A phenanthrene-degrading bacterial consortium (ASP) was developed using sediment from the Alang–Sosiya shipbreaking yard at Gujarat, India. 16S rRNA gene-based molecular analyses revealed that the bacterial consortium consisted of six bacterial strains: Bacillus sp. ASP1, Pseudomonas sp. ASP2, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain ASP3, Staphylococcus sp. ASP4, Geobacillus sp. ASP5 and Alcaligenes sp. ASP6. The consortium was able to degrade 300ppm of phenanthrene and 1000ppm of naphthalene within 120h and 48h, respectively. Tween 80 showed a positive effect on phenanthrene degradation. The consortium was able to consume maximum phenanthrene at the rate of 46mg/h/l and degrade phenanthrene in the presence of other petroleum hydrocarbons. A microcosm study was conducted to test the consortium’s bioremediation potential. Phenanthrene degradation increased from 61% to 94% in sediment bioaugmented with the consortium. Simultaneously, bacterial counts and dehydrogenase activities also increased in the bioaugmented sediment. These results suggest that microbial consortium bioaugmentation may be a promising technology for bioremediation.

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is known to be caused by the ciguatoxins from the dinoflagellate genus Gambierdiscus, however, there is the potential for other toxins such as okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins from the genus Prorocentrum, and palytoxin from the genus Ostreopsis, to contaminate seafood. These genera may also be indicators of ecosystem health and potentially impact on coral reef ecosystems and the role they may play in the succession of coral to macroalgae dominated reefs has not been researched. Sixteen GBR field sites spanning inshore, mid-lagoon and outer lagoon (offshore) regions were studied. Samples were collected from September 2006 to December 2007 and abundance of benthic dinoflagellates on different host macroalgae and concentration of nutrients present in the water column were determined. The maximum abundance of Prorocentrum, Ostreopsis and Gambierdiscus found was 112, 793 and 50 cells per gram wet weight of host macroalgae, respectively. The average level of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) in the water column across all sites (0.03mg/L) was found to be more than double the threshold critical value (0.013mg/L) for healthy coral reefs. Compared to a previous study 1984, there is evidence of a major shift in the distribution and abundance of these dinoflagellates. Inshore reefs have either of Prorocentrum (as at Green Island) or Ostreopsis (as at Magnetic Island) dominating the macroalgal surface niche which was once dominated by Gambierdiscus, whilst at offshore regions Gambierdiscus is still dominant. This succession may be linked to the ongoing eutrophication of the GBR lagoon and have consequences for the sources of toxins for ongoing cases of ciguatera.

This study aims to determine the concentrations of total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in beach water, Teluk Kemang beach. This study was also aimed to determine relationship between total coliforms, E. coli and physicochemical parameters. As perceived health symptoms among beach visitors are rarely incorporated in beach water studies, this element was also assessed in this study. A total of eight water sampling points were selected randomly along Teluk Kemang beach. Total coliforms concentrations were found between 20 and 1940cfu/100ml. E. coli concentrations were between 0 and 90cfu/100ml. Significant correlations were found between total coliforms and E. coli with pH, temperature and oxidation reduction potential. Skin and eyes symptoms were the highest reported though in small numbers. Microbiological water quality in Teluk Kemang public beach was generally safe for recreational activities except sampling location near with sewage outfall.

Coastal areas of South China face great challenges due to heavy metal contamination caused by rapid urbanization and industrialization. In this paper, more than 90 articles on levels, distributions, and sources of heavy metals in sediments and organisms were collected to review the status of heavy metal pollution along coastal regions of South China. The results show that heavy metal levels were closely associated with local economic development. Hong Kong and the Pearl River Estuary were severely contaminated by heavy metals. However, concentrations of heavy metals in sediments from Hong Kong have continually decreased since the early 1990s. High levels of heavy metals were found in biota from Lingdingyang in Guangdong province. Mollusks had higher concentrations of heavy metals than other species. Human health risk assessments suggested that levels of heavy metals in some seafood from coastal areas of South China exceeded the safety limit.

The present study investigated nitrogen process in rhizosphere of Kandelia obovata under nitrogen input. Results showed that nitrogen additions significantly increased 4 kinds of enzyme activities (Urease, Nitrate reductase, Nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine reductase). The pH value increased to 7.1 under ammonium addition, but decreased to 6.9 under nitrate addition. Potential Nitrification Intensity (PNI) increased 200–1500% compared with control under ammonium addition, and Potential Denitrification Intensity (PDI) increased more than 200% under nitrate addition. Ten types of organic acids were detected from root exudates, which mainly included oxalic acid, tartaric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, and citric acid. The abundance of 5 kinds of microbial functional groups (nifH, AOA, AOB, nirS, nirK) responded differently. Total nitrogen in organs of K. obovata increased more than 200%. This indicated that nitrogen additions accelerated the transformation of nitrogen directly and stimulated the exudation of root exudates and 5 kinds of genes indirectly.

Monitoring ecological variables is mandatory to detect abnormal changes in ecosystems. When the studied variables exceed predefined alert thresholds, management actions may be required. In the past, alert thresholds have been typically defined by expert judgments and descriptive statistics. Recently, approaches based on statistical power were also used. In New Caledonia, seagrass monitoring is a priority given their vulnerability to natural and anthropic disturbances. To define a suitable monitoring strategy and alert thresholds, we compared a Percentile Based Approach (PBA) and a sensitivity analysis of power (SAP). Both methods defined statistically relevant alert thresholds, but the SAP approach was more robust to spatial and temporal variability of seagrass cover. Moreover, this method characterized the sensitivity of threshold values to sampling efforts, a useful knowledge for managers.

We investigated the effects of river floods on the macrobenthic community of the intertidal flat in the Ohta River Estuary, Japan, from 2005 to 2010. Sediment erosion by flood events ranged from about 2–3cm to 12cm, and the salinity dropped to 0‰ even during low-intensity flood events. Cluster analysis of the macrobenthic population showed that the community structure was controlled by the physical disturbance, decreased salinity, or both. The opportunistic polychaete Capitella sp. was the most dominant species in all clusters, and populations of the long-lived polychaete Ceratonereis erythraeensis increased in years with stable flow and almost disappeared in years with intense flooding. The bivalve Musculista senhousia was also an important opportunistic species that formed mats in summer of the stable years and influenced the structure of the macrobenthic community. Our results demonstrate the substantial effects of flood events on the macrobenthic community structure.

The sources, distribution and risk of 51 organic micropollutants (OMPs) in the Cantabrian coastal environment (NW Spain) were evaluated. Gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorinated pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, phthalates esters, bisphenol A and alkylphenols. 45 OMPs were detected in coastal/estuarine waters. Wastewater treatment plant effluents and emissary discharges were identified as the main sources of contamination. The accumulation of OMPs in sediments and the bioaccumulation in 21days caged mussels were also assessed. Chemical results were combined with the “Combined Monitoring-based and Modeling-based Priority Setting Scheme” COMMPS procedure for risk assessment analysis. Finally, the chemical status of the different sampling locations was estimated using site risk indexes. Those indexes can be conveniently displayed in quality geographical maps and are considered a valuable tool for the environmental management and risk assessment of the region under study.

Based on raw kapok fiber, two kinds of oil absorbers with high sorption capacity were prepared by a facile solution–immersion process. The coated polymer with low surface energy and rough fiber surface play important role in the retention of oil. The as-prepared fiber can quickly absorb gasoline, diesel, soybean oil, and paraffin oil up to above 74.5%, 66.8%, 64.4% and 47.8% of oil sorption capacity of raw fiber, respectively. The absorbed oils can be easily recovered by a simple vacuum filtration and the recovered coated-fiber still can be used for several cycles without obvious loss in oil sorption capacity. The thermodynamic study indicates that the adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic, with complex physisorption and chemisorption. The results suggest that the coated fiber can be used as a low-cost alternative for the removal of oil spilled on water surface.

Heavy metal (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentrations in surface sediments from the Changhua River Estuary and adjacent shelf, western Hainan Island, were conducted to evaluate the level of contamination. Numerical Sediment Quality Guidelines (TEL and PEL) were applied to assess adverse biological effects of these metals, suggesting that occasional biological effect may occur due to As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb. Enrichment factors shown that the significant As and Pb contaminations in the study area. Multivariate analysis indicated that the sources of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni and Zn resulted primarily from natural weathering processes, whereas As and Pb were mainly attributed to anthropogenic sources. The results of this study would provide a useful aid for sustainable marine management in the region.