检出率分别为91%和55%,喹诺酮类是检出抗生素的主要类型;(2)长江干流重庆段下游检出抗生素数量高于上游检出抗生素;(3)有20种抗生素可能由上游携带和重庆市内排放2种方式进入流域,7种抗生素可能由上游携带入境,9种抗生素可能由重庆市内排放引入长江。     

Characterization of protease from Alcaligens faecalis and its antibacterial activity on fish pathogens

Alcaligens faecalis AU01 isolated from seafood industry effluent produced an alkaline protease. The optimum culture conditions for growth as well as enzyme production were 37 degrees C and pH 8. The partially purified protease had specific activity of 9.66 with 17.77% recovery with the molecular weight of 33 kDa and it was active between 30-70 degrees C and optimum being at 55 degrees C and pH 9. The enzyme retains more than 85% activity at 70 degrees C and 78% even at pH 10. The enzyme inhibited the growth of fish pathogens such as Flavobacterium sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Vibrio harveyi, Proteus sp. and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. From the present study it can be concluded that Alcaligens faecalis AU01 has the potential for aquaculture as probiotic agent and other several applications.     

Volatile chemicals from leaf litter are associated with invasiveness of a neotropical weed in Asia

Some invasive plant species appear to strongly suppress neighbors in their nonnative ranges but much less so in their native range. We found that in the field in its native range in Mexico, the presence of Ageratina adenophora, an aggressive Neotropical invader, was correlated with higher plant species richness than found in surrounding plant communities where this species was absent, suggesting facilitation. However, in two nonnative ranges, China and India, A. adenophora canopies were correlated with much lower species richness than the surrounding communities, suggesting inhibition. Volatile organic compound (VOC) signals may contribute to this striking biogeographical difference and the invasive success of A. adenophora. In controlled experiments volatiles from A. adenophora litter caused higher mortality of species native to India and China, but not of species native to Mexico. The effects of A. adenophora VOCs on seedling germination and growth did not differ between species from the native range and species from the nonnative ranges of the invader. Litter from A. adenophora plants from nonnative populations also produced VOCs that differed quantitatively in the concentrations of some chemicals than litter from native populations, but there were no chemicals unique to one region. Biogeographic differences in the concentrations of some volatile compounds between ranges suggest that A. adenophora may be experiencing selection on biochemical composition in its nonnative ranges.     

乐安江水和沉积物样品的生物毒性评估

采用二种发光菌发光抑制、二种藻生长抑制、大型溲生和慢性毒性多种生物测试方法。对采集于１９９３年６月，１９９３年１２月和１９９４１０月的乐安江可水、沉积物和沉积物间隙不进行了多指标生物毒性测试，在河流４０，５０和１５９ｋｍ处观测到较强毒性，研究结果：毒性排放主要来自乐安江上游德兴铜矿、洎不河，以及乐安江下游接近鄱阳湖口和沉积物中重金属的释放。     

Selection of poly(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid utilising bacteria by enrichment,optimisation and compatibility testing for consortia development

Bacterial strains with poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) degradation potential were isolated from waste yard soil samples of selected industrial sites in Uttarakhand, India, and two microbial consortia were developed, i.e. Consortium I comprises Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb10, Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb11 and Bacillus sp. strain Rb18, and Consortium II is composed of Lysinibacillus sp. strain Rb1, Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb13 and Pseudomonas sp. strain Rb19. The current study involved enrichment selection via liquid and semi-solid media, followed by isolation and screening of bacterial strains using PHB pellets and films. Furthermore, the identification and characterisation was done by triphasic approach. The utilisation of PHB by the characterised strains was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration of solubilised PHB was found to be 2.5?mg/mL, which was detected through ‘clear zone assay’. Further, the selection and biocompatibility testing of potential isolates were performed for the formation of bacterial consortia. Thus, the present work would provide direct and standardised protocol for screening and selection of potential microbiomes for biodegradation of polymers by overcoming the negative effect of organic solvents. Moreover, indigenously developed consortia would be evaluated for their in situ biodegradation potential against various bioplastic films.     

Impact of drought on the ecological and chemical status of surface water and on the content of arsenic and fluoride pollutants of groundwater in the province of Salamanca (Western Spain)

The impact of drought on the ecological and chemical status of surface and groundwaters of the River Tormes (River Duero basin, northwestern Iberian Peninsula) was studied to evaluate the evolution of the quality of the river during its passage through the city of Salamanca (Spain). The Water Quality Index (WQI) of the river revealed that the drought period of 2005 did not significantly affect water chemical quality. However, during the study period differences were found in surface water ecological quality, using phytoplankton quality as AN indicator. These differences may be accentuated as a result of regulation of the River Tormes by the Santa Teresa reservoir. Arsenic and fluoride concentrations were measured in water wells, finding higher arsenic concentrations after the drought period and no correlation between the arsenic and fluoride contents. The results are useful for an overall understanding of potential impact of climate change on the ecological and chemical status of water in regional systems.