NOPR Collection:

Are aquatic life sustainable with current policies? Microbial pollution in swimming seasons: A 12-year retrospective study on the bathing waters of Sinop, Turkey

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Are aquatic life sustainable with current policies? Microbial pollution in swimming seasons: A 12-year retrospective study on the bathing waters of Sinop, Turkey Authors: Demir, Gülcan Abstract: The study aimed to examine the characteristics of the beaches of Sinop Province, monitor the faecal pollution trend in the years 2011 – 2022, examine its causes, comparison with studies conducted in Turkey, awareness of people regarding pollution in the seas, and the compatibility of the classification system of the Ministry of Health with the WHO. A total of 2503 samples collected from 29 beaches in Sinop Province during the years 2011 – 2022 were evaluated. Descriptive statistics like Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to summarize the data and concordance analyses was used to compare the groups. The highest microbial pollution in beach water was observed in 2020. When the source of pollution was examined for the cause, the most evident (40.0 %) was “pollution from wild animals”. When the microbial quality assessment of the World Health Organization for recreational waters and the assessment of the Ministry of Health were examined, it was found that there was a low-medium level of agreement. In some beaches of Sinop Province, certain indicators of bacteriological pollution have reached poor levels within twenty four day period from 2011 to 2022. In the follow-up of bathing waters, classification and measurements should be based on differences between provinces, prioritizing public health. Page(s): 227-241

Isozyme analysis and genetic variability among semiterrestrial crabs of the family Camptandriidae (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodoidea) from the coastal areas of Pakistan

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Isozyme analysis and genetic variability among semiterrestrial crabs of the family Camptandriidae (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodoidea) from the coastal areas of Pakistan Authors: Aziz, U; Saher, N U; Kamal, M Abstract: Genetic diversity within different Camptandriid species and their populations have been investigated using isozyme electrophoresis from the North Arabian coast of Pakistan. Patterns of a total of eight isozymes including Amylase, Carbonate anhydrates, Catalase, Creatine kinase, Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase, Octanol dehydrogenase, Peroxidase and a general protein were analyzed within three Camptandriid crab species (Manningis arabicum (DA Jones & Clayton, 1983), Opusia indica (Alcock, 1900) and Nasima dotilliformis (Alcock, 1900)) and their populations. The calculated mean number of alleles per locus was 1.26±0.1; the percentage of polymorphic loci per population ranged between 7.45 – 33.3 %; the observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.033 – 0.124; and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.032 – 0.14. Intraspecific studies showed that the coefficient of gene differentiation among populations was low (FST = 0.032), indicating that only 3.2 % of the total genetic diversity comes from inter-population differences; while the remaining 96.8 % comes from intra-population differences. The intraspecific genetic distance was calculated as 0.000 – 0.008 (average = 0.002), and the gene flow among the populations of O. indica and N. dotilliformis was calculated as 1.57 to 0.824, respectively. Interspecific Nei's genetic distance calculated using allele frequencies were 0.474 between N. dotilliformis and M. arabicum, 0.505 between N. dotilliformis and O. indica, and 0.658 between O. indica and M. arabicum which showed that O. indica and M. arabicum is genetically closer species. Page(s): 242-248

Successful restoration of smuggled corals in the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Successful restoration of smuggled corals in the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India Authors: Raj, K Diraviya; Raghuvaran, R; Arasamuthu, A; Mathews, G; Laju, R L; Emmett, J S; Kumar, T K Ashok; Edward, J K Patterson Abstract: On account of their critical importance, corals are protected in India under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Govt. of India. In spite of that, reports of coral smuggling arise from the Indian reef areas, sporadically. Corals being delicate animals, the restoration of corals seized from smugglers is difficult because of the delay involved in legal proceedings, transportation and the fragile nature of the corals. The present study reports the first successful effort in restoring seized live corals in the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India. Fifty fragments of seized corals belonging to nine genera have been successfully transplanted on perforated trapezoidal artificial reefs deployed around Vaan Island of the Gulf of Mannar with an average survival rate of 62 % after 22 months. The growth rate of these surviving transplants ranged between 1.28±0.12 and 8.56±0.11 cm year-1. The present attempt sets an example in the enforcement history of India, where sensitive marine organisms like corals can be saved after seizure if conservation authorities and researchers work together. However, proper network and coordination between these is critical to restore delicate marine organisms if seized alive. Page(s): 249-254

Preliminary report on the occurrence of lethal crustose (non-geniculate) coralline algae white band and white patch diseases in the coral reefs of Gulf of Kachchh, India

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Preliminary report on the occurrence of lethal crustose (non-geniculate) coralline algae white band and white patch diseases in the coral reefs of Gulf of Kachchh, India Authors: Bharath, M S; Chandran, R; Senthilkumaran, R; Ramkumaran, K; Thanappan, V P P; Chaudhury, N R; Palanisamy, M; Rajan, R; Satyanarayana, C Abstract: This is the first report on Crustose (non-geniculate) Coralline Algae (CCA) diseases in the Gulf of Kachchh, Western India. The observation of CCA diseases was conducted in the intertidal reefs of Narara coast during August to November 2021. Two CCA diseases were identified: CCA white band disease and CCA white patch disease. Five sites were selected along the Narara intertidal reef; each site covering 200 m² area with 5 belt transects. CCA colonies intercepted within the transects were identified based on their growth form, and lesions were counted and recorded. CCA were classified into six different growth forms: encrusting, fruticose, foliose, layered, lumpy, and warty. A total of 704 CCA colonies were encountered, of which 18±2.9 % (n = 127) were identified with white band disease and 6±1.9 % (n = 42) were identified with CCA white patch disease. The encrusting growth form was predominantly affected by both CCA white band and white patch disease. CCA white band disease causes tissue loss, typically resulting in the death of CCA, subsequently colonized by endophytic green algae; whereas algal colonization was absent in the white patches. CCA white band disease was observed with a high frequency of disease occurrence (FOC) at 80 %, and white patch disease at 44 %. The spatial distribution patterns of CCA white band disease (χ² = 30.03; p < 0.00001) and CCA white patch disease (χ² = 7.98; p < 0.005) significantly differed among the growth forms of coralline algae. Present account provides baseline information on CCA growth form density and CCA disease, which would be valuable for future investigations. Page(s): 255-260