Mediterranean Coast Of Israel Research Articles

Molecular characterization of Metallothionein-cDNA of Sparus aurata used for detecting heavy metal pollution along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

Members of the fish family Sparidae are abundant in various continental shelf habitats along the Mediterranean, including relatively clean and polluted areas. The levels of metallothionein (MT)-mRNA in their liver is suggested here as a bioindicator parameter for the detection of heavy metals in Mediterranean marine habitats. A complete MT-cDNA was cloned from the liver of metal-induced Sparus aurata and used to evaluate the MT-mRNA levels in the livers of the abundant coastal sparid species, Lithognathus mormyrus, both after laboratory induction by cadmium and in fish sampled along a pollution gradient at Haifa Bay, the Mediterranean coast of Israel. It is concluded that the MT-mRNA in L. mormyrus liver is a good bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in the marine environment, because of the following: it is heavy metal-inducible; its level is turned off rather rapidly after the elimination of the inducing agents; and it is shown to be correlated to a heavy metal pollution gradient in a natural marine habitat.

Recirculation of polluted air masses over the East Mediterranean coast

An air quality observatory was operated at a rural site on the Mediterranean coast of Israel near the ancient city of Caesarea between May 1993 and October 1995. The objective of the study was to monitor transport of air pollutants from remote sources that arrive at the Israeli coast. Normally, under onshore westerly winds, which come from the Mediterranean sea, the levels of NO, NO y and SO 2 at the site dropped to below 0.5 ppbv, CO to below 150 ppbv, and the O 3 levels ranged between 30 and 60 ppbv. During the last week of October 1993, an unusual series of pollution episodes occurred, with elevated values for all the pollutants being recorded during onshore flows. The SO 2 concentration reached 30 ppbv, NO and NO y more than 100 ppbv and O 3 levels rose above 200 ppbv. On 26 October the O 3 levels were the highest observed with an abnormally high concentration of 230 ppbv being recorded. The episode that occurred on that day was investigated in detail in order to understand the cause for this high ozone value. During the above day, night and early morning, easterly winds swept the air parcels containing the locally emitted pollution westwards over the sea. The intense photochemical activity that occurred while the air mass was over the sea for a relatively extensive time combined with the low mixing height on that day and the fact that the returning air mass reached the measuring site at peak ozone formation time, give rise to record ozone levels. The elevated concentrations were measured when the polluted air parcels returned to the coast during the afternoon onshore flows. An excellent linear correlation between O 3 and NO y was obtained for the time period between 1400 and 1700. The linear fit between O 3 and NO y indicates that approximately 11 O 3 molecules were formed for each NO y molecule present. Similar ratios have been reported in other studies dealing with aged air masses under NO y limited conditions.

Middle and late Holocene sea-levels along the Israel Mediterranean coast — evidence from ancient water wells

During the course of a study of historical water wells along the Israeli shore, which has been in progress since 1984, an innovative method for investigating sea-level fluctuations was developed. Eighteen ancient water wells were re-dug, 14 by the author, and four by archaeologists. Most of the re-dug wells are found at archaeological sites located a very short distance inland from the present shoreline. Evidence of ancient ground-water levels found in the wells directly reflects on historic eustatic sea-level changes, and the rate at which the end of the post-glacial transgression advanced. A critical question concerns the durability and life span of these wells, as the true age is very important for the accurate reconstruction of a sea-level curve. The Pre-Pottery Neolithic well of Atlit-Yam, which is the oldest known well in the world (ca. 8000 yr old), enabled the most accurate sea-level reconstruction for early Holocene times. Sea-level rise during that period of the Atlit-Yam site was of the order of 20 mm yr−1 at the beginning, slowing to 6–8 mm yr−1 at the abandonment of this site at ca. 7.5 ka BP, when it was flooded by the advancing and rising sea. After reaching its present level, sea-level fluctuations for the past 2.5 millennia were not greater than 1.5 to 2 m. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Atmospheric sulfur over the east Mediterranean region

Particulate sulfate has been measured intermittently at various ground sites in Israel and from an instrumented aircraft for a 10‐year period between 1984 and 1993. The measurements were accompanied by concurrent monitoring of primary and secondary air pollutants and meteorological parameters. In three studies, Etzion 1984–1986, Jerusalem 1987–1988, and Jerusalem 1990–1991, measurements were taken for at least a year. The other studies were performed during summer months when higher levels of secondary pollutants, including particulate sulfate, were observed. In most of the studies samples were taken for four sequential 6‐hour time segments. In one study, at Caesarea 1993, sulfate samples were taken only when wind flows were perpendicular to the coastline. The airborne measurements were performed along three north‐south paths inside the planetary boundary layer, over the Mediterranean coast, over the Judea‐Samaria mountains and over the Jordan Valley. Each flight path consisted of 30 to 45 minutes of continuous sampling of SO2 and one integrated sample of particulate sulfate. In all of our studies the concentration of particulate sulfate observed was relatively high compared with other world locations. The highest values, occasionally exceeding 500 nmole m−3, were found during the summer. Wintertime levels were in the range of 50–100 nmole m−3. The annual average, calculated for the three long studies, is 100 ± 15 nmole m−3, which is twice as high as predicted for the region by a global model and as high as reported for some of the more polluted regions in the US. Several indicators suggested that the origin of the sulfate in the region is not from local sources but the result of long range transport. The indicators include the lack of correlation between particulate sulfate and primary pollutants, the high sulfate to total sulfur values, the origin of the airmass back trajectories and the fact that similar levels were observed during concurrent periods at different sites. Throughout the study, higher concentration of particulate sulfate was found during the afternoon hours, especially during the summer and at the inland locations. The contribution to the afternoon elevated values could not be associated with long range transport and results probably from major sulfur emission sources located along the Israeli Mediterranean coast.

Overconsolidated clays from the Israeli Mediterranean coast and inner shore : V. Rohrlich, G. Wiseman & A. Komornik, Engineering Geology, 39(1–2), 1995, pp 87–94

Overconsolidated clays from the Israeli Mediterranean coast and inner shore : V. Rohrlich, G. Wiseman & A. Komornik, Engineering Geology, 39(1–2), 1995, pp 87–94

Overconsolidated clays from the Israeli Mediterranean coast and inner shore

The consolidated properties of clay samples from sites on the inner shelf and Mediterranean coast of Israel (Acre, Haifa, Hadera, Ashdod and Ashkelon) are examined. The majority of the samples are overconsolidated. The variation of preconsolidation pressure with depth indicates overconsolidation by desiccation as a result of a climate consistent with periodic drying. The majority of the samples are from the upper part of the Quaternary profile, which consists of alternating sandy and clayey sediments. The profile, geological setting and consolidation characteristics of each site are described. The sediments investigated are of Late Pleistocene-Holocene age and belong to the penultimate and ultimate stage of the eustatically controlled Quaternary cycles. Most samples of heavily preconsolidated clays belong to the lower clayey unit, whereas the samples from the upper clayey unit are mostly overconsolidated only above and around the present water level. Preconsolidation is associated with desiccation at various stages during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene.

Allorecognition elements on a urochordate histocompatibility locus indicate unprecedented extensive polymorphism

Tissue contacts between different colonies of the cosmopolitan urochordate Botryllus schlosseri resulted either in fusion between allogenic blood vessels or in the formation of rejections, characterized by necrotic areas. This colony specificity is manifested by a single, highly polymorphic mendelian locus, with codominantly expressed alleles, called the tunicate fusibility/histocompatibility (Fu/HC) haplotype. Two colonies sharing even one allele at the Fu/HC locus may fuse; rejecting colonies share no alleles. Previous studies have revealed up to 100 alleles on the Fu/HC locus in different natural populations. We studied Fu/HC polymorphism in three populations (> 1000 colonies) along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, 12-36 km apart. By using the protocol of colony allorecognition assays (CAAS) on 444 tests within localities, 58-306 alleles per locality were calculated. We also estimate a total of 479-560 Fu/HC alleles in the three Israeli populations. An additional 103 interpopulation CAAS resulted in zero fusion, an outcome which contradicts previous findings showing 4.4-12.0% fusions between more remote B. schlosseri populations such as those from Israel versus Monterey, California, and California versus Japan assays. We propose that the recorded unprecedented Fu/HC polymorphism is maintained through overdominant selection, which is promoted by the gregarious settlement of Fu/HC-compatible larvae and by the subsequent threat of germ cell parasitism following colony fusion.

BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON HETEROSACCUS DOLLFUSI BOSCHMA (CIRRIPEDIA: RHIZOCEPHALA), A PARASITE OF CHARYBDIS LONGICOLLIS LEENE (DECAPODA: BRACHYURA), A LESSEPSIAN MIGRANT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

ABSTRACT Since 1993, Heterosaccus dollfusi has been a very common parasite on the crab Charybdis longicollis along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. It accompanied from the Red Sea this Lessepsian migrant crab. The parasite is more common on male than female crabs, where it becomes external on hosts of many sizes shortly after a molt and undergoes characteristic growth stages. The parasite usually causes the complete loss of pleopods in both sexes and a feminine broadening of the abdomen in male crabs. Parasite survival is the same in both sexes of the host. More than one parasite per host is frequent, each probably originating from an individual cypris larva rather than from asexual budding. Hosts with single parasites outlive those with multiple infections.

Ecophysiological adaptation strategies of some intertidal marine macroalgae of the Israeli Mediterranean coast

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 125:219-228 (1995) - doi:10.3354/meps125219 Ecophysiological adaptation strategies of some intertidal marine macroalgae of the Israeli Mediterranean coast Einav R, Breckle S, Beer S The dominant macroalgae growing at a rocky site on the Israeli coast were examined for ecophysiological responses to varying environmental parameters in an attempt to correlate such responses with their appearance at distinct vertical heights within the intertidal zone. These responses were measured as the photosynthetic performance during various conditions of light, temperature, salinity, inorganic carbon and desiccation and were compared with algae cover during the year. While all algae apparently grew under light-saturating conditions, Enteromorpha compressa and Ulva lactuca, which occupy the uppermost level of the zone, were very tolerant to high and low temperatures as well as desiccation and varying salinity levels. They were also saturated both by HCO3- (while submerged) and atmospheric CO2 (during emergence). In contrast, 4 of the species dominating the middle and lower parts of the intertidal showed a narrower temperature response, could not tolerate exposure to high temperatures for prolonged time periods and were more sensitive to desiccation and salinity changes. In Acanthophora najadiformis and Hypnea musciformis, the sensitivity to desiccation in combination with the much higher rates of photosynthesis in air than in water might explain their growth in the mid intertidal, where, on one hand, waves would keep the thalli moist and, on the other hand, frequent exposure to air would ensure a high supply of atmospheric CO2. In all, these results show that the uppermost growing algae (Enteromorphacompressa and Ulva lactuca) are those that endure the most adverse atmospheric influences and thus can be assumed to lack competition from other species in the high intertidal. Even though they perform equally well under submerged conditions, it may be that biotic factors, such as grazing, limit them from growing lower down. In contrast, the other algae studied showed markedly adverse responses to atmospheric conditions, especially desiccation, and this may be what restricts them to the lower portion of the intertidal. Algae . Intertidal . Ecophysiology . Desiccation . Photosynthesis Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 125. Publication date: September 14, 1995 Print ISSN:0171-8630; Online ISSN:1616-1599 Copyright © 1995 Inter-Research.

Allorecognition/xenorecognition responses in Botrylloides (ascidiacea) subpopulations from the mediterranean coast of Israel

AbstractExaminations of Botrylloides colonies along the Mediterranean coast of Israel have revealed the existence of three distinct morphs (subpopulations, SPs) which differ in some morphological characteristics and life history patterns. Here we study allorecognition and xenorecognition responses expressed by colonies of three SPs, by employing >400 colony allorecognition and xenorecognition assays. SP1 colonies exhibited a new type of nonself response by the formation of giant ampullae, the megaloampullae. These special structures appeared 1–5 days after first ampullae‐to‐ampullae contacts were established, in assays either within SPs or between SPs, and in xenogeneic challenges with Botryllus schlosseri but not with Didemnum. The megaloampullae developed from regular ampullae, which dilated up to 7 times their normal width and 1.5 times their length, but were usually not involved in cytotoxic reactions. SP2 and SP3 colonies produced “fusion‐rejection” responses in within‐SP assays; however, they may develop hemorrhages only when challenged between SPs (also with SP1 colonies) or xenogenetically with B. schlosseri. No xenogeneic response was recorded when the colonies were assayed with Didemnum. The fusion‐rejection response is characterized by reciprocal penetration of ampullae, develops to short‐term blood vessel anastomosis with increased numbers of amebocytes and macrophages, followed by a limited exchange of blood cells, and subsequently terminates in ampullae amputation and cell death. Hemorrhages developed without ampullae penetration. We studied fusion frequencies in SP1 and SP3 colonies collected from an area of 20 × 30 m. Both combinations of within‐SP assays revealed high rates of fusion (12.5 and 35.0%, revealing 30 and 10 allorecognition alleles on the fusibility locus, respectively), but no fusion was recorded in 50 between‐SP assays. The types of allogeneic responses may indicate that SP2 and SP3 are taxonomically closer to one another than to SP1, a conclusion which is not supported by analyzing morphological, ecological, and developmental features characteristic of the three Botrylloides spp. We also discuss here the phenomenon that some invertebrates express repeatability and specifically more than one distinctive nonself reaction, which indicates the complexity of invertebrate immune responses. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Niche separation between colonizing and indigenous goatfish (Mullidae) along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

The present study assesses the resource partitioning between two Red Sea colonizers, the goldband goatfish Upeneus moluccensis and the brownband goatfish U. pori, and the two indigenous Mediterranean goatfishes, the red mullet Mullus barbatus and the striped mullet M. surmuletus, along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Niche separation was studied along three axes: habitat selection, feeding habits and spawning season. Habitat selection is the most significant parameter separating the species. The two colonizing species occupy a shallow habitat, U. pori dominating the primarily sandy bottom at 20–30 m and U. moluccensis at 40–50 m, at which depth the sea bottom becomes increasingly silty. Of the two indigenous species, M. barbatus is dominant in depths below 55 m, while M. surmuletus appears at low abundance in all depths. Niche separation by feeding habits is much less evident. All four species feed primarily on macrurid crustaceans and thus the values of diet overlap are rather high (0·666≤T≤0·928). Prey size is not an important factor in niche separation. Young fishes (S.L>,115 mm) of all four species feed upon prey of similar size (20–160 mg). Among older individuals (S.L.>115 mm) three species continue to feed upon the same size prey, while U. moluccensis feeds upon considerably larger prey (600–2200 mg). The difference between the spawning seasons of the colonizing vs indigenous species and consequent timing of benthic settling may contribute to niche separation. The results of this study suggest that success in colonization by Red Sea goatfish may be due to the existence of unexploited niches in the eastern Mediterranean ecosystem.

Niche separation between colonizing and indigenous goatfish (Mullidae) along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

The present study assesses the resource partitioning between two Red Sea colonizers, the goldband goatfish Upeneus moluccensis and the brownband goatfish U. pori, and the two indigenous Mediterranean goatfishes, the red mullet Mullus barbatus and the striped mullet M. surmuletus, along the Mediterranean coast of Israel.Niche separation was studied along three axes: habitat selection, feeding habits and spawning season. Habitat selection is the most significant parameter separating the species. The two colonizing species occupy a shallow habitat, U. pori dominating the primarily sandy bottom at 20–30 m and U. moluccensis at 40–50 m, at which depth the sea bottom becomes increasingly silty. Of the two indigenous species, M. barbatus is dominant in depths below 55 m, while M. surmuletus appears at low abundance in all depths.Niche separation by feeding habits is much less evident. All four species feed primarily on macrurid crustaceans and thus the values of diet overlap are rather high (0·666≤T≤0·928). Prey size is not an important factor in niche separation. Young fishes (S.L>,115 mm) of all four species feed upon prey of similar size (20–160 mg). Among older individuals (S.L.>115 mm) three species continue to feed upon the same size prey, while U. moluccensis feeds upon considerably larger prey (600–2200 mg).The difference between the spawning seasons of the colonizing vs indigenous species and consequent timing of benthic settling may contribute to niche separation.The results of this study suggest that success in colonization by Red Sea goatfish may be due to the existence of unexploited niches in the eastern Mediterranean ecosystem.

Three deep water sponges from the Eastern Mediterranean and their associated Fauna

Abstract Three species of sponges were collected off the Israeli Mediterranean coast from a depth of 830 m: Bubaris sarayisp. nov., described here, Sarcotragus cf. muscatum, and Ircinia cf. retidermata. The sponge cavities contained the polychaetes Harmothoespinifera, Ceratonereis costae, Leonnatesjousseaumei, and the snapping shrimp Synalpheusgambarelloides. The sponge surface was encrusted with the serpulid tubeworm Hydroidesheteroceros. Leonnatesjousseaumeiand H. heteroceros are Lessepsian migrants, and L. jousseaumei is recorded from the Mediterranean for the first time. For all the species, the present finding constitutes a great extension of their known depth range; this is also the first record of Lessepsian migrants from great depths. It is suggested that in the deep water soft-bottom environment, sponges are porous hard-substrate microhabitat islands, providing associated fauna with shelter, and possibly also a continuous flow of water with suspended matter.

Trace metals in shallow sediments from the Mediterranean coastal region of Israel

Concentrations of mercury, lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, iron and aluminium were recorded in coastal and river mouths surficial sediments, collected along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, during 1988–1991. The levels of trace metal concentrations when normalized against Fe concentration (trace metal/iron ratios) indicated no contamination at most of the stations along the coast. Enrichment of Hg, Cu, Zn and Cd attributed to land-based point sources of pollution, was found in the estuaries of the Kishon and Yarkon rivers. The normalized Pb, Cu and Zn data showed a trend of increasing values from the south toward the north. This S-N trend could be a result of three processes which may be occurring simultaneously: progressive mixing between sediment with a low trace metal/iron ratio in the south, which probably represents a single source derived from the Nile region with (a) non-point source input of pollutants by atmospheric transport, or (b) with point sources of pollutants introduced by rivers and streams, or (c) a natural change in the mineralogy of the sediments along the coast with a relative increase in the trace metals or a decrease in iron as one progresses further north. The relative importance of these three possible processes remains to be established.

The biology of the Red Sea migrant, Saurida undosquamis in the Mediterranean and comparison with the indigenous confamilial Synodus saurus (Teleostei: Synodontidae)

A study of the biology of Red Sea — Suez Canal migrant, the lizardfish Saurida undosquamis and the indigenous Synodus saurus was carried out in the Mediterranean coast of Israel. The spawning season of S. undosquamis lasts from March to December indicating a curtailment of the year-round spawning season of the source population in the Gulf of Oman. The spawning season of S. saurus is from February to August. The diameter of ripe oocytes of S. undosquamis is 500–600 µm. Females of S. undosquamis grow slightly faster than males and reach a larger size (340 mm TL versus 280 mm TL). Niche partitioning between the two lizardfishes is primarily on the basis of depth. The invador occupying deeper water. Both species are chiefly piscivorous but as a result of their depth distribution there is little diet overlap on the specific level.

Plume rise measurements from large point sources in Israel

An instrumented aircraft was used to locate the centerline of plumes emitted from two large power plants situated along the Israeli Mediterranean coast line. The results of the measurements that were carried out at several downwind distances and at various altitudes were compared with model calculations. The models included the classical Briggs formulae, the Turner method and Petersen-Dowd modifications. The latter two take into account the effect of plume penetration and reflection of inversion layers and surface roughness. The comparison showed moderate correlation between the model and the observations for the lower stacks (80 m), and even weaker correlation for the taller stacks (250 m). In general, all three models underestimate plume rise for stable atmospheric conditions. For unstable and neutral conditions, the Briggs model overestimates the plume rise, while the other two modified models underestimate plume rise.

The Effects of Exposure to Heavy Metal Ions on Cytochrome b5 and Components of the Mixed-Function Oxidases from the Digestive Gland Microsomes of the Mollusc Monodonta turbinata

LT50 values obtained for Monodontaturbinata exposed to heavy metal ions were as follows: 25.2 days after exposure to final concentration of 1.0ppm Cd+2; 21.2 days for 0.1ppm Hg+2; 25.2 for 0. 5ppm Cr+3 and 16.8 days for 0.5ppm Cr+6, compared to 32.8 days for the control. The final concentrations of metal ions in the mollusc tissue increased by 20 times in the Hg+2, and by 10 times in the Cd+2 treated Monodonta, compared to the untreated control. The normal contents of cytochromes be and P450 in Monodontaturbinata digestive gland microsomes were 195±51 and 58±20 nmol/mg protein, respectively. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was 5.9±3.0 nmol/min/mg protein. Exposure to all heavy metal ions had a destructive effect on the two hemoproteins, especially on cytochrome P450, and a pronounced impact on NADPH-cytochrome c activity which was reduced to about 50% in the treated mollusc. No alarming concentrations of metal ions could be detected in Monodontaturbinata collected from different sites along Israel Mediterranean coast.

Trace elements in offshore and inshore fish from the mediterranean coast of Israel

A baseline survey of the levels of heavy metals in selected species of fish was conducted from 1975 in offshore, and since 1980 in inshore commercial species. The area of study covered the coastal waters of the Mediterranean between 30–90 m depth. Ranges of concentrations (μg g‐1 wet wt.) of mercury (<0.01–1.12), cadmium (<0.01–0.11), chromium (<0.01–0.70), copper (0.05–1.39), zinc (1.94–10.0) and iron (1.89–7.72) were determined in twelve trawl fish species collected from five locations offshore by deep trawl. The levels of lead and nickel were generally near the detection limit, so no analysis for these elements in the edible muscle tissues was carried out. The mercury concentration was found to increase with length and weight of the fish. Mercury levels did not vary in the fish among the five stations sampled. Non‐migratory species were selected for the study of inshore fish (Diplodus sargus, Lithognathus mormyrus and other commercial species). Ranges of mercury varied between < 0.005–1.02, cadmium <0....

The Macrobenthic Associations of Haifa Bay, Mediterranean Coast of Israel

Abstract. Species composition, distribution, and relative abundance of macrobenthic fauna were examined at Haifa Bay on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Benthic samples were taken over a two‐year period at twenty sites ranging in depth from 10‐80m. The relevant sedimentological features of the area are discussed. Classification of the faunal data produced a hierarchical grouping of sites and species, displayed as dendrograms. Ten sample groups and eleven species associations are identified. The obsérved qualitative differences arc related to the prevailing environmental conditions in the area. A unique species association, related to cobble‐sized bioherms, is described. Massive penetration by four benthic species of Indo‐Pacific origin, Lessepsian migrants, is reported.

The use of geomorphological elements for evaluation of visual quality of Israeli coast

This study describes a method for quantitative evaluation of visual resources of the Mediterranean coast of Israel. The method used visual characteristics of contrast, variety, competition, composition and harmony to identify visually preferred sites. Various coastal physical elements were used as a measurement scale of the characteristics. The study also examined the use of photographic slides vs. filed visit as a tool for visual resources evaluation of the Israeli coast.