Marine Water Quality Research Articles

Minimizing environmental risks on constructing marine pipelines: Aguilas desalination plant

In the building of marine brine discharge pipelines from desalination plants, there are some technical and environmental conditions that require previous numerous studies to guarantee their viability. In the project of Águilas desalination plant with a production capacity of 180.000 m3/day, in Murcia, Spain, a marine emissary was designed. It was made up of various sections that entail different building complexities. The main difficulty was to build a tunnel in the rocky massif called “Peñon del Roncaor”; the tunnel was dug through a piling of 443 m of length and an exterior diameter of 2.400mm that would have come up at a depth of 12 m to join the submarine section of 290 m of length. These more detailed geotechnical studies showed a great heterogeneity in the composition of the materials to be excavated from the Peñon. In order to avoid any risk of affecting to the castle right above considered of cultural interest, a new tracing of the tunnel was designed. The new tracing runs the Peñon’s outer south borders right into the dumping area. This new tracing implies greater length of piping and greater seabed marine area occupation as well; it required carrying out additional bionomic studies to guarantee its environmental compatibility. We must bear in mind that the marine surroundings of Águilas are a protected area included in the Red Natura 2000 (LIC Submerged Costal Strip of the Murcia Region) whose predominant bionomic community is the Posidonia oceanica beds, limited to the Southwest by another less dense seagrass of Cymodocea nodosa. These seagrass meadows and rock communities suffer anthropic pressure for its proximity to the city of Águilas, as near-shore marine discharges, fishing activity, and others. And, there are other affections of natural condition: terrigenous sediments and nutrients that get to the dry riverbed name El Charco, having seriously affected the species of greater natural value and the implementation of those ubiquitous species, and thus impoverishing habitat in general. Due to the fact that P. oceanica seagrasses have very low tolerance to increased salinity in the western Mediterranean Sea; a hydrodynamic model was developed to estimate the likely dilution of the brine discharge for this new solution. Other works comprise a bathymetric survey to establish the profile of the ocean bottom—very important for pipeline construction—a sediment characterization, the study of the oceanographic conditions and a monitoring study of the marine water quality to settle the values of the water quality in the preoperation moment and the parameters needed for process designing. During the construction of the pipeline, an environmental surveillance program was developed. And at the end of the stage, a study was developed to know the impacts produced by the works carried out and to establish the “zero situation” before start of the operation phase. In addition to that, a very strict environmental legislation was applied along the process. These regulations included exhaustive and systematic controls of several environmental parameters when starting and during the plant operation.

青岛沿岸水体原生生物群落与水质状况的关系

Protistan communities are characterized by high ecological and species diversity due to their short life cycles and by a quick response to environmental changes. Many species respond rapidly to pollutants and often inhabit environments that are unfavorable to most of metazoans and some can even tolerate extremes of environmental conditions to macrofauna. As predominant components of protistan communities, ciliates and flagellates may react more quickly to environmental changes than any other eukaryotic organisms because of their rapid growth and delicate external membranes and can thus serve as bioindicators of water pollution. Polyurethane foam unit (PFU) is an artificial substrate able to host planktonic, periphytic and benthic protistan assemblages. The PFU method has been widely and successfully employed to evaluate freshwater quality all over the world. However, as far as we know, this method has not been used in marine habitats as effective as in freshwater biotopes because of the influence of tidal current and circulation in near-shore area. In order to evaluate the feasibility of using the PFU method to assess coastal water quality, Xu et al. modified the conventional PFU method and presented a bottled PFU (BPFU) system and successfully used to evaluate the water quality in Korean coastal waters. Our study is the first to use the BPFU method for bioassessment in Chinese offshore areas. Three stations in the coastal waters off Qingdao, China were selected as study area from September to October in 2007. Margalef diversity index was calculated by d = (S-1) / lnN. The relationship between the protistan community parameters and marine water quality was analyzed. MacArthur and Wilson equilibrium model: St =Seq(1-e-Gt ) was applied to assess the colonizing process of protistan communities. A total of 263 species of protists were identified during the survey. Among these were 83 diatoms, 59 flagellates, 31 sarcodines, and 90 ciliates. In terms of species composition, site 1 was dominated mainly by bacterivores (e. g. , Euplotes parabalteatus, Uronema marinum and Pleuronema coronatum ), site 3 mainly by algivores ( e. g. , Strombidinopsis minima, Strombidium apolatum and Hartmannula augustipilosa), and site 2 was in an intermediate status. These results are consistent with the environmental conditions: site 3 had the best water quality, site 1 was the most eutrophic site, and site 2 was the moderate one. Furthermore, the colonization processes and functional parameters (i. e. Seq, G and T90% ) of communities correlated with the pollution status and could thus clearly discriminate the different classes of water quality as measured by physicochemical indicators. But the Margalef diversity index did not coincide with the water conditions: site 1 had the highest index value (on average 4. 16), while site 2 had the lowest (on average 3． 00). Nonetheless, this work further suggests the practicability of the BPFU method for biomonitoring of coastal water pollution. Our study also indicates that protistan communities are more effective and accurate than protozoan communities in reflecting water quality.

The Health Status and Genetic Variations of the Bivalve, Pinctala radiata Affected by Environmental Pollution

The bivalve shellfish Pinctada radiate is a popular edible food for Alexandria local communities. In an attempt to track the quality of marine water of two different locations along Alexandria coast of Egypt we measured the RNA/DNA ratio and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity in the haemolymph of this organism. The study showed an average ratio for RNA-DNA of 3.3, arranged as follows; 4.34 at El-Max > 2.8 at Miami localities. These results suggest that the coastal water of Alexandria is considered as unpolluted with examined insecticides

Analisis Kualitas Perairan Muara Sungai Way Belau Bandar Lampung

Estuary Way Belau is a residential area with high population. Utilization of Way Belau River diverse enough so that water river estuary Way Belau has decreased the quality of the water environment as reflected in the black color tends to muddy the water and the high sedimentation rate. The purpose of this research was to determine the water quality (water and sediment) in terms of physical and chemical parameters Estuary Way Belau Bandar Lampung. The research in the Estuary Way Belau of Bandar Lampung had been held in June 2010 to August 2010. The results showed that the measurement of physical and chemical conditions generally still in quality standard (Kepmen No. 51/MENLH/2004) and marine water quality management and pollution control (PP No. 82 Tahun 2001). Characteristics of the fraction of sediment in the estuary Way Belau fraction is dominated by sand with organic matter content of the total average in research stations ranged from 0.68 to 5.41%, the average nitrate content ranged from 2.4 to 14.4 ppm and the sediment pH ranged from 6.58 to 7.47.

Analysis of Pollutants of Sewage of Oceanic Outfall on the Water Quality

The article analyses and predicts the hydrodynamic feature of study area on the basis of Mike21FM model. And then it predicts the contributed concentration field of the pollutants. The paper assesses the influence of the petroleum in discharge of sewage on the marine water quality nearby. Research shows that the results reflected the rules of transportation and diffusion of pollutants in the tidal water area bitterly.

Can body-size patterns of ciliated zooplankton be used for assessing marine water quality? A case study on bioassessment in Jiaozhou Bay, northern Yellow Sea

In order to reveal the potential relationships between body-size patterns of microzooplankton and environmental status, the spatial patterns in body-size spectra of ciliated zooplanktons were studied based on an annual dataset in a bay of the Yellow Sea, northern China. A total of 120 samples were collected at a depth of 1 m from each of five sampling sites with a spatial gradient of environmental stress from June 2007 to May 2008. A range of physico-chemical variables were measured synchronously for comparison with biotic parameters. The spatial body-size patterns of ciliated zooplankton represented significant differences among the five sites, and were significantly correlated with the changes of physico-chemical parameters, especially salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients. Two paired indices, the average body-size distinctness (AvBSD) and the variation in body-size distinctness (VarBSD), were proposed based on the trait resemblances among ciliate species in body-size pattern. The paired measures showed a clear decreasing trend of departure from the expected body-size spectra in response to water quality status. These results suggest that the body-size pattern of ciliated zooplankton might be used as a potential indicator of marine water quality.

Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management

Coastal and inshore areas of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon receive substantial amounts of material from adjacent developed catchments, which can affect the ecological integrity of coral reefs and other inshore ecosystems. A 5-year water quality monitoring dataset provides a ‘base range’ of water quality conditions for the inshore GBR lagoon and illustrates the considerable temporal and spatial variability in this system. Typical at many sites were high turbidity levels and elevated chlorophyll a and phosphorus concentrations, especially close to river mouths. Water quality variability was mainly driven by seasonal processes such as river floods and sporadic wind-driven resuspension as well as by regional differences such as land use. Extreme events, such as floods, caused large and sustained increases in water quality variables. Given the highly variable climate in the GBR region, long-term monitoring of marine water quality will be essential to detect future changes due to improved catchment management.

Blue Flag Program Implementation Prospective in Ukraine

RADCHENKO, V and ALEYEV, M., 2011. Blue Flag Program Implementation Prospective in Ukraine. In: Micallef, A. (ed.), MCRR3-2010 Conference Proceedings, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 61, pp. 52–59. Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, ISSN 0749-0208.Blue Flag is one of the well known programs of ecological certification leading its participants to an internationally-recognized eco-label award. The program is targeting promotion of sustainable development of the beaches and marinas through the introduction of water quality, environmental education and information dissemination, safety and security, and also ecological management set of criteria based on EU 2006 Bathing waters quality directive requirements. The program has big potential in Ukraine and particularly in the Crimea as a famous recreational region. The longevity of the Ukrainian Black sea coast is approximately 2500 km, with roughly 10% of it being situated in the Crimea. There were about 1007 beaches functioning in Ukraine in 2008 - in Crimea, Donetsk, Zaporozhiye, Nikolayev, Odessa and Kherson regions and in Sevastopol. Among them 881 are sea coast beaches and 126 are located on rivers. However, not all of them comply with national and with Blue flag standards. Due to non-compliance some of them are closed during part of the season. In accordance with national legislation in Ukraine, fresh and marine water quality is monitored by certified sanitary laboratories of the Ministry of Healthcare. There are particular national legislative documents and governmental authorities that are dealing with the issue of drinking water quality (GOST 2874-82, SDSS 383 (186/1940)). Among problems in the field of beach management one could mention problems with the identification of bathing waters itself. There are attempts to introduce ecological management that is regulated by the Law of Ukraine “On environmental protection”. In accordance with this law, the aims of State regulation in the area of environmental protection are implementation of national legislation, control of ecological safety regulations compliance, ensuring that all measures necessary for environmental protection are taken, along with sustainable use of natural resources. The set of safety and services criteria is one of the easiest to comply with. The Ukrainian Ministry of Emergency is responsible for the enforcement of safety standards. However, the national legislation on ecological management is undeveloped. That's why the Blue Flag meets great support in Ukraine at a regional level. In 2008 two Crimean cities expressed interest in the Blue Flag program implementation and as a result, four beaches have participated in pilot stage of the Blue Flag program. After the 2009 season monitoring results, these beaches became participants at full stage of the program in 2010.

Multifunctional Inshore Survey Platform with Unmanned Surface Vehicles

Because of extreme weather and frequent natural disasters, improvement of disaster prevention capabilities and early warning technologies is an urgent matter. Inshore areas are where ocean and land intersect; the sea conditions and environment are complex and changeable, and human activities are frequent in these areas. Natural disasters, such as a substantial rise in sea levels, coastal erosion and transitions, and rapid flooding from tsunamis, and human development projects, pollution, and ecological damage must be thoroughly investigated, monitored, recorded, and prevented. The west coast of Taiwan, particularly the southeast coastal plain, is a highly populated narrow area; thus, field survey tools with a high degree of freedom and flexible applications are required for data collection to reach its full potential. The Taiwan Ocean Research Institute developed an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) for the “Long Term Observation for Research Performed in TORI” 2010 project. This USV is a platform that integrates scientific equipment, including Wi-Fi communication and a satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) with navigation images and signals, to form an internal network with onshore control bases to allow the instant acquisition of measured data and enable researchers to conduct surveys in safe conditions. USVs are appropriate for various types of inshore research and surveys, such as marine topography, sediment disposition analysis, inshore engineering measurements, and the monitoring of hydrology, water quality, and the environment. One aim of the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute (TORI) is to establish a method to use the USV for collecting inshore marine topography, hydrology, water quality, and meteorological data. Integrating field investigations of Taiwan’s coastal waters will provide data for verifying numerical simulations and lead scientists to explore novel and unknown areas.

Assessing water quality in Marine Protected Areas from Southern California, USA

Despite the regulatory mandate to maintain “natural water quality”, there are ⩾271 storm drain discharges that potentially threaten the 14 designated marine water quality protected areas in Southern California called Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS). After sampling 35 site-events, the geomean concentrations of total suspended solids, nutrients, total and dissolved trace metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ocean following storm events were similar between reference drainages and ASBS discharge sites. Concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons were nondetectable and no post-storm sample exhibited significant toxicity to the endemic purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) near ASBS discharge sites. A reference-based threshold was developed and, despite the similarities in average concentrations, there were some individual ASBS discharge sites that were greater than reference background. Cumulatively across all ASBS, the constituents that were most frequently greater than the reference-based threshold were nutrients and general constituents, followed by dissolved and total trace metals.

Quantifying reduction in ecological risk in Penrhyn Estuary, Sydney, Australia, following groundwater remediation

The environmental risk associated with discharge of contaminated groundwater containing a complex mixture of at least 14 volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCHs) to Penrhyn Estuary, Sydney, Australia has previously been assessed. That probabilistic ecological risk assessment (ERA) was undertaken using surface water monitoring data from 2004 to 2005. Subsequently, in 2006, a groundwater remediation system was installed and commissioned to prevent further discharge of VCHs into the estuary. The present study assessed the ecological risk posed to the estuary after 2006 to evaluate the success of the remediation system. The ERA was undertaken using toxicity data derived from direct toxicity assessment (DTA) of preremediation contaminated groundwater using indigenous species, exposure data from surface water monitoring between 2007 and 2008 and the joint probability curve (JPC) methodology. The risk posed was measured in 4 zones of the entire site: source area (2), tributary (2), the inner estuary and outer estuary at high, low, and a combination of high and low tides. In the 2 source areas, risk decreased by over 2 and over 1 orders of magnitude to maximum values of less than 0.5%. In 1 estuary, risk decreased by over 1 order of magnitude, from a maximum of 36% to a maximum of 2.3%. At the other tributary and both the inner and outer estuaries, the risk decreased to less than 1%, regardless of the tide. This analysis revealed that the remediation system was very effective and that the standard level of protection required for slightly to moderately affected ecosystems (95% of species) by the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality was met postremediation.

Pigmentation of massive corals as a simple bioindicator for marine water quality

Photo-acclimatisation by the algal endosymbionts of scleractinian corals to changes in environmental conditions may influence their density and/or the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, and hence coral brightness, on short time-scales. To examine coral pigmentation as a bioindicator of water quality, the brightness of massive corals was quantified using colour charts, concentrations of the pigment chlorophyll a and reflectance spectrometry in the field and with manipulative experiments. Along a water quality gradient, massive Porites became progressively lighter as nutrients decreased and irradiance increased. A laboratory experiment showed that Porites nubbins darkened within 25days following exposure to reduced water quality. The results of a transplantation experiment of Porites nubbins in a manipulation incorporating multiple depths and zones of water quality confirmed colony brightness as a simple tool to monitor changes in marine water quality, provided effects due to other influences on pigmentation, e.g. seawater temperatures, are taken into consideration.

Stormwater BMP treatment performance variability for sediment and heavy metals

Performance-based stormwater best management practice (BMP) selection should match appropriate technologies with site water quality concerns and consider the ability to meet water quality standards. Empirically derived frequency analysis of effluent flow-weighted composite event mean concentrations (EMCs) for sites in the International BMP Database are presented for total suspended solids, and total and dissolved zinc and copper for dry detention basins, retention basins, wetland basins, media filters, grassed swales, bioretention, and permeable pavement. Performance characterization amongst BMPs using the probability plots is also compared to typical percent removal type assessment. No single device emerges as providing the best treatment across all water quality parameters considered. Detention basins provide the least water quality protection amongst all devices, and will not likely satisfy the typical goal of 75% TSS removal. Retention ponds can meet the 75% objective only when median percent removal is considered, but effluent TSS EMCs are approximately twice the level as compared to bioretention cells and grassed swales for the majority of events. Most BMPs are able to meet US EPA marine water quality discharge criteria for zinc, and many are able to meet the more stringent ANZECC threshold for 95% species protection. Copper is problematic for all BMPs with respect to water quality criteria. Resurfacing with permeable pavement could prevent up to 2/3 of the contaminant concentrations from typical urban source areas.

Irish estuaries: Water quality status and monitoring implications under the water framework directive

The status of water quality of Irish estuaries is reviewed; this sheds light on the rationale behind the design of the national monitoring programme. Relative to other EU Member States, Ireland's coastal monitoring programme is relatively young and not as advanced. The monitoring programmes in Ireland pre Water Framework Directive (WFD) were structured on a salinity-based typology, with an emphasis on quantifying the variability of the component elements. Although monitoring is a significant obligation under the WFD, there is little guidance on developing monitoring protocols; Member States are developing ad hoc monitoring programme. The Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), responsible authority, undertook research programmes to assist design and implementation of the WFD. A substantial new national monitoring programme was developed. However, the Irish programme is not optimised; the programme is being refined to include elements not yet covered, notably the biota. New research, by the authors, aims to develop a robust approach towards monitoring integrating data and model results. This paper presents changes in Irish marine water quality monitoring policy and some of the associated research necessary to change policy.

Advances in the cryopreservation of sea-urchin embryos: Potential application in marine water quality assessment

Among the most widely used biological techniques in marine pollution assessment, the sea-urchin embryo–larval bioassay is in an advanced developmental stage. Cryopreservation might help to overcome the problem of the spawning seasonality and therefore strengthen the use of those embryo–larval bioassays. This work investigates different factors influencing cryopreservation of sea-urchin embryos, including the cooling rates and holding temperatures, the seeding, or the impact of plunging into liquid nitrogen. The blastula stage yielded better results than the fertilised egg, and the most effective cryoprotectants combination was dimethyl sulfoxide 1.5 M plus trehalose 0.04 M. The optimised protocol developed begins with an initial hold at 4 °C for 2 min, followed by cooling at −1 °C min −1 to −12 °C. At this point a seeding step was incorporated with a 2 min hold, followed by a second cooling at −1 °C min −1 to −80 °C. After a final hold of 2 min the cryovials are transferred into liquid nitrogen for storage. Although the cryopreservation processes might cause a delay in the development of sea-urchin embryos, high larval growth (71–98% of controls) was obtained when cryopreserved blastulae were further incubated for 72–96 h in artificial seawater. We conclude that embryo–larval bioassays with cryopreserved sea-urchin blastulae are suitable for use in marine pollution monitoring programs and may be considered as an acceptable solution to the reproductive seasonality of sea-urchin species.

Spatial variation in taxonomic distinctness of ciliated protozoan communities at genus-level resolution and relationships to marine water quality in Jiaozhou Bay, northern China

Taxonomic distinctness of ciliated protozoan communities at genus-level resolution was studied over a 12-month period (June 2007–May 2008) in Jiaozhou Bay, northern China. Samples were collected biweekly from three different depths at each of five sites. A range of physico-chemical parameters were also measured in order to determine water quality. Multivariate and univariate analyses showed that (1) spatial patterns of ciliated protozoan communities were significantly different among the five sampling sites (P 0.05); (3) the taxonomic patterns of ciliate communities at genus-level resolution were significantly correlated with the spatial variation of environmental variables, in particular nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), sum of NO3-N and nitrite nitrogen (NOn-N), and soluble reactive phosphate (SRP); (4) the Margalef’s index did not show a significant correlation with chemical parameters although it was higher for the less eutrophic than the more eutrophic sites (P > 0.05); (5) the average taxonomic distinctness (Δ+) and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Λ+) of the ciliate communities at genus-level resolution were significantly negatively correlated with the combination of NOn-N and SRP; (6) the paired taxonomic biodiversity indices (Δ+ and Λ+) showed a clear decreasing trend of departure from the expected taxonomic breadth in response to water quality. These results suggest that spatial patterns and taxonomic distinctness (especially the paired Δ+ and Λ+) of ciliated protozoan communities at genus-level resolution can be used as potential indicators for assessing marine water quality while minimizing costs in terms of the time and resources needed for sample analysis.

An approach to identifying potential surrogates of periphytic ciliate communities for monitoring water quality of coastal waters

For identifying the potential surrogate of periphytic ciliate communities for monitoring marine water quality, the different taxonomic resolutions/taxa as surrogates and different data transformations were studied based on two datasets of ciliate communities in Korean coastal waters. Multivariate analyses showed that: (1) a dominant Zoothamnium duplicatum significantly masked the temporal patterns of periphytic ciliate community; (2) the order level resolution maintained sufficient information to evaluate the efficient patterns of ciliate communities in response to environmental impacts; (3) the vagile-ciliate assemblage at species-level resolution was as costly as whole periphytic ciliate communities without Z. duplicatum at the order level; and (4) the severity of data transformations played a crucial role for effectiveness of surrogates, e.g., heavy transformation for species level and mild for higher. These results suggest that the use of lower taxonomic resolutions is time-efficient and would allow improving sampling strategies of large spatial/temporal scale monitoring researches in the marine ecosystem.

Stormwater Impacts in California's Marine Water Quality Protected Areas

Stormwater Impacts in California's Marine Water Quality Protected Areas

Historical Changes in Marine Resources, Food-web Structure and Ecosystem Functioning in the Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea has been strongly influenced by human activities for millennia. Although the environmental history of its surrounding terrestrial ecosystems has received considerable study, historical changes in its marine realm are less known. We used a multidisciplinary approach combining paleontological, archeological, historical, fisheries, and ecological data to reconstruct past changes in marine populations, habitats, and water quality in the Adriatic Sea. Then, we constructed binary food webs for different historical periods to analyze possible changes in food-web structure and functioning over time. Our results indicate that human activities have influenced marine resource abundance since at least Roman times and accelerated in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Today, 98% of traditional marine resources are depleted to less than 50% of former abundance, with large (>1 m) predators and consumers being most affected. With 37% of investigated species rare and 11% extirpated, diversity has shifted towards smaller, lower trophic-level species, further aggravated by more than 40 species invasions. Species providing habitat and filter functions have been reduced by 75%, contributing to the degradation of water quality and increased eutrophication. Increased exploitation and functional extinctions have altered and simplified food-web structure over time, especially by changing the proportions of top predators, intermediate consumers, and basal species. Moreover, simulations of species losses indicate that today’s ecosystems may be less robust to species extinctions than in the past. Our results illustrate the long-term and far-reaching consequences human activities can have on marine food webs and ecosystems.

An approach to analyzing spatial patterns of planktonic ciliate communities for monitoring water quality in Jiaozhou Bay, northern China

Spatial patterns of planktonic ciliate communities for assessment of marine environmental status were studied from June 2007 to May 2008 in Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, northern China. Ciliate communities were sampled biweekly at five sampling sites with a spatial gradient of environmental stress. Multivariate/univariate analyses demonstrated that: (1) the planktonic ciliate community structures represented significant differences among the five sites; (2) spatial patterns of the ciliate communities were significantly correlated with environmental variables, especially the nutrients nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) and soluble reactive phosphates (SRP); (3) five dominant species (e.g., Rimostrombidium veniliae, Strombidium capitatum, Mesodinium pupula and Strombidinopsis acutum) were significantly correlated with nitrogen and/or SRP; and (4) both species richness and species diversity indices were correlated with NO3-N and salinity. These results suggest that planktonic ciliated protozoa might be used as a robust bioindicator of marine water quality.