Organochlorine compounds (OC) were determined in Arctic bivalves (Mya truncata, Serripes groenlan-dicus, Hiatella arctica and Chlamys islandica) from Svalbard with regard to differences in geographic location, species and variations related to their size and age. Higher chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB 101-PCB 194), chlordanes and alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) were consistently detected in the bivalves and PCBs dominated the OC load in the organisms. OC concentrations were highest in Mya truncata and the lowest in Serripes groenlandicus. Species-specific OC levels were likely related to differences in the species' food source, as indicated by the d13C results, rather than size and age. Higher OC concentrations were observed in bivalves from Kongsfjorden compared to the northern sampling locations Liefdefjorden and Sjuoyane. The spatial differences might be related to different water masses influencing Kongsfjorden (Atlantic) and the northern locations (Arctic), with differing phytoplankton bloom situations.

Most calcifying organisms show depressed metabolic, growth and calcification rates as symptoms to high-CO(2) due to ocean acidification (OA) process. Analysis of the global expression pattern of proteins (proteome analysis) represents a powerful tool to examine these physiological symptoms at molecular level, but its applications are inadequate. To address this knowledge gap, 2-DE coupled with mass spectrophotometer was used to compare the global protein expression pattern of oyster larvae exposed to ambient and to high-CO(2). Exposure to OA resulted in marked reduction of global protein expression with a decrease or loss of 71 proteins (18% of the expressed proteins in control), indicating a wide-spread depression of metabolic genes expression in larvae reared under OA. This is, to our knowledge, the first proteome analysis that provides insights into the link between physiological suppression and protein down-regulation under OA in oyster larvae.

Aerial observations of light pollution can fill an important gap between ground based surveys and nighttime satellite data. Terrestrially bound surveys are labor intensive and are generally limited to a small spatial extent, and while existing satellite data cover the whole world, they are limited to coarse resolution. This paper describes the production of a high resolution (1 m) mosaic image of the city of Berlin, Germany at night. The dataset is spatially analyzed to identify themajor sources of light pollution in the city based on urban land use data. An area-independent 'brightness factor' is introduced that allows direct comparison of the light emission from differently sized land use classes, and the percentage area with values above average brightness is calculated for each class. Using this methodology, lighting associated with streets has been found to be the dominant source of zenith directed light pollution (31.6%), although other land use classes have much higher average brightness. These results are compared with other urban light pollution quantification studies. The minimum resolution required for an analysis of this type is found to be near 10 m. Future applications of high resolution datasets such as this one could include: studies of the efficacy of light pollution mitigation measures, improved light pollution simulations, economic and energy use, the relationship between artificial light and ecological parameters (e.g. circadian rhythm, fitness, mate selection, species distributions, migration barriers and seasonal behavior), or the management of nightscapes. To encourage further scientific inquiry, the mosaic data is freely available at Pangaea.

A selection of PCN congeners was analyzed in pooled blubber samples of pilot whale (Globicephala melas), ringed seal (Phoca hispida), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) and Atlantic whitesided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), covering a time period of more than 20 years (1986-2009). A large geographical area of the North Atlantic and Arctic areas was covered. PCN congeners 48, 52, 53, 66 and 69 were found in the blubber samples between 0.03 and 5.9 ng/g lw. Also PCBs were analyzed in minke whales and fin whales from Iceland and the total PCN content accounted for 0.2% or less of the total non-planar PCB content. No statistically significant trend in contaminant levels could be established for the studied areas. However, in all species except minke whales caught off Norway the lowest Sum PCN concentrations were found in samples from the latest sampling period.

La chlordécone, insecticide organochloré, était utilisée pour lutter contre le charançon du bananier (Cosmopolites sordidus) de 1971 à 1993. La chlordécone est peu mobile et se dégrade à une vitesse très lente, voire nulle dans les sols aérés. Sa persistance est donc longue, et la dépollution artificielle n'est pas opérationnelle actuellement. Cependant les sols restent fertiles même si ils constituent la principale réserve et source de pollution. Il faut donc gérer cette pollution. Cela implique des changements au sein des agrosystèmes, tant sur le choix des productions possibles que sur certaines pratiques agronomiques pour réduire les impacts sanitaires. Pour les espèces cultivées sur les parcelles polluées, certains organes sont très contaminés (tubercules), d'autres indemnes (fruits d'arbres, banane, ananas, tomate, etc.). Un outil de gestion est disponible pour les producteurs afin d'anticiper le choix des cultures et de réduire le risque d'exposition des consommateurs. Réciproquement, les systèmes de culture ont une incidence sur la dispersion de la molécule à l'échelle d'une parcelle et d'un bassin versant. La chlordécone contamine les ressources et les organismes aquatiques via les eaux de percolations issues des parcelles polluées. Cet article fait le point sur les principaux résultats disponibles et les projets en cours sur la gestion des agrosystèmes et les processus de transferts de la chlordécone vers l'environnement ainsi que leurs impacts sur les écosystèmes aquatiques. (Résumé d'auteur)

On the base of monitoring of water quality for aquaculture, performed since 2010, it is noticed that two positions are showing increased level of trophicity and bacteriological contamination. Changes in sanitary quality of farms are especially intensive during the summer months, so the results of basic physical, chamical and biological parameters, measured during periods June-September 2010 and 2011 are presented and compared.

Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, are recognized bioindicators used in investigation of genotoxic pollution in the areas under the impact of anthropogenic activities. In July and August 2011 specimens of M. galloprovincialis were collected from 5 sites of Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro. Level of DNA damage was measured in gills, haemolymph and digestive gland with alkaline comet assay. Significant increase in DNA damage was detected in tissues of mussels collected from polluted sites comparing with mussels collected from the clean reference site Dobrota. The highest response to pollution was found in gills and digestive gland cells.

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd and As) were measured in sea water and mussels at location in the Boka Kotor Bay which selected as result of increased anthropogenic impacts from land. Sampling was performed at three locations, Sv. Stasije, Herceg Novi and Žanjice in the fall 2006 and spring 2007. The majority of the microelements registered in higher concentrations in fall samples in 2006 than in spring samples 2007. The concentration of metals in the studied samples was present at different levels, and is beloved the maximum level allowed, except for yinc and lead in some locations.