Hematology and Some Biochemical Parameters of Wild Rodents in Pistachio Gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran

Wild rodents were collected using live snap traps in pistachio gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran from 2007 to 2009, then some physiological parameters of them were measured. The samples were identified as follow: Nesokia indica, Meriones persicus, Meriones lybicus and Tatera indica. Blood samples were obtained from the heart, then the blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, HDL, red and white blood cell number) in wild species of rodents and laboratory rat were compared. The results showed that there were no significant differences in serum glucose, triglyceride, HDL and total protein levels among different experimental groups. The concentration of cholesterol in T. indica was more than that in N. indica (P < 0.01). The total numbers of red blood cells also showed significant difference between wild garden rodent species and laboratory rat (P < 0.01), while the numbers of white blood cells showed no significant difference.     

Phylogeographic structure of false clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris, explained by sea level changes on the Sunda shelf

The phylogenetic structure of the anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris was established based on sequence data generated for the 5′ end of the cytochrome b (cytb) gene at 11 sites throughout Southeast Asia. Considerable genetic structuring was observed throughout the range of A. ocellaris. The region has a complex geography, with the Sunda shelf having been exposed during the lower sea levels associated with periods of glaciation. The direction of subsequent flooding of the Sunda shelf, as a direct consequence of the retreating glacial sheets, can be predicted based on the major river drainage systems in the region. Much of the phylogeographic structure, including levels of intra-site genetic variation, can be explained in terms of the “seeding” of sites on the Sunda shelf, by those on the shelf rim, as sea levels rose. We often found surface ocean currents in the region, which should influence larval dispersal, to be poorly correlated with phylogeographic structure. Several geographically close sites, which appear to be connected by surface currents, showed significant genetic stratification. We hypothesise that the phylogeographic structure of A. ocellaris is more reminiscent of the Pleistocene sea level changes than surface currents. The high contribution of sea level changes to the phylogeographic structure was also supported by several missing haplotypes in the generated spanning network. Cytb DNA sequences generated for recently recruited A. ocellaris individuals sampled from Singapore indicate that, on a local scale, there is a directional inflow of recruits, which is dependent on the monsoon seasons. The nature of dispersal and genetic structure of reef fish species found on the Sunda shelf is clearly complex, and should take into consideration past phylogeographic events. Received: 13 November 1999 / Accepted: 12 July 2000     

Sonication and grinding pre-treatments on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gelidium amansii</Emphasis> seaweed for the extraction and characterization of Agarose

Various pretreatments methods including sonication and grinding were performed on red seaweed Gelidium amansii for the subsequent extraction of agarose. The agarose products are usually extracted from agar powder products from seaweeds. In this study, the agarose was extracted using a direct polyethylene glycol (PEG) method without the need to first process the agar from seaweed. The agar extract was frozen then thawed and mixed directly with PEG solution to precipitate the agarose. The quality of agarose obtained was evaluated through physico-chemical properties analysis which includes spectral technique (FTIR), melting and boiling point, gel strength and sulfate content. These properties were compared with a non-pretreated sample and it was found that the addition of pretreatment steps improved the quality of agarose but gave a slightly lower yield. The gel strength of pretreated samples was much higher and the sulfate content was lower compared to non-pretreated samples. The best pretreatment method was sonication which gave gel strength of 742 g cm^-2 and sulfate content of 0.63%. The extraction of agarose can be further improved with the use of different neutralizing agents. Pretreating the seaweed shows potential in improving the quality of agarose from seaweed and can be applied for future extraction of the agarose.

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Characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pelargonium radula</Emphasis> as a mercury bioindicator for safety assessment of drinking water

Identification of Pelargonium radula as bioindicator for mercury (Hg) detection confers a new hope for monitoring the safety of drinking water consumption. Hg, like other non-essential metals, inflicts the deterioration of biological functions in human and other creatures. In the present study, effects of Hg on the physiology and biochemical content of P. radula were undertaken to understand the occurrence of the morphological changes observed. Young leaves of P. radula were treated with different concentrations of Hg-containing solution (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ppb) along with controls for 4 h, prior to further analysis. Elevated Hg concentration in treatment solution significantly prompted an increased accumulation of Hg in the leaf tissues. Meanwhile, total protein, chlorophyll and low molecular mass thiol contents (cysteine, glutathione and oxidized glutathione) decreased as Hg accumulation increased. However, phytochelatin 2 productions were induced in the treated leaves, in comparison to the control. Based on these findings, it is postulated that as low as 0.5 ppb of Hg interferes with the metabolic processes of plant cells, which was reflected from the morphological changes exhibited on P. radula leaves—the colour of the Hg-treated leaves changed from green to yellowish-brown, became chlorosis and wilted. Changes in the tested characteristics of plant are closely related to the Hg-induced morphological changes on P. radula leaves, a potential bioindicator for detecting Hg in drinking water.     

Entrapping of organic wastes by coordination clathrates

The feasibility of the Hofmann clathrates Ni(CN)₂(NH₃)·G(G=guest molecule) and the octahedral Werner-type complexes Ni(X)₂(L)₄ (X=NCS, NCO, CH₃CO₂, C₆H₅CO₂; L=Py, 4-Mepy) as a scavenger for organic substrates in a polluted aqueous or organic medium is dependent on the complex lability, thermal stability and reversibility in solvent trapping which can be conveniently studied by thermogravimetric means. Besides the parent monomeric octahedral complexes, all the thermal decompositional intermediates, namely, monomeric tetrahedral, dimeric octahedral and polymeric octahedral, are also potential scavengers for selected organic substances though they operate via a cycle of bond-making and bond-breaking processes.     

In search of a recyclable sulphur dioxide sponge—a new look at an old system

The sulphur dioxide content and thermal stability of the quinol-SO₂ clathrate have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), its derivative (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These analyses demonstrated the thermal recoverability of the quinol from the clathrate and hence its potential use as a sponge for SO₂ present in the environment as a pollutant. Similarly, Bu₄N⁺I^- was found to occlude NO₂ and SO₂ at 50°C in solution.     

A modified toxicity testing method using tropical marine microalgae

Toxicity testing of four heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Mn and As) using four species of tropicalmarine phytoplankton, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmis tetrahele and Tetraselmis sp., was carried out in multiwellplates with test volumes of 2 mL and the resultscompared to those of standard, large volume,shake-flasks. IC₅₀ values (concentrations of metalsestimated to inhibit 50% growth relative to thecontrol) were determined after 96 hours based onautomated O.D. readings measured in Elisa microplatesby a Multiskan spectrophotometer. Good agreement wasachieved between O.D. readings and cell countsindicating that this new method is a simple,economical, practical and rapid technique for toxicitytesting, and provides good reproducibility of IC₅₀ values. Results of the toxicity testsindicate that Cu was the most toxic metal (averageIC₅₀ values ranging from 0.04 to 0.37 mg L^-1), followed by Cd (0.06–5.7 mg L^-1), Mn (7.2–21.4 mg L^-1) and As (33.9–319.3 mg L^-1).Test species had different degrees of sensitivity tothe metals tested, with I.galbana and C. calcitrans the mostsensitive to Cu, Cd and Mn. Based on these findingsit is recommended that the existing Malaysian InterimStandards for Marine Water Quality for Cd and Cu be reviewed.     

Tributyltin distribution in the coastal environment of Peninsular Malaysia

The occurrence of tributyltin (TBT) is reported in the coastal waters of a few selected sites in Peninsular Malaysia. Water, bivalves and sediment samples collected were analysed specifically for TBT using sensitive analytical methods which involved a solvent extraction procedure with appropriate clean-up followed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric measurements. The levels of TBT in the seawater in unexposed areas were found in the range from <3.4 to 20 ng litre(-1) as compared to coastal areas with high boat and ship activities where TBT levels in seawater were generally above 30 ng litre(-1), with the highest level found at 281.8 ng litre(-1). TBT levels in the tissues of random cockle and soft-shell clam samples from local markets were found in the range from <0.5 to 3.7 ng g(-1) wet weight. The levels of TBT found in green mussel samples both from the market (23.5 ng g(-1) wet weight) and those from a mussel farm (14.2 ng g(-1) wet weight) indicate slight accumulation of TBT. In sediments, TBT levels were found ranging from <0.7 ng g(-1) dry weight in unexposed coastal sites to as high as 216.5 ng g(-1) dry weight for a site within a port area.     

Turning waste to wealth-biodegradable plastics polyhydroxyalkanoates from palm oil mill effluent – a Malaysian perspective

Palm oil industries have been contributing significantly towards the country’s economy and increase standard of living among Malaysians. However, it has also been identified as the major contributor for discharging the largest pollution load throughout the country. Owing to high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), the palm oil mill effluent (POME) cannot be discharged directly into the environment. Thus, palm oil industries are facing tremendous challenges in order to comply with environmental regulations. While anaerobic digestion has been employed by most mills as primary treatment, POME can also be a potential source of degradable organic material which can be converted into value-added products and fine chemicals. Organic acids generated during acid-phase anaerobic digestion of POME could be a potential carbon source for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)- a biodegradable thermoplastic material of microbial origin. This paper aims at understanding how organic acids from POME may serve as a renewable feedstock for the biosynthesis of PHA.