The need to assess the environmental status of marine and coastal waters according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) encouraged the design of specific biotic indices to evaluate the response of benthic communities to human-induced changes in water quality. In the present study three of these indices, the traditional Shannon Wiener Index (H') and the more recently published AMBI (AZTI' M...

LAS (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate) shows relatively high aquatic toxicity in hard freshwater or seawater. In this paper, we studied the effect of adsorbent on the aquatic toxicity of LAS in hard freshwater and seawater. Daphnia magna and Artemia salina were used for acute aquatic toxicity test in freshwater and seawater, respectively. Kaolin was used as a model adsorbent and toxic surface ten...

Integration of DNA derived from ancient phototrophs with their characteristic lipid biomarkers has been successfully employed to reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions. However, it is poorly known that whether the DNA and lipids of microbial functional aerobes (such as ammonia-oxidizing archaea: AOA) can be used for reconstructing past environmental conditions. Here we identify and quantify ...

coastal monitoring programs are valuable tools for assessing the current state of coastal environments, for determining spatial and temporal trends in pollution and identifying potential sources of contaminants. monitoring often involves organisms from different environments, such as estuarine and intertidal zones, where conditions (e.g. salinity, temperature) fluctuate. Biomarkers “report” on ...

This study investigates the contribution of several marinas to fecal indicator bacteria impairment in Newport Bay, a regionally important tidal embayment in southern California. Three different fecal indicator bacteria groups were assayed, including total coliform, Escherichia coli, and enterococci bacteria, all measured using the IDEXX Colilert and Enterolert system. To document temporal varia...

abstract soil salinity in huge parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, is a factor limiting growth of plant and other organisms. earthworm can be considered as an indicator of soil quality in agroecosystems, because of a positive correlation between earthworm abundance and the productivity of cropped plants. the main objective of this study was to realize the interaction b...

The present study was conducted to assess the physiological and biochemical responses of winter vegetable radish (Raphanus sativus L.) to salinity stress. Salt stress markedly reduced biomass production of both radish varieties. Shoot fresh and dry weights were significantly reduced under salt stress, higher reduction was found at 120 mM NaCl as compared. Salt stress significantly reduced chlor...

While biological risk assessments dominate the academic and political debate concerning the introduction of the non-native oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis) in Mid-Atlantic States, opportunity assessments of market potential are also needed. The successful introduction of a new species hinges in part on consumer and commercial quality evaluations compared to the established eastern oyster, Crasso...

Owing to its extraordinary lifespan and wide geographical distribution along the continental margins of the North Atlantic Ocean, the ocean quahogArctica islandicamay become an important indicator species in environmental change research. To test for applicability and ‘‘calibrate’’ the Arctica-indicator, metabolic properties of A. islandica specimens were compared across different climatic and ...

Disturbances and environmental change are important factors determining the diversity, composition, and functioning of communities. However, knowledge about how natural bacterial communities are affected by such perturbations is still sparse. We performed a whole ecosystem manipulation experiment with freshwater rock pools where we applied salinity disturbances of different intensities. The aim...