Cu Concentrations In Water Research Articles

Plant Effectiveness of Acorus calamus, Pistia stratiotes, Azolla pinnata as Hyperaccumulator Candidate of Phytoremediation Agent for Copper (Cu) Absorption

Metals are harmful pollutants because they cannot be broken down by living organisms. An excess of metal can become toxic. The metal in question is copper (Cu). This research aimed to determine the phytoremediation effectiveness of Acorus calamus, Pistia stratiotes, and Azolla pinnata as candidates for Cu metal absorption. This investigation employed a wholly random factorial design with two factors: plant absorbent materials comprised of three plant species (Acorus calamus, Pistia stratiotes, and Azolla pinnata) and absorption concentrations of 2 and 5 ppm. The ANOVA test was used to analyze the data, followed by the average difference test. According to the results of this study, three plants—Acorus calamus, Pistia stratiotes, and Azolla pinnata—are capable of reducing Cu metal in water. The Acorus calamus plant can reduce Cu concentrations in water from 2 ppm to 96.85% and from 5 ppm to 96.80%. Pistia stratiotes plants can reduce Cu level in water from 2 ppm to 96.50% and 5 ppm to 99.94% at concentrations of 2 and 5 ppm, respectively. The Azolla pinnata plant can reduce Cu level in water from 2 ppm to 98.50% and from 5 ppm to 96.54% at concentrations of 2 ppm and 5 ppm, respectively. The highest BCF value at a concentration of 2 ppm is in the roots of Azolla pinnata plants, at 6.77 mg/kg, followed by the leaves, at 8.88 mg/kg. The maximum BCF value at a concentration of 5 ppm for Pistia stratiotes plants is 2.26 mg/kg for the roots and 2.46 mg/kg for the foliage. The greatest concentration of TF at 2 ppm in Azolla pinnata is 1.31 mg/kg, while the maximum concentration at 5 ppm in Acorus calamus is 1.98 mg/kg

Copper concentration data for water, sediments, and vegetation of urban stormwater ponds treated with copper sulfate algaecide.

We characterized copper (Cu) concentrations in the water, sediments, and shoreline plants of stormwater ponds in the urban Tampa, Florida area. We selected 6 urban residential stormwater ponds that receive summer wet season (May to September) Cu sulfate applications at least twice a month. We collected triplicate water and sediment samples from each pond and analyzed for Cu, as well as nutrient pools (inorganic N and P) and a suite of other physicochemical properties (e.g., water temperature, pH, conductivity, alkalinity, etc.). We analyzed shoreline plant tissue samples for Cu. The raw dataset provides values for Cu concentrations in water, sediments and plant tissue, and other measured parameters in water and sediments.This dataset is important for characterizing the fate and potential mobility of Cu in freshwater ponds treated with Cu sulfate algaecides. This applied research data will provide baseline understanding of Cu concentrations in water, sediments, and select plant tissue samples, providing insights on potential toxicity of Cu and any threats that Cu sulfate algaecides may pose to aquatic organisms and downstream waters. This dataset can also inform future research designs aimed at elucidating the effects of Cu on denitrifying bacteria and N removal in stormwater pond ecosystems. Finally, the plant tissue data shows variable Cu concentrations among plant species, and this data can inform future phytoremediation experiments.

Impact of Abandoned Mining Facility Wastes on the Aquatic Ecosystem of the Mogpog River, Marinduque, Philippines.

Background.Mine waste from abandoned mining sites can cause environmental degradation and ecological imbalance to receiving water bodies. Heavy metal pollution affects local communities and may pose health risks to the general public. An abandoned mining facility in Marinduque, Philippines, situated on the of Mogpog River, continuously deposits mine wastes, which may affect the river and the health of local communities.Objectives.The aim of the present study was to examine the presence and extent of heavy metal contamination from mine wastes in the aquatic ecosystem of the Mogpog River by determining the level of heavy metal concentration in the water, sediments and biota.Methods.Four sampling sites were monitored for heavy metals (copper (Cu), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and sulfur (S)) pollution. Several analyses were conducted to determine the heavy metals present in the water, sediment and biota. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for the analysis of Cu concentrations in water. X-ray fluorescence was used for the analysis of total heavy metals in the sediments and biota.Results.An inverse relationship with water and sediment from upstream to downstream of the river were observed. This trend shows deposition of Cu in the sediments as factored by pH. Flora gathered from the riverbanks recorded concentrations of Cu in their leaves and fruits.Conclusions.It has been difficult for the Mogpog River to regain water quality after years of mine waste deposition. Acid mine drainage occurred upstream of the river which affects the speciation of heavy metals. The potential risk of heavy metal exposure to local communities was observed due to the communities' river utilization.Participant Consent.ObtainedEthics Approval.The Office of Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension of University of the Philippines Los Baños approved the studyCompeting Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Concentration of copper (Cu) in tinfoil barb fish (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) of Kuantan River and Pinang River, Pahang, Malaysia

The study was conducted to determine of copper (Cu) in muscle tissue of Tinfoil Barn Fish (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) and surface water at Kuantan River and Pinang River, Pahang. The study also determine the water quality parameters and water quality index (WQI). The fish was caught by using gill net and the were digest using acid digestion method and analysed by Inductive Coupled Plasma Micro Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The mean concentration of Cu in fish muscle was 0.5070 ± 0.01748 mg/kg for Kuantan River and 0.4732 ± 0.01807mg/kg for Pinang River which below the permissible limit set by Malaysia Food Act (MFA) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Cu concentration were 0.0052 ± 0.0004390 mg/kg in Kuantan River and 0.0017 ± 0.00006669 mg/kg in Pinang River. The level of Cu in both rivers were not harmful to the fish as the concentrations are below the permissible limit set by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and National Water Quality Standard (NWQS). There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the concentration of muscle tissue for Cu between rivers. In contrast, there showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the concentration of Cu in water between rivers. Kuantan River and Pinang River have been classified in Class II according to the Department of Environment (DOE) that the water must require conventional treatment for water supply purpose.

Assessing effects of dissolved organic carbon and water hardness on metal toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)

We evaluated the ability of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) to assess the effects of water hardness and dissolved organic carbon (DOC consisting of humic acids) on Cu and Zn toxicity (i.e., 48 h LC50s) to Ceriodaphnia dubia. When DOC was high, Cu concentrations measured by DGT (DGT Cu) were significantly lower than Cu concentrations in water (dissolved Cu), and DGT LC50s were significantly lower than LC50s based on dissolved concentrations. When DOC was low, differences between dissolved Cu and DGT Cu were small, as were differences between dissolved LC50s and DGT LC50s. Differences between DGT and dissolved measurements of Zn were small compared with the differences observed for Cu, and DGT Zn LC50s were relatively similar to dissolved Zn LC50s. Humic acids formed strong organic-Cu complexes that were both inaccessible for biological uptake and excluded by DGT, which selected for free or weakly bound Cu. In contrast, Zn did not form strong complexes with DOC that greatly affected either toxicity or the measurement of Zn by DGT. The effects of hardness on DGT measurements of Cu and Zn were smaller and more complex than the effects of DOC. Large, statistically significant differences between DGT measurements of Cu in low and high DOC water accurately reflected the strong effects of DOC on Cu toxicity. However, the effects of DOC were inconsistent for Zn, and DGT provided less information about the toxic fraction of this metal.

Bone copper content in sheep in relation to their drinking water source

The aim was to estimate the Cu content in the bones of grazing sheep and relate it to their drinking water. Cu was analyzed by taking bone biopsies. Samples from the twelfth rib were taken in 107 animals and water samples were collected from forty wells in the same farms located in four agroecological areas in Yucatan state, Mexico. Cu was analyzed by atomic absorption. Data were analyzed using the least squares method. Cu content in bone tissue was: weaned 0.66 a ; Females prior to rst gestation 0.57 b and ewes 0.64 a mg/kg -1 . Normal content in bone is 2-3 mg/kg -1 , indicating a de ciency in the animals. Cu in water was 0.15 ab , 0.12 b , 0.16 ab and 0.19 a mg/L -1 in the center, east, west and south part of the State respectively. Cu concentration in water for animal consumption was low. In conclusion, Cu de ciency was diagnosed in grazing sheep that could be associated with the low Cu content in the drinking water.

Effects of ecological restoration on speciation and release of copper in lake sediments

The conclusion about the effect of macrophytes rhizosphere and mollusks bioturbation on morphology and mobility of heavy metals in the sediments is not entirely consistent. It is necessary to study further on influence mechanism of macrophytes growth and macrobenthos bioturbation on speciation and release of heavy metals in natural water body. This study intends to explore the influence mechanism of Bellamya aeruginosa (Bel) bioturbation and Pontederia cordata (Pon) growth on the speciation and release kinetics of Cu in sediment through construction of an aquatic organism-water-sediment system by indoor potted experiment. The results show that the particulate Cu in water of the control group and Pon treatment always maintain in lower level and the particulate Cu concentration in water of Bel treatment and Pon+Bel treatment appeared to a certain level of fluctuations at latter period. There was a significant positive correlation between the content of particulate Cu in water and the water turbidity. Bellamya aeruginosa bioturbation has not significantly affected the different speciation of heavy metals in surface sediments and the concentration of reducible Cu and Zn in the rhizosphere sediment was significantly lower than that in the control group.

How do copper contamination pulses shape the regime shifts of phytoplankton-zooplankton dynamics?

The presence of pollutants in waters, particularly from heavy metals, is of grave concern worldwide due to its cytotoxicity to organisms. Fish and aquatic organisms are very sensitive to the increasing Cu concentrations in water. Therefore, Cu toxicity partly depends on water quality.To address the effects of impulsive copper contamination of the phytoplankton-zooplankton population dynamics, we’ve built a model that focuses on the interaction between algae and Daphnia with deterministic and stochastic impulse copper.In fact the Results have shown three types of outcomes depending on copper concentration. In low (4.4μgL−1) copper concentration, deterministic and stochastic pulses may promote the persistence of Daphnia and algae populations unlike the absence of pulses. Whereas, in high (28μgL−1) concentration, it accelerates deficiency and toxicity processes, leads to the extinction of all populations and in intermediate concentrations. Deterministic and stochastic pulses may transform population dynamics in complex oscillations.Numerical results show that the system that has been considered has more complex dynamics including bifurcation, period-doubling oscillations and chaos. Depending on minimum copper concentration in the environment, the bifurcation diagram has highlighted the resilience or the regime shifts of the system in occurrence of pulse contamination.

KONSENTRASI LOGAM BERAT Pb, Cu dan Zn PADA AIR DAN SEDIMEN PERMUKAAN EKOSISTEM MANGROVE DI MUARA SUNGAI PORONG, SIDOARJO, JAWA TIMUR

Porong River Estuary is potentially assumed to be contaminated of heavy metals Pb, Cu and Zn from anthropogenic and industrial activities in Sidoarjo, East Java. This study aimed to analyze the difference of heavy metal contaminations (Pb, Cu and Zn) in water and sediment of mangrove ecosystem located in Porong River Estuaries in September 2014. The location of sampling was selected by purposive sampling method considering the river parts: (1) upstream, (2) downstream and (3) open sea. Analysis of heavy metal contaminations (Pb, Cu and Zn) were performed by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The average concentration of Pb, Cu and Zn in water were <0.0044, 0.0226 dan 0.3555 mg/kg, respectively. While those of Pb, Cu and Zn in sediments were 0.0648, 0.3543 and 0.5653 mg/kg, respectively. It showed significance different of Pb and Cu concentration in water and sediments. On the other hand, there was no difference of Zn concentration between those medium.

An assessment of the effects of hospital wastes released to Nilwala river, Matara

Wastewater from hospitals either treated or partially treated can alter water quality and biological diversity in adjacent water. This study focused to assess effects of hospital wastes discharged from the General Hospital Matara to the Nilwala River. Two sampling sites were located upstream of the entrance of wastewater while two sites were located downstream of the entrance of wastewater discharge and one site was selected at the entrance of the wastewater channel. Water, sediment and plankton samples were collected biweekly during February to April, 2012. Nitrate, phosphate, pH and Cu concentrations in water sampled from the hospital wastewater discharging canal were significantly (One-way ANOVA, p&lt;0.05) different from the other sampling sites. However, Cu concentration in surface water did not exceed the EU limits of 0.0005-0.112mg/l for fisheries and aquatic life and similarly water pH did not exceed the maximum allowable limit (6-8.5) for fisheries and aquatic life in Sri Lanka. Mean concentration of Cu in sediment collected at the entrance of the wastewater channel was 0.75±0.05 mg/g dw. Although total coliform concentration (MPN/100ml) did not vary significantly among the sampling sites, it was relatively low (39.66±17.7) at the waste discharging canal due to the presence of disinfectants in hospital wastewater. Pediastrum simplex was the most abundant phytoplankton species at all the five sampling sites. Cladocera was the most abundant group of zooplankton in all the sites except at the entrance of wastewater discharging canal and Protozoa was the most abundant group present at the wastewater discharging canal. According to rotated matrix of Principle Component Analysis (PCA) water pH, PO4−3, NO3−, TDS, Salinity and Zooplankton abundance can be considered as important parameters at the study site of wastewater entrance (site 3). The toxicity (72h EC50) of hospital wastes on Pediastrum simplex was 0.08 Toxic Units (TU) and it was not an acute toxic effect on the alga when compared with hazard classification systems for wastes discharge into the aquatic environment. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jur.v2i1-2.7852 J. Univ. Ruhuna 2014 2:33-39

Copper removal from water using a bio-rack system either unplanted or planted with Phragmites australis, Juncus articulatus and Phalaris arundinacea

A bio-rack system was developed for treating Cu-contaminated freshwaters. Each pilot constructed wetland (CW, 110dm3) contained 15 perforated vertical pipes filled with a mixture of gravel (diorite; 80%) and perlite (20%) and assembled as a rack. The whole experimental device consisted of 12 CW planted either with Phragmites australis, Phalaris arundinacea or Juncus articulatus, and unplanted as control (in triplicates). All plants were sampled at a Cu-contaminated site. The CWs were filled with a mix of freshwater (30%) from the Jalle d’Eysines River (Bordeaux, France) and tap water (70%). Water was spiked with Cu (2.5μM, 158.5μgL−1). Three CW batches were carried out, i.e. in early spring (March, S#1), beginning of the growing season (May, S#2), and peak growing season (June, S#3). The S#3 water was initially acidified to pH 6. For all batches, water was recirculated in the CW during 14 days. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential, BOD5 and Cu2+ concentrations) were measured every three days. Water pH of both S#1 and #2 ranged between 7.8 and 8.5 for all treatments during the experiment. Initial and final total Cu concentrations were analysed for all CWs and batches. Relative Treatment Efficiency Index (RTEI) indicated the plant effect compared to the unplanted CW. Free Cu2+ removal was <10% for all S#1 treatments (RTEI ranged between 0 and −1) whereas it increased to 77% (RTEI=0.1) in S#2 for P. arundinacea. In acidic conditions (S#3), Cu2+ removal was 99% for all treatments (RTEI=0). For S#1 and S#2, highest total Cu removal occurred in CW planted with P. arundinacea (respectively 52% and 68%, RTEI=0.1 and 0.2). For S#3, total Cu removal peaked up to 90% in the unplanted CW. The RTEI values suggested no beneficial effect of macrophytes on Cu removal at short term. Conversely, the CW planted with J. articulatus generally displayed a lower efficiency. The lowest value for total Cu concentration in water after the 14-day period was 13μgL−1 in S#3 unplanted and planted with P. arundinacea. The role of the biofilm as a key-player of Cu removal in such bio-racks is discussed.

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Approach for Predicting Cu Concentration in Drinking Water of Chahnimeh1 Reservoir in Sistan-Balochistan, Iran

Background: Access to safe drinking water is one of the basic human rights and essential for healthy life. Concerns about the effects of copper on human health have led to numerous guidelines and regulations limiting its concentrations in water. Objectives: The major goal of this study is to demonstrate artificial neural network model of the Chahnimeh1 reservoir water quality (Heavy metal concentration) and show the potential of the ANN for producing models capable of efficient forecasting of Cu concentration. Materials and Methods: Water samples were collected from Chahnimeh1 reservoir which was the most important source of drinking water in Sistan-balochistan and analyzed for physical quality parameters such as: EC (electric conductivity), TDS(total dissolved solids), T(temperature), pH and heavy metal (Cu) concentration using standard methods. In this study, a three-layer artificial neural network (ANN) model was investigated to predict the Cu concentration in the water of Chahnimeh1 reservoir. The input variables are electric conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature and pH, while the Cu concentration in water is the output. We applied The Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm to train ANN. Results: According to the ANN outputs, hidden layer with 7 neurons had the best performance for predicting Cu concentration. Evaluation indexes including MSE and R in this article were obtained as 0.00008 and 0.9346; 0.00019 and 0.8612; 0.00014 and 0.9372 for training, validation and testing date sets respectively. Conclusions: As we can see the ANN outputs values are very close to actual Cu concentration, so indicating that predicted values are accurate and the network design is proper and the input variables well suitable for the prediction of Cu concentration.

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Approach for Predicting Cu Concentration in Drinking Water of Chahnimeh1 Reservoir in Sistan-Balochistan, Iran

Background: Access to safe drinking water is one of the basic human rights and essential for healthy life. Concerns about the effects of copper on human health have led to numerous guidelines and regulations limiting its concentrations in water. Objectives: The major goal of this study is to demonstrate artificial neural network model of the Chahnimeh1 reservoir water quality (Heavy metal concentration) and show the potential of the ANN for producing models capable of efficient forecasting of Cu concentration. Materials and Methods: Water samples were collected from Chahnimeh1 reservoir which was the most important source of drinking water in Sistan-balochistan and analyzed for physical quality parameters such as: EC (electric conductivity), TDS(total dissolved solids), T(temperature), pH and heavy metal (Cu) concentration using standard methods. In this study, a three-layer artificial neural network (ANN) model was investigated to predict the Cu concentration in the water of Chahnimeh1 reservoir. The input variables are electric conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature and pH, while the Cu concentration in water is the output. We applied The Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm to train ANN. Results: According to the ANN outputs, hidden layer with 7 neurons had the best performance for predicting Cu concentration. Evaluation indexes including MSE and R in this article were obtained as 0.00008 and 0.9346; 0.00019 and 0.8612; 0.00014 and 0.9372 for training, validation and testing date sets respectively. Conclusions: As we can see the ANN outputs values are very close to actual Cu concentration, so indicating that predicted values are accurate and the network design is proper and the input variables well suitable for the prediction of Cu concentration.

Biomarkers responses in muscle of Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) from a heavy metals and PAHs polluted estuary

The biochemical responses in muscle, such as the enzymatic activities of acetylcholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase, were studied in sole (Solea senegalensis) collected in Huelva estuary (SW Spain), in the vicinity of a petrochemical and mining industry. The sampling sites showed different type and degree of pollution. The results demonstrated significant differences in muscle activities of AChE and IDH in Odiel and Tinto Rivers compared to control fish. LDH activity did not show any difference between sampling sites. Significant correlations were established between some biomarkers and heavy metals: AChE was correlated with Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations in water; IDH activity was correlated with Cd and Cu concentrations in water and As, Pb and Cd concentrations in sediments; LDH activity was correlated with As and Zn concentration in water and Cd concentration in sediment. Only one correlation was established between the biomarkers analysed and the concentrations of PAHs: benzo(b)fluoranthene concentration in sediment and IDH.

Evaluation of bias, precision, and systematic errors in proficiency testing of Cl− and Cu concentration in water

The proficiency testing exercise was conducted to assess the quality of water testing in several laboratories in India. The 11 participants from all over India gathered at one place and attended the workshop organized at NEERI, Nagpur. The test samples were analyzed for Cl− (Chloride) and Cu (Copper) concentration in water. The objective of the study was to determine bias and precision among participants for the analysis of Cl− and Cu concentration. Statistical analysis indicated that most of the measurement results were overestimating the Cl− concentration and underestimating the Cu concentration. The presence of systematic error identified the need for further improvement in determining the Cu concentration in water by the participants.

Assessing the effects of Cu, Cd, and exposure period on metallothionein production in gills of the Brazilian brown mussel Perna perna by using factorial design

Factorial design plan was experimented in Perna perna in order to find out the contribution of day exposure, Cd and Cu concentrations in water, and their interactions on metallothioneins (MT), Cd, and Cu (the dependent measured variables) in the gills. The picture obtained is more adequate than by studying the factor effect separately. Compared with the control group, the MT concentration after 22days exposure period in the mixture of 100μg/mL Cu and Cd is increased almost two times, showing that P. perna might be used as a biomonitor. Cd showed stronger effect than Cu on MT inducing.

Heavy metal concentrations in water and bivalved mollusks in different channel reaches of the Southern Bug River

Variations in Cd, Cr, Cu, and Fe concentrations in water and the soft tissues of bivalved mollusks Anodonta anatina and Unio tumidus along the Southern Bug River channel are examined. Fe concentration was found to be somewhat higher than the MAC. Cd, Cr, and Cu concentrations in water met the drinking water standards. The comparison of individual reaches of the channel in terms of heavy metal concentrations in mollusks allowed polluted river reaches to be identified. The highest Fe concentrations in the soft tissues of mollusks were recorded near the river source. The mollusks in the middle and lower reaches of the Southern Bug featured high accumulation of Cd, Cr, and Cu.

Inducibility of metallothionein biosynthesis in the whole soft tissue of zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha exposed to cadmium, copper, and pentachlorophenol

Freshwater mussels Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) were exposed to the elevated concentrations of Cd (10, 50, 100, and 500 microg/L), Cu (10, 30, 50, and 80 microg/L), and an organochlorinated pesticide, pentachlorophenol (PCP) (1, 10, and 100 microg/L). Induced synthesis of biomarker metallothionein (MT) and changes in concentrations of cytosolic Cd, Cu, and Zn in the whole soft tissue of mussels were monitored after a 7-day laboratory exposure to the contaminants. A clear dose-dependent elevation in the MT concentration was observed after exposure to Cd at doses of 10-100 microg/L, and this increase of MT content was accompanied with a linear increase of cytosolic Cd. Cd concentration of 500 microg/L caused no additional increase of MT and Cd in mussel cytosol, suggesting possible toxic effects due to exceeding cellular inducible/defense capacity. Cu exposure resulted with variable changes in MT concentrations, with no clear linear relationship between MT and Cu concentrations in water, although a progressive dose-dependent accumulation of Cu in the soluble fraction of mussel tissues was recorded. A decrease of cytosolic Zn was evident at higher exposure concentrations of both metals used. PCP in concentrations applied was unable to induce MT synthesis, but the higher concentrations of PCP influenced the cytosolic metal concentrations. In conclusion, the results obtained confirm the specificity of MT induction in D. polymorpha as an biological response on metal stimulation, especially by cadmium, being more closely correlated to MT than copper within the ecologically relevant concentration range. The strong induction potential of cadmium as well as an absence of MT induction following exposure to PCP as an organic chemical contaminant are supporting evidences for usage of zebra mussel MT as a specific biomarker of Cd exposure in biomonitoring programs.

Acute Cu toxicity, metal bioaccumulation and ion loss in the Neotropical cyprinodontiform Jenynsia multidentata

The acute toxicity of Cu, metal bioaccumulation and ion loss in the cyprinodontiform Jenynsia multidentata , a highly eurihaline Neotropical freshwater fish of wide distribution in the Rio de la Plata basin, was established during a 96 h static exposure. The median lethal concentration at 96 h was 229 µg Cu l -1 . The effect of CuSO 4 5H 2 O was tested in natural freshwater in two-liter Pyrex glass chambers at controlled temperature, with natural light and artificial aeration. During the first hours of exposure to concentrations above 130 µg Cu l -1 , an increase in aquatic surface respiration, air gulping and erratic swimming were observed, showing evidence of the affection of the respiratory system. The concentration of Cu, Na and K in the whole body burden at the end of each experiment showed by correlation analysis Cu bioaccumulation and loss of Na + and K + . The concentration of Cu in water was positively correlated with its bioaccumulation (r=0.79, p=0.06), and negatively correlated with the whole body burden of K + (r=-0.84, p=0.037). K + loss was positively correlated with Na + loss (r=0.88, p=0.02). Cu LC50 for this cyprinodontiform seems rather low when compared to fishes often utilized in toxicity tests

Coral disease distribution at Ras Mohammed and the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract. Ammar MSA, Ashour F, Abdelazim H. 2013. Coral disease distribution at Ras Mohammed and the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt. Nusantara Bioscience 5: 35-43. Six sites along the Gulf of Aqaba and Ras Mohammed, Red Sea, Egypt were studied for coral disease distribution relative to environmental stress. These sites are (i) South Taba, (ii) South Nuweiba, (iii) Canyon, (iv) Eel Garden (at Dahab), (v) Shark Observatory and (vi) Yolanda. Number of coral diseases ranges from 6 diseases at site 4 (Eeel Garden) to 12 diseases at site 3 (Canyon). The site having the lowest number of coral diseases (site 4) is characterized by the highest percentage cover of coral diseases (24%). The coral disease atramentous necrosis attained the highest percentage cover in all sites (5, 5, 6, 6, 2 and 3%) in sites 1-6 respectively. A total of 16 diseases were reported being distributed in the following order in sites 1-6: 9, 9, 12, 6, 8 and 7 respectively. The coral disease atramentous necrosis is the most widely distributed one being found in all 6 sites followed by dark spots disease and ulcerative white spots being reported in 5 sites. The disease that is least distributed is the white tips being reported in site 5 only. The most commonly distributed disease (atramentous necrosis) infected six corals in site 1, two corals in site 2, nine corals in site 3, two corals in site 4, five corals in site 5 and five corals in site 6. However, the least commonly distributed disease (white tips) infected only two corals (Acropora humilis and Millepora dichotoma). Site 1, having Cyphastrea serailia being infected with highest number of diseases is characterized by the maximum metal concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni in water and highest metal concentrations for Cu, Zn and Pb in sediments. Site 2, having M. dichotoma being infected with the highest number of diseases, is characterized by the highest Cu concentration in water. Site 4, having fewer number of coral diseases and highest percentage disease cover attained the highest levels of Cd and Ni in sediments.