Food Chain In Ecosystems Research Articles

Species‐specific effects of leaf litter leachate on the aquatic microbial community and the ratio of heterotrophic to autotrophic biomass

Abstract Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released from submerged leaf litter is an important allochthonous carbon source for heterotrophic bacteria that enhances the detrital food chain in freshwater ecosystems. In contrast, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and micronutrients released during the leaching process support primary production and enhance the grazing food chain in these ecosystems. This study investigated how DOC and dissolved N and P from the leaf litter of two temperate broadleaf and two coniferous tree species affect heterotrophic and autotrophic biomass by incubating the freshwater microbial community in the culture media prepared from the leaf litter leachate. The results showed that heterotrophic biomass, including bacteria, heterotrophic‐flagellated protists and fungal zoospores, was the highest in the leaf litter leachate, which contained the highest DOC concentration relative to dissolved N and P (Japanese hemlock). In contrast, autotrophic biomass, including small algae, autotrophic flagellated protists and cyanobacteria, was associated with concentrations of dissolved N and P in the leaf litter leachates. Amendment of basal nutrients other than N and P, including micronutrients, trace elements and vitamins, increased autotrophic biomass in two leaf litter leachates (oak, Siebold's beech), suggesting that some elements other than N and P were deficient relative to the requirements of autotrophic organisms. These results indicated that the elemental composition of leaf litter leachates influences microbial community structure and heterotrophic versus autotrophic biomass in freshwater ecosystems. More importantly, the present results suggest that changes in forest vegetation surrounding freshwater ecosystems alter detritus‐based heterotrophic production relative to autotrophic production through the changes in the elemental composition (i.e. stoichiometry) of leaf litter inputs.

Flipbook food chain in an ecosystem to improve learning outcomes in elementary school

The lack of ability of teachers to develop technology-based learning media and low interaction with learning tasks negatively affect students' learning outcomes. The study aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a web-based Fiborampae (Flip Book Food Chain in Ecosystems) course on IPAS material. The research method used is the RnD model Borg and Gall which consists of several stages, namely: potential and problems; data collection; product design; design validation; design revision; product trials; product revision; trial use in which the data collection methods include questionnaires and test. Based on the validation team's assessment, Fiborampae media is included in the most appropriate category, which is also a finding in this research. The evaluation results for the content were 93%, and the media factor was 90.8%. The results of the N-Gain test on the pre-and post-test values showed a mean difference of 0.739 under a moderate criterion and an effectiveness value of 73.95 under a highly effective definition. Meanwhile, the reference category reached a value of 0.425 under moderate criteria and had an efficiency of 42.35 under the low-efficiency definition. The interpretation of the data shows that classrooms using Fiborampae media achieve higher learning outcomes with more effective standards. The implications of this research are expected to apply this medium to simpler devices with a simple and attractive appearance that can be used in various teaching situations and support character development within the new curriculum.

Patterns of Phenolic Compounds in Betula and Pinus Pollen.

In this study, phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity in the pollen of anemophilous Betula and Pinus were determined. Spectrophotometric, high-performance thin-layer and liquid chromatography methods were applied. Free phenolic compounds (free PC) and phenolic compounds bound to the cell wall (bound PC) were analysed in the pollen extracts. Regardless of the pollen species, their content was 20% higher than that in bound PC extracts. Pinus pollen extracts contained 2.5 times less phenolic compounds compared to Betula. Free PC extraction from the deeper layers of Pinus pollen was minimal; the same content of phenolic compounds was obtained in both types of extracts. The bioactivity of pollen (p < 0.05) is related to the content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in Betula free PC and in bound PC, and only in free PC extracts of Pinus. Rutin, chlorogenic and trans-ferulic acids were characterised by antioxidant activity. Phenolic acids accounted for 70-94%, while rutin constituted 2-3% of the total amount in the extracts. One of the dominant phenolic acids was trans-ferulic acid in all the Betula and Pinus samples. The specific compounds were vanillic and chlorogenic acids of Betula pollen extracts, while Pinus extracts contained gallic acid. The data obtained for the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of Betula and Pinus pollen can be useful for modelling food chains in ecosystems.

Assessment of genotoxicity induced by helminthes parasites in freshwater fishes of river Ganges

Several parasites have been shown to induce genotoxicity in humans and fish are important intermediate hosts for completing the life cycle of many parasites, posing a huge economic loss worldwide through the ecosystem food chain. In the present study, we assessed the genotoxic potential of helminth Rostellascaris sp. through a benchmark of comet assay and micronucleus (MNi) tests on the hepatocytes, muscle, and whole blood of infected fish Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton) collected from different sites of the river Ganges. The percentage of the mean tail length of the comet was 10.28±0.36 in the reticulocytes of the infected fish which was significantly (P ˂0.05) longer compared to the control (2.86±0.12). Similarly, a significantly (P ˂0.05) higher DNA damage was observed in hepatocytes of parasite-infected fish (12.15±0.24) when compared to the control (3.024±0.013). A comparatively higher DNA damage was observed in the hepatocytes than the reticulocytes, indicative of tissue-specific DNA damage as hepatocytes are the biomarkers of metabolic functions prone toward biotic stress. A higher induction of MN was observed in infested fish (0.18±0.07) as compared to the control. Our results suggest that parasites contribute to the induction of cellular and DNA damage in fish during the progression of the host-parasite interaction.

Trametes lactinea and T. villosa collected in Brazil are able to discolor indigo carmine

Dyes used in the textile industry contribute significantly to the increase of water pollution as they are disposed of, most of the time, without proper treatment. Indigo carmine is a synthetic dye widely used in the coloring of jeans and is considered difficult to remove, causing irreversible damage to the food chain in ecosystems. Mycomediation appears as an economical and sustainable way to treat textile effluents, and this work tested three strains of Trametes collected in Brazil against the ability to discolor the indigo carmine and also the activity of laccase, lignin and manganese peroxidases. The experiment was carried out in Kirk medium under static, non-sterile condition, at ± 28 °C for 120 h. Trametes lactinea (URM8350) discolored 81.40 % of the indigo carmine, T. lactinea (URM8350) 85.09 % and T. villosa (URM8022) 96.11 %. Laccase was detected in all specimens. Manganese peroxidase was detected in T. villosa and T. lactinea (URM8354), while lignin peroxidase was not detected in any of the isolates. The ability of T. lactinea to discolor dyes is reported for the first time. The discoloration rates demonstrate the ability of the strains to discolor carmine indigo and their promising use in the discoloration processes in wastewater from the textile segment.

Seasonal variation in insect biodiversity in a transitioning sub-urban area

A survey was carried out on the species diversity of insects in the suburban transition area of ​​Patna. The study was conducted over a one-year period of 2021 (January to December). A total of 41 species of insects have been identified in a small area (10 acre), with Lepidopteran order (20) are dominance over the Hemiptera (5), Hymenoptera (5), coleoptera (4), Odonata (3), and Polydesmida, Mantodea, Diptera, and Orthoptera one species each. All of these species are found based on seasonal variation and vegetation as well as the presence of built-up areas. The highest number of insect species was in September, and the lowest were in May and December. Species of Syntomoides imaon and Mylabris flexuosa were captured during the mating conditions in the months of August and September (rainy season), respectively. These variation indicates the abundance of insect biodiversity and also provides evidence of the abundant food chain of ecosystems.

Floods and Their Impact on the Environment

Resources like air and water are present in the Ecosystem for the benefit of biological life, but a slight disturbance in them results in catastrophic calamities; the flood is one of them. Floods are wrecking threats not only to the life of the individuals but also result in long-term destructions to the economy, environment, and the psychological state of the affected individuals. A slight disturbance in a geographical area's climatic conditions and natural cycles like heavy rainfall and extra precipitation result in floods. Other human activities like over urbanization, deforestation to make residential societies, poor drainage systems, poor number of dams and banks are also the reasons behind such drastic calamities. There are many types of floods, but urban floods are more destructive as they affect highly populated areas, and there are more chances of mortalities in such situations. Floods have broad impacts not only socially and economically but also on the environment. Floods affect the agricultural sector by causing over-saturation, infertility, and soil erosion, damaging the crop fields, especially the winter crops. Flood contaminates the groundwater and makes it impure and improper for drinking purposes. Floods contaminate groundwater with pathogenic microbes and result in water-borne diseases, which have detrimental effects on health. The freshwater's aquatic life is also affected by the disturbance of the natural hydrology of the water. According to some reports, Floods have some positive Impacts on aquatic life as it results in nutrient deposition and favorable habitat for most species. Floods also leave after-effects on the microinvertebrates like small insects, which are primary role players in the Ecosystem's food chain. So, the floods are a curse for some and a blessing for others.

Communicating Arctic-midlatitude weather and ecosystem connections: direct observations and sources of intermittency

There is controversy over the extent that Arctic change can influence midlatitude extreme weather and vis-versa. Part of the uncertainty is due to the intermittency of the connection through the jet stream and polar vortex that leads to different emphases when communicating research. Although statistical studies and model results often show weak or non-existent connections, we can provide two observational examples. Three interactive physical processes are involved through atmospheric dynamics: (a) internal atmospheric jet stream/polar vortex processes that add to the persistence of a wavy jet stream; (b) warm and humid air transport into an existing longwave atmospheric pattern; and (c) local thermodynamic surface forcing, often associated with loss of sea ice. All three atmospheric processes were active in two recent studies: winter 2016 in the Barents Sea and winter 2018 in the Bering/Chukchi Sea. Both impacted sea ice loss and the entire marine ecosystem food chain, and resulted in downstream cold air transport into midlatitudes. Societal anticipation is necessary to respond to a repeat of such events. Both the North American and eastern Asia examples show a causal connection from atmospheric and ocean physics through ecosystem disruption to human impacts. Thus global warming influences can be more than a local heating response, but follow a chain of events involving disruption of the jet stream.

Development of Diorama Learning Media for Fourth Grade Elementary School

Learning media is a tool or intermediary that facilitates teaching and learning process and communication between teachers and students. This research is development research that aims to produce a diorama learning media about the rice field ecosystem food chain that is effective, practical and fun. The subjects of this study were 47 fourth graders from a public elementary school in Donowarih, East Java. This study concludes that the use of media in the learning process have impacts on teachers, students and the learning process in the classroom. In designing learning media, several steps must be considered, namely; media must be designed as simple as possible so that students are clear and easy to understand, media must be designed according to the subjects taught, media design is not too complicated and confuse children, the design of the media should use simple and easily available materials, but should not reduce the meaning and function of the media itself, and media can be designed in the form of models, pictures, structured charts, etc, but the materials are cheap and easy to get, so the teacher will have no trouble designing problematic media. Further researchers can use and develop this research and examine more sources and references.

Identification and regulation of ecotoxicity of polychlorinated naphthalenes to aquatic food Chain (green algae-Daphnia magna-fish)

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are widely distributed in the aquatic environment and can be transmitted through the food chain, which can amplify their toxic effects on human. To inhibit their transmission in the trophic level, this study aimed to predict the joint toxicity mechanism of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) to the key organisms and control scheme of its toxicity in the aquatic food chain (green algae-Daphnia magna-fish). The toxic effect grade and mode of action (MoA) of PCNs on the food chain were first predicted to guide the establishment of toxic mechanism model. QSAR models were constructed to quantify the mechanism of aquatic toxicity due to PCNs. The results showed the PCN compounds studied were highly toxic at all the trophic levels of the aquatic food chain. The binding ability of PCNs to the aquatic organisms was the main factor causing the toxicity of PCNs in the food chain, followed by electronic parameters EHOMO and ELUMO. Moreover, the binding ability between PCNs and food chain receptors was related to the molecular hydrophobicity, the hydrophobicity can be changed by adjusting the ability of PCNs to be adsorbed by sediment and their chlorine substituents, while the effect of PCNs electronic parameters (EHOMO and ELUMO) can be adjusted by their solvation effect. In addition, the macro-control scheme of PCN-based aquatic toxicity mechanism was established, and the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation confirmed its effectiveness and accessibility. The MD simulation showed the inhibition effect of nutrition-grade toxicity in the food chain was significant when the external stimulation conditions of solvation, anaerobic dechlorination and molecular adsorption were improved, with the decrease range of 66.26–263.16%, 198.93–323.98% and 189.24–549.48%, respectively. This work reveals new insights into the mechanism of PCNs joint toxicity to aquatic ecosystem food chain and develop appropriate strategies for its ecological risk management.

Coastal Ecosystem and Trophic Relationship Of Associated Macrobenthos in Guang-Guang, Mati City, Davao Oriental

Coastal ecosystems are where land and water converge creating a distinct environment hosting a rich diversity of marine organisms. This study aimed to determine the zonation pattern of mangroves and the trophic relationship among the associated macrobenthos in the local coastal ecosystem of Guang-guang, City of Mati, Davao Oriental. The establishment of the study area and gathering of field data were conducted on December 2, 2017, a period of one day during low tide. There was an absence of zonation pattern on the mangal due to Rhizophora stylosa being the only mangrove species present. The marine gastropods observed on the mangal were Monilea callifera, Pomalea canaliculata, Crassostrea iredalei, Trochus pyramis, Spisula solidissima, Zeacumantus lutulentus, Cominella glandiformis, Diloma subrostrata and Haustrum scabina. On the adjacent intertidal zone, the seagrasses and macroalgae found were Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Padina gymnospora, Halophila ovalis, and Halimeda sp., and the presence of the associated macrobenthos starfish, hermit crab, Philippine sand dollar, mud crab, blue mussel, marine gastropod, shrimp, brittle star, fish and jellyfish. The area had a high macrobenthic diversity with 1.34 on the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and 0.6 on Simpson’s diversity index. On the highest trophic level of the coastal ecosystem food chain are the producers including mangroves, sea grasses and algae and the lowest on the trophic level are the tertiary consumers and apex predators are birds, turtles, and larger fishes.

Distributions and biomagnification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a grassland ecosystem food chain

The concentrations, distributions, and biomagnification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in environmental and biological media in a terrestrial grass ecosystem were studied, The total PBDE concentrations in grasses were 4.00 × 10−2 to 4.28 ng·g−1. The total PBDE concentration in weasel muscle (23.2 ng·g−1 l.w.) was the highest concentrations of all animal tissue samples, and the total PBDE concentration in hair from local herdsmen (22.2 ng·g−1 l.w.) was second highest. Less-brominated PBDEs were found to be more strongly biomagnified than more-brominated PBDEs in the grassland food web. PBDEs were found to be much more strongly biomagnified in the food chains of homothermic animals than heterothermic animals. More-brominated PBDEs were not markedly biomagnified in the grassland food web. For example, BDE-153 was not biomagnified in the grassland wildlife food chain but was clearly biomagnified through the sheep, cattle, or horse hair to human hair route. The biomagnification factors and log Kows negatively correlated for the toad–snake, lizard–snake, and mouse–weasel food chains. The ability of PBDE congeners to become enriched generally decreased as the log Kow increased, and this decrease occurred 100–1000 times more strongly for homothermic animals than heterothermic animals.

Phytoplankton Community Structure at Subsurface Chlorophyll Maxima on the Western Arctic Shelf: Patterns, Causes, and Ecological Importance

AbstractSubsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) layers are becoming more important to the Arctic shelf ecosystem as phytoplankton growing season and ice‐free water increase. We measured size‐fractionated pigments and environmental variables on the western Arctic shelf during the open‐water season in 2014, to study the spatial pattern and mechanisms of the phytoplankton community at the SCM. The SCM layers accumulated approximately 50% of the chlorophyll a (Chl a) standing stock in the water column, and the contribution increased to >70% for high‐biomass areas, suggesting the biological importance of the summer SCM in the shelf ecosystem. The spatial difference in phytoplankton biomass was caused mainly by bioavailable nitrogen concentrations, and the spatial difference in diatom size may be the result of differences in predominant species. High biomass and large diatoms dominated in the SCM layers, making the south and north of the Chukchi shelf a biological hotspot for the ecosystem's food chain and benthos of the western Arctic shelf in summer.

The Acute Toxicity of SiO2 and Fe3O4 Nano-particles on Daphnia magna

SiO2 nano-particles are applied in different industries such as ceramic producing, glass making, cosmetic products, medicines, magnetic mixtures, heat and electric insulators and glazing currently. Also, nano particles of SiO2 can be utilized to increase the strength and stability of industrial coverings. Fe3O4 nano-particles enjoy pretty special and unique features compared to bulk Fe3O4 in terms of ultra-magnetic features, size and quantum feature. These nano-particles that are considered as one of the most important elements of iron-based mixtures, soft magnetic materials, record-player sets, colorful materials, magnetic suspended materials, magnetic vibrant recording in tissues recuperation and molecules diagnosis are highly used in pharmacy and biotechnology. With the development and progress of nano technology and increasing use of engineered nano-particles and besides all the benefits of nano particles; potential pollution of nano-particles should be considered that may occur after their transportation and entery into water environments. The aim of this research is to investigate the toxicity effect of SiO2 and Fe3O4 nano-particles on Daphnia magna that is regarded as a kind of hard zooplankton in fresh water and is as main aquatic ecosystem food chain after phytoplankton groups. In this test, OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) method (202) was used and the toxicity effect of Fe3O4 and SiO2 nano-particles on Daphnia magna during 96 h was investigated. The daphnia had exposure to 6-treatments of nano silica solution, 5 treatments of nano iron oxide with three replications for each in comparison with control group. LC50 of silica and iron oxide nano particles were analyzed by probit data analysis method for the determination of Daphnia magna proportion in each solution following 96 h and respectively the following amounts of 1.73 and 654.65 mg/l were observed. The results of the study showed the lower rate of toxic effect in iron oxide nanoparticles compared to nano silica in Daphnia magna.

The prevalence and correlates of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in non-target predators and scavengers in Finland

The most common rodent control method worldwide is anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs), which cause death by internal bleeding. ARs can transfer to non-target predators via secondary exposure, i.e. by consuming contaminated rodents. Here we quantify the prevalence of seven AR substances in the liver tissues of altogether 17 mammalian or avian predator or scavenger species in Finland. In addition, we identify the environmental and biological factors potentially linked to secondary AR poisoning. No previous AR screenings have been conducted in the country, despite the widespread use of ARs and their potential impacts on the high levels of the ecosystem food chain. ARs were detected (≥0.3 μg/kg) in 82% of the 131 samples. The most prevalent and the AR with highest concentrations was bromadiolone (65% of samples). In 77% of the positive samples more than one (2–5) different ARs were detected. Of the environmental variables, we only found a weakly positive relationship between the coumatetralyl concentration and the livestock farm density. Conversely, overall AR concentration and number, as well as the concentration of three separate ARs (coumatetralyl, difenacoum and bromadiolone) differed among the three species groups tested, with the group “other mammals” (largely represented by red fox and raccoon dog) having higher values than the groups presented by mustelids or by birds. ARs are authorized only as biocides in Finland and a national strategy on risk management (e.g. for minimising secondary poisoning of non-target species) of ARs was adopted in 2011. Based on these results it appears that the risk mitigation measures (RMMs) either have not been followed or have not been effective in preventing wide scale secondary exposure. Continued monitoring of AR residues in non-target species is needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of current RMMs and a need for new ones to reduce the risk of secondary poisoning.

Constructing Slow-Release Formulations of Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Based on Degradable Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).

The present study describes construction and investigation of experimental formulations of ammonium nitrate embedded in a matrix of degradable natural polymer poly-3-hydroxybutyrate [P(3HB)] and P(3HB) blended with wood flour shaped as tablets, some of them coated with P(3HB). Kinetics of ammonium release into soil as dependent on the composition of the polymer matrix was investigated in laboratory experiments. The rates of fertilizer release from formulations coated with a biopolymer layer were considerably (two months or longer) slower than the rates of fertilizer release from uncoated formulations, while release from polymer and composite (polymer/wood flour) formulations occurred with comparable rates. The use of the experimental formulations in laboratory ecosystems with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was more effective than application of free ammonium nitrate. The advantage of the slow-release fertilizer formulations is that they are buried in soil together with the seeds, and the fertilizer remains effective over the first three months of plant growth. The use of such slow-release formulations will reduce the amounts of chemicals released into the environment, which will curb their accumulation in food chains of ecosystems and mitigate their adverse effects on the biosphere.

A model of development of a spontaneous outbreak of an insect with aperiodic dynamics

Modeling of expansion of alien species in a new environment has become an important issue in view of the recent environmental conditions. Extensive effects of introduction of invasive species for the food chains of ecosystems are described quite regularly. Rapid changes in the form of a “population outbreak” are characteristic of certain insects, and their implications are important for agriculture. Monophagous insects are not only agricultural pests but also potential agents of biological weed control. This paper considers the development of a dynamic system for simulating the scenario of population outbreaks of Cardiaspina albitextura Taylor, 1962, described in the ecological literature. We propose a continuous-event driven computing structure of the new model which takes into account the mortality rate variation at different development stages and the factor of abrupt exhaustion of food resources at the peak of the outbreak.

Littoral invertebrates in waders’ nutrition at migratory stopover sites in the Azov and Black Sea region

Seasonal migration for birds – distant migrants are the most energy intensive. Fat reserves accumulated in the bird’s body before migration and during migratory stopovers determine success of the long-distance flight. Lipids play a vital role both as a source of energy and as structural components of cell membranes. For most migrants to the speed and quality processes fat accumulation affects the feed ration in the field of migration stops. Fodder saturation with essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is of great importance. Being paramount for physiological processes, these acids cannot be synthesized in the bird’s body. The proposed article is dedicated to the study of waders’ trophic relationships with their prey items, and the use of PUFAs as biochemical markers. This approach is based on the specificity of the fatty acids contained in the lipids of invertebrate to be used as food bird species studied. Significant amount NPZHK waders obtained from forage that can be considered PUFAs as biochemical markers to determine the range and diversity of food producing birds PUFAs ways, and also to study the food chain in ecosystems. A fatty acid spectrum (FAS) of the lipids common for nine littoral invertebrate species (Gammarus aequicauda, Idotea balthica, Artemia salina, Nerеis sp., Nerеis zonata, Theodoxces astrachanicus, Hydrobia acuta, Chironomus salinarius, Chironomus plumosus), which constitute the main component of waders’ diet at the migratory stopover sites in the Azov and Black Sea region, has been studied. Found that the largest amount of total lipids contained in Nereis zonata (4,6 %) and Artemia salina (4,4 %), the lowest amount of total lipids was observed in Chironomus (1,5–1,8 %), which implies that polychaete worms and Artemia salina, as a source of fat, are the most productive for waders. Our research has found that mollusks, polychaete worms, and Artemia salina are the most effective waders’ fodder in the PUFAs content. Mollusks contain the largest amount of PUFAs, their spectrum is ω3 and ω6 PUFAs, especially arаchidonic acid C20:4. Polychate worms are also characterized by a high PUFAs level; they serve for birds as a source of linolenic and linoleic acid groups. Artemia salina contains a large amount of eicosapentaenoic С20:5ω3 and docosahexaenoic С22:6ω3 acids, which getting to an organism of birds, participating in the formation of cell membranes, act as thermal stabilizer lipid bilayers, enhance stamina during long-distance flight. A high abundance of Artemia salina in the feeding areas permit tundra waders to use them as a prey item, which can fulfill the bird’s body with a required amount of fatty acids in a short time. We have established an influence of some environmental factors, as water temperature and salinity, on the lipids FAS of littoral invertebrates. Spectrum analysis of polyene fatty acids in the lipids closely related species of invertebrates living in different salinity water showed that the content of PUFAs in the lipid depend on their food spectrum, and the environmental conditions. Therefore, anthropogenic pressure and changes of water hydrological regime may affect PUFAs content in the lipids of littoral invertebrates. In its turn, this factor may change alimentary behavior and migratory strategy of the birds, which use migratory stopover sites in the region in question. Shallow waters of the Azov-Black Sea region are characterized by different climatic characteristics and a large reserve of phytoplankton. This explains the mass character species studied of invertebrates to feeding areas and their use as basic prey items, many species of waders.

Iron Accumulation in Selected Elements of Pond Ecosystem Food Chain

The aim of this study was to determine the accumulation of iron in the individual links of aquatic ecosystems food chain under extensive farming of carp. Based on ascertained in these organisms the contents of this element calculated value of bioaccumulation in the aquatic system and evaluated the degree of contamination. The study was performed in the breeding pond, located in Mydlniki, supplied with water from the river Rudawa. From the study pond collected: water, sediment from the bottom of the pond, benthic organisms represented by the larvae of flies of the chironomid family organs in, and carps from which were dissected the most associated with metals metabolism organs (gills, gonads, liver and muscle). In all samples determine the content of iron by atomic emission spectrometry in the camera JY 238 Ultrace Jobin Yvon Emission. Digestion of the samples were made by the wet method in a closed system with the use of microwave energy. Based on the results concluded that in the studied ecosystem, there is no risk of iron poisoning. The contents of this element in the water and bottom sediments are comparable to other reservoirs, of anthropogenic and natural origin. Was found a high value of the sediments enrichment factor sediments with iron in relation to its content in the water. The content of iron in the benthic organisms have taken high values, from 1189 to 1997 mg kg d.m. The iron content in organisms of the examined fish ranged from 2.951 to 395.9 mg kg d.m. Most of this element was found in the gills, then in liver, gonads and the least iron is accumulated muscles. Literature data show that regardless of the amount of iron in the environment, bioaccumulation factor in fish organs takes a value close to those obtained in own research. The content of iron in the liver and gills of fish is the most authoritative indicator of environmental contamination by iron compounds.

Monitoring of Organochlorine Pesticides in Fresh Water Samples by Gas Chromatography and Bioremediation Approaches

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are one of the toxic synthetic organic pollutants which are being used for various purposes globally. The monitoring of OCPs has become important and urgent requirement of the time due to their bioaccumulation in living organisms either aquatic or wild life through food chain in ecosystem. OCPs are also termed as persistent organic pollutants due to their persistent nature. Therefore, their analysis has been reviewed in fresh water samples by gas chromatographic (GC) technique due to the advantages of GC method such as inexpensive, reliable, reproducibility of results and lower level detection over the other available techniques. Moreover, attempts have also been made to highlight the various types of interactions of analyte molecules with stationary phase i.e. the resolution mechanism in GC analysis of OCPs. Furthermore, various bioremediation approaches through different microbial species and plants, to decontaminate the drinking water resources and for environmental safety, are also discussed in the article due to the increasing demand of safe water on the planet.