Decolourization of paprika dye effluent with hydrogen peroxide produced by glucose oxidase

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide was produced from bran by a two-step process using cellulase/xylanase and glucose oxidase, sequentially. The decolourization efficiency of the produced reagent was tested using paprika oil dye (effluent from industrial source) and high levels of colour removal (96%) were achieved after saponification pre-treatment and hydrogen peroxide application. The method is economically and environmentally advantageous since lower energy and chemical input are needed and wastewater pollution is considerably reduced. At the same time, the utilization of waste materials was successfully achieved.     

Morphological indices and otolith microstructure of Atlantic croaker,Micropogonias undulatus,as indicators of habitat quality along an estuarine pollution gradient

Synopsis Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, sampled from a transect along a pollution gradient show a trend of declining growth and physical condition. This trend is apparent in the mean size of 0-group croaker, in their recent growth rate measured by marginal otolith increment widths, in longer term growth rate as indicated by relative otolith weights, and in general physical condition as measured by an index of condition of the caudal fin. We suggest that these measures are indicators of stress associated with environmental conditions. Because croaker from different positions along the pollution gradient were distinguishable, it appears that they remain for extended periods within areas of degraded environmental quality.     

Plasticity of gonad development in hermaphroditic sparids: ovotestis ontogeny in a protandric species,Lithognathus mormyrus

Synopsis Heterosexual gonad development in a sparid species, Lithognathus mormyrus, was studied by histological and cytological examination, during the first three years of life. Gonad bisexuality is achieved after two months of development, according to the cytological dynamics known in sparids. In one-year-old fishes, a variability in the gonad morphology of the juvenile is shown: three different types of ovotestis have been identified within the same cohort: ovotestes with testicular prevalence (25%), testicular and ovarian equivalence (20%), and ovarian prevalence (55%). This morphological variability of the juvenille ovotestes was consistent with the histological analysis of the sexual structure of the adult stock at the first sexual maturity, which constituted 55.5% of functional males (stemming from the first types of ovotestis) and 44.5% of primary females (from the third type). The plasticity of sexual expression in sparids is emphasized, revealing the potentialities of the ovotestis.     

The fish assemblage on a coralligenous shallow shelf off the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel

The fish assemblage on the shallow coralligenous shelf (16-30m depth) off Haifa, Israel was sampled using trammel nets throughout a period of 1 year. Complementary data were obtained via underwater censuses of fish on an artificial reef established later in the sampling area. Fortythree species of fish were sampled by trammel nets, 79% of which were observed also during the underwater censuses. Although fish of Red Sea origin constituted only 11.6% of the species composition in the net samples, they contributed 46.2% of the fish abundance and 40.6% of the biomass in these samples. This was supported by the finding that species of Red Sea origin contributed 64% of the abundance of large fish counted on the artificial reef. Siganus luridas, S. rivulatus and Sargocentron rubrum are the main contributors in number and biomass among fish of Red Sea origin. It is suggested that the biogenic rocky bottom of this area contains several components which are similar to biogenic habitats favoured by these benthic species in the Red Sea; this may explain the high abundance of these species in the studied area.     

Photoheterotrophy in the production of phytoplankton organisms

Interest is growing in algae as sources of medicinal and other potentially useful compounds, as well as their use in fish rearing. We are interested in their production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Photoautotrophic growth gives the highest levels of unsaturation in the fatty acid pool, but biomass concentrations are low. Heterotrophy on sugars gives higher biomass but seems to give more saturation in the fatty acids. In freshwater algae acetate has proved to be a good carbon source for photoheterotrophic growth, giving a crop with reasonably high levels of PUFA. In addition it is possible to regulate acetic acid addition through the pH change as acetate is used up in a well-aerated system, so achieving high biomass yields in the presence of relatively low acetate concentration. When we attempted to extend this to marine algae (principally species used in fish farming), we found that acetic acid was ineffective or sometimes toxic to most species tested, even at high pH. However, glycerol stimulated growth in a number of the algae. We report on this stimulation, and on the fatty acid composition of the resulting algal crop, discuss the problems in regulating the addition of this metabolite to algal cultures, and speculate on applications in the production of other useful algal metabolites. We also show that some of these algae used in fish farming grow best when the salinity of the water is rather less than that found in standard sea water.     

Early ontogeny of Adinia xenica (Pisces,Cyprinodontiformes): 2. Implications of embryonic resting interval for larval development

Synopsis Larval development commences with first exogenous feeding, and ends with final remodelling of caenogenetic structures into the definitive organs of juvenile and adult. For the intertidal cyprinodontid Adinia xenica this generally corresponds to the interval between hatching and completion of scalation. The final step of the embryo period is a resting interval of variable duration. Embryos were induced to hatch after 2 and 10 days of this near arrest. Although the general pattern of larval development was the same for both groups, differences were observed in the rates and order of calcification of skeletal elements, fin differentiation and growth, and scalation. For example, embryos hatching 8 days later in the resting interval were already pattially calcified, but completed calcification at a slower rate than the group hatching after 2 days. These differences may be due to effects of the duration of the resting interval itself; or they may reflect genetic variation of which age at hatching is only one manifestation.     

Electron-microscopic study of innervation of smooth muscle cells surrounding collecting tubules of the fish kidney

Summary The fine structure of the collecting tubules of the trout and killifish kidney was studied. These tubules are surrounded by layers of smooth muscle cells which are commonly innervated. The nerve terminals contain synaptic vesicles and, occasionally, a few dense-cored granules as well. Capillaries occur in the connective tissue space between these smooth muscle cells and the collecting tubule. Epithelial cells of the collecting tubules contain abundant mitochondria and a well developed membrane system displaying parallel arrays, and were considered to be actively involved in the transport of materials. In the trout, the collecting tubules contain peculiar cells in addition to regular tubule cells. The fine structure of these peculiar cells is highly reminiscent of that of gill chloride cells. The significance of these findings may be summarized as follows: If the smooth muscles around the collecting tubule contract under neural influence, intratubular pressure may be increased and, thus affect glomerular filtration rate. The contraction of these muscles may also cause the collapse of peritubular capillaries, affecting the transport activity of tubule cells.     

Grazing by the intertidal fish Anoplarchus purpurescens upon a distasteful polychaete worm

Synopsis Cirratulid worms are common inhabitants of the central California rocky intertidal zone and appear to offer a potentially rich source of food for intertidal fishes. However, analyses of stomach contents revealed that they do not appear in the diets of the commonest intertidal fishes. Apparently only one species, the eel blenny Anoplarchus purpurescens, feeds on cirratulids in significant amounts.Feeding experiments employing local intertidal fishes showed that the common intertidal cirratulid, Cirriformia luxuriosa, is distasteful to most of the fishes. Only two species ate its tentacles, and only A. purpurescens consistently ate large quantities. We propose that C. luxuriosa possesses a predation-deterring chemical similar to that reported in C. spirabrancha, although A. purpurescens apparently has been able to circumvent this anti-predator mechanism.The ability of A. purpurescens to eat Cirriformia tentacles allows it to tap a seemingly little-used food source, and thus may decrease competition between A. purpurescens and other intertidal fishes. This feeding relationship also represents a possible example of coevolution between a predator and its prey.