Water quality in the Red Sea coastal waters (Egypt): Analysis of spatial and temporal variability

In order to provide a background picture of the water quality of the Egyptian Red Sea a number of hydrological and chemical parameters have been measured bimonthly in 2000. Few data are available on this area, which is apparently subjected to an increasing human impact due to recreational (swimming and diving), industrial (mainly phosphate shipping and industry) and fishing/harbor activities. The results of the present study indicate that changes in the salinity and pH were not significant with highly oxygenated seawaters. The levels of suspended solids (as total suspended matter, TSM) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) were generally low and showed an homogeneous distribution in the study region. The ratio of chlorophyll-a to total suspended matter concentrations increased between November and March and decreased from May to September. Chlorophyll-a was significantly correlated with transparency and total suspended matter concentrations in July, September and November. Nitrogen, phosphorus and reactive silicate concentrations were generally low, and allowed classifying the Egyptian Red Sea coastal water as oligotrophic to mesotrophic. The middle region of the study area, which was located between Safaga and Qusair displayed relatively high phosphate contents when compared with other coastal areas. The high values of N:P ratios indicate that PO 4 -P is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in the Red Sea coastal waters, with the possible exception of the middle region. Significant relationships were found between chlorophyll-a concentrations and nutrient levels in different sampling periods. Spatial distribution patterns of the studied variables revealed that productivity of the Red Sea coastal waters is mostly controlled by phosphate concentrations, salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen.     

FORMS OF NITROGEN (NO 3 - -N; NO 2 - -N AND NH 2 CONH 2 -N) AND THEIR RELATIONS TO A.O.U. IN THE INDIAN COASTAL WATERS OF ARABIAN SEA

The distribution of three important dissolved forms of nitrogen, viz. nitrate, nitrite and urea in the surface and bottom water samples collected from 27 selected hydrographic profiles, in the Arabian Sea, along the west coast of India is described. Of the three forms, nitrate concentrations were the highest and comparatively higher concentrations were observed in the bottom water. Decomposition of organic matter resulting in the release of the thermodynamically stable nitrogen species, i.e. nitrate, may be the major factor resulting in higher nitrate concentrations at these depths, where the water is also characterized by low values of dissolved oxygen and temperature. The significant positive correlation between A.O.U. and nitrate of the bottom water samples emphasizes the role of oxidative decomposition of organic matter which plays an active role in reducing the oxygen concentrations below the theoretical values since at this depth ( ≈200 m) the net production is taken to be zero. This is also evidenced by the negative correlation of nitrate with dissolved oxygen and temperature, for the bottom samples.     

黄海北部刺参繁殖的时间特点

1991～1992年5～9月份对自然海区的亲参性腺指数、性腺基部直径、个体产卵数量及刺参浮游幼体出现期、浮游期、附着期进行了观测和试验,研究黄海北部海域刺参繁殖的时间特点.结果刺参于7月中旬、表层水温为20℃时进入产卵期,至9月中旬结束;在产卵期内,雄性群体排精较早且集中;雌性群体中体重m>200g个体产卵较早;雌体一次排卵最大排卵量Nmax=450×104;刺参浮游幼体出现期为7～9月份,幼体数量高峰形成时间为8月初,刺参浮游幼体以耳状幼体最为常见,幼体附着期为7月下旬至9月上旬,附苗高峰期为8月上旬;刺参浮游幼体附着集中于中、上水层,以δ=3m水层最多.图6表3参4     

南黄海沉积物间隙水中重金属(Fe,Mn,Cu,Co,Ni)的地球化学特征

本文主要研究了南黄海(32°N)沉积物间隙水中的Fe,Mn,Cu,Co,Ni与其硫化物及粘土矿物间的关系,结果表明:间隙水中的Mn~(2+),Cu~(2+)硫化物趋向于沉淀,Co~(2+),Ni~(2+)硫化物趋向于溶解,Fe~(2+)则有其硫化物的溶解-沉淀控制,Mn~(2+),Cu~(2+)还有其他体系和硫化物体系共同控制其浓度,间隙水中的Fe~(2+)可被蒙脱石吸附,Mn~(2+)被绿泥石吸附,Ca~(2+),Ni~(2+)被蒙脱石、绿泥石吸附,Co~(2+)被绿泥石、蒙脱石吸附,Fe~(2+),Mn~(2+)对粘土矿物吸附剂的专属性要求远比Cu~(2+),Co~(2地+),Ni~(2+)高,蒙脱石是南黄海沉积物中最重要的阳离子吸附剂,绿泥石次之。     

两种龟类Sox基因的PCR扩增及SSCP分析的研究

采用ＰＣＲ技术,扩增了平胸龟、黄缘盒龟的Ｓｏｘ基因,扩增产物与人ｐＹ５３．３ＳＲＹ基因探针进行Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交,证实了扩增产物是人ＳＲＹ基因的同源片段;采用ＳＣＰ分析技术,显示龟类该基因片段的序列与人有较大差异,而龟类种间差异则较小,种内雌雄个体间则无差异．本文结果支持Ｓｏｘ基因在系统演化上十分保守的结论．