Environmental and biochemical investigation of some effects of organic pollution in Inner Oslofjord, Norway

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Coordinated environmental monitoring and biochemical studies of the polychaete Glycera alba (Muller) have been applied to the assessment of the impact of inputs of organically rich waste material into Inner Oslofjord. Six sampling stations at intervals of 5 km on a transect extending from Lysakerfjord, 5 km from Oslo harbour, to Vollengropen, a few kilometres from the Drobak sill were used in the investigation. Samples of water, sediment and biological material were collected from these sampling stations on one occasion, in September 1980. On the basis of dissolved oxygen content of the water column near the sediment surface, carbon and nitrogen contents and redox potential (Eh) in the sediments, the greatest impact of organic enrichment was found at Lysakerfjord. Localised variations in sediment condition were, however, pronounced in the transect. Maximal activities of 4 enzymes associated with energy-yielding metabolism were estimated in 7 to 11 individual G. alba from each sampling station. Relatively low activities of the glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase in the group of G. alba from Lysakerfjord may constitute a biochemical response to the effects of organic enrichment in this area. In G. alba from the sampling station at Slemmestad, it is suggested that low phosphofructokinase and malate dehydrogenase activities may reflect a biochemical response to effects of prelominantly inorganic waste material from a nearby cement factory. In groups of G. alba from 5 sampling stations, i.e., excluding Slemmestad, mean phosphofructokinase activity is correlated with redox potential at 4 to 5 cm depth in the sediments. The results are discussed with reference to earlier biological studies and it is shown that low phosphofructokinase activities are found in the groups of G. alba from those areas where low diversity of macrobenthic fauna have been reported. It is concluded that the changes in phosphofructokinase activity may consistently reflect effects of environmental changes that are characteristically associated with inputs of waste material.