1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Mauritius, found in the Indian Ocean, is the oldest of the 3 islands in the Mascarene archipelagos. According to rock dating, Mauritius was formed about 7.8 million years ago from volcanic origins. It is located at latitude of 20° south and longitude 580 east, some 800 km2 southeast of Madagascar and consists of 1.3 million inhabitants. The climate is tropical and the dominant winds blow mostly from south east. Lagoon morphology varies from single lagoons consisting of a sandy beach and a reef zone, to complex systems comprising a variety of habitats: beaches, mangroves, sand or mud swamps, lagoon channels, seagrass beds, coral colonies, sand beds and a reef zone (Fagoonee, 1990). Also, lagoons are generally shallow (2-3 m) (Turner et al. 2000) reaching depths of 6 m in the north. Since its independence in 1968, Mauritius has undergone a rapid change from its low-income economy based on agriculture to a middle-income diversified economy with its growing industrial and tourism developing sectors. It has now proudly emerged as the paradigm in which the country’s future is rooted (Ministry of Environment and sustainable Development, 2011). New hotels, villas, bungalows and industries are being constructed around the coastal regions to move more resolutely and steadily towards a better sustainable development and greener economy. However, these developments are bringing along, an inevitable depleting marine environment by placing the lagoons under serious danger.
With the implementation of the new policies of economic development like aquaculture or land based oceanic project, it is of utmost need to monitor and maintain the water quality both up to the national and international standard in the need to t...
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... in providing results and variations on the distribution and concentrations of copper metal in different types of seaweeds for the two different seasons; winter and summer, from different zones of Mauritius. Samples were taken from industrialized zone such as Sable noir and non-industrialized zones like Poste Lafayette, Pointe D’esny and Flic en Flac (control). The results obtained were compared with each other for a 5 months’ time period (August 2013 to December 2013).
1.2.1 Specific objectives
1. To evaluate how surrounding factors, such as temperature and pH, affect metal accumulation patterns in selected microalgae.
2. To monitor the concentration of copper in the seaweeds of Sable Noir, Poste La Fayette and Pointe D’Esny.
3. To assess any correlation in the variation of copper metal between industrialized zones compared to that of non-industrialized zones.
Lighting in tanks of goldfish can alter the pigment of the goldfish in various ways. The corr...
Methodology: The experimenter used two ten gallon tanks. One tank will be used for the controlled group and the other tank will be used for the experimental group. Each tank will have two pounds of sand spread among the bottom of the tank along with rocks and artificial habitats to add nitrogen to the tanks. To add optimal living conditions for the oceanic life water filtration systems, temperature regulator, circulation systems, and a light to mimic the sun’s rays were added to each tank. At all times both tanks had a temperature of 75 degrees F. This experiment was done over a three month period. The first month was to allow the nitrogen cycle to occur. This allows the fish to be exposed to the water without having stress reactions due to unhealthy living conditions due to the nitrogen. Once the first month was complete six fish was added to both tanks. Two tangs, two damsels, and two clownfish. At first both tanks had a pH level of 8.2, ideal living conditions. After one week the experimental group was exposed to a pH level of 8.6. After two weeks it was raised to 9. Two weeks later it was raised to 9.3. The final raise was done two weeks after making the pH level 9.5. The final week of the experiment the pH lev...
Ocean acidification is the decrease of pH in the oceans due to absorption of CO2 in the atmosphere (Fabry, 2008). Over the past three hundred million years ocean pH levels have been 8.3, however in the past 200 years the pH level of oceans’ have reduced to 8.1, an increase of 25% in the acidity level (Bednaršek, 2012). The CO2 in the ocean reacts with water to form carbonic acid and consume carbonate ions. As a result a lot of marine species are suffering high mortality rate, lower reproduction and the disruption of ecosystems and food chains. Moreover, over 22 million tons of carbon dioxide goes to the ocean every day (Buffie and Carr, 2010). If the rate of CO2 emission in the ocean is not reduced, the predicted ocean CO2 concentration will be 200% by the end of this century (Buffie and Carr, 2010). This paper will explain two major lines of evidence for ocean acidification. The first evidence is based on the impacts of acidity of ocean on calcifying organisms and the second one is acidosis and impact of CO2 on the physiological process of marine species (Silver Sunbream Fish). Lastly the paper will also touch on the potential pitfall correlated with the conducted experiments, which might have hindered t...
With carbon dioxide levels continuing to rise over the past few decades (fig. 1) and now into the future, concern has been brought to what is happening to the carbonate chemistry of the oceans. Because of these changes in chemistry, the ocean is becoming more acidic. Along with climate change, ocean acidification may be one of the greatest threats to our planet. The higher the ocean’s acidity level goes, the lower the calcium carbonate levels will drop. Even though this is a big scale issue, my goal is to focus on and underline what these changes will mean for the marine life that depend on the calcium carbonate in seawater. I will go in depth with specific regards to a study regarding pteropods or sea butterflies.
.... After a year or so of research, it was found that this black algae like organism, actually was a magnet of sorts to minerals in the water. Other sponges and efforts to clean out the water were nothing compared to what this could clean from the water. Minerals such as gold, iron, copper and silver were extracted from the pit because of it. After an even more extensive research on the algae alone, it was found that there was only one other place that it had ever been found. In the intestinal swabs of geese.
The Artemia franciscana can survive in extreme conditions of salinity, water depth, and temperature (Biology 108 laboratory manual, 2010), but do A. franciscana prefer these conditions or do they simply cope with their surroundings? This experiment explored the extent of the A. franciscanas preference towards three major stimuli: light, temperature, and acidity. A. franciscana are able to endure extreme temperature ranges from 6 ̊ C to 40 ̊ C, however since their optimal temperature for breeding is about room temperature it can be inferred that the A. franciscana will prefer this over other temperatures (Al Dhaheri and Drew, 2003). This is much the same in regards to acidity as Artemia franciscana, in general thrive in saline lakes, can survive pH ranges between 7 and 10 with 8 being ideal for cysts(eggs) to hatch (Al Dhaheri and Drew, 2003). Based on this fact alone the tested A. franciscana should show preference to higher pH levels. In nature A. franciscana feed by scraping food, such as algae, of rocks and can be classified as a bottom feeder; with this said, A. franciscana are usually located in shallow waters. In respect to the preference of light intensity, A. franciscana can be hypothesized to respond to light erratically (Fox, 2001; Al Dhaheri and Drew, 2003). Using these predictions, and the results of the experimentation on the A. franciscana and stimuli, we will be able to determine their preference towards light, temperature, and pH.
Copper mining has had a huge impact on Michigan throughout history. Copper mining has had such an impact that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a region referred to as “The Copper Country” because of its involvement in the copper-mining industry. The copper-mining industry has also led to technological developments necessary for hoisting and drilling as well as the development of towns and cities in the Keweenaw. In addition, it led to the creation of many potential jobs for residents of the towns that were developed to support these mines.
Guinotte, J. M. and Fabry, V. J. (2008), Ocean Acidification and Its Potential Effects on Marine Ecosystems. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1134: 320–342. doi: 10.1196/annals.1439.013
28 October 2010. 16 April 2014 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0607_040607_phytoplankton_2.hyml. “Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Ocean” Natural Resources Defense Council. 3 March 2014. web.
The major composition of the ocean chemistry that is affected by atmospheric CO2 are understood for the most part and can be calculated accurately. However there is much uncertainty of the biological effects caused by ocean acidification and how it will vary amongst organisms; some may cope better than others. Even though the research on ocean acidification is still very young, there is already evidence of biological impacts due to changes in the chemistry of the ocean. The greatest evidence of the impactions of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems can be seen in experiments on calcifying organisms. When seawater is acidified to various amounts the formation and dissolution of calcium carbonate shells and skeletons in marine organisms such as reef-building corals, oysters and mussels, and phytoplankton and zooplankton which for the base for marine food webs (“Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy…”,
"Ocean Pollution." MarineBio Conservation Society ~ Marine Biology, Ocean Life Conservation, Sea Creatures, Biodiversity, Research... Web. 19 May 2014.
Maldives is a collection of about 1000 islands with a combined mass of 115 square miles occupied by approximately 330,000 people, which is in the Indian Ocean (Hannah, J. A., Muller, P. O., & Nijman, J., 2012). The rise in the sea level is a concern that all of Maldives shares, the islands only set eight feet above sea level at its highest point. Any rise in the sea level would disrupt the country’s economic balance. The rising sea level threatens the beachfront resorts for which most of Maldives economy depends on. Thousands of people every year travel to Maldives to...
In the first study examined, “Effect of Different Salinities on the Survival and Growth of Artemina Spp,” researchers Soundaraparian and Saravanakumar designed an experiment to ascertain the ideal conditions for the growth of brine shrimp, or Artemina. In the Introduction, the scientists note the growing significance of Artemina, as it is now used as live feed for over 85 percent of cultured species around the world. Thus, a demand to grow huge quantities of Artemia has arisen, making this study incredibly relevant.
The physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water sample are compared with the drinking water standards and guidelines for the determination of the Water Quality Index. If the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water is beyond the define limit then it will affect the human health. It has been realized that the use of individual water quality variable in order to describe the water quality for common public is not easily understand worthy. Water Quality Index has an efficiency to convert all the information into a single number to indicate the data in a simple form. It is similar to Air Quality Index. According to World Health Organization (WHO), Gwalior was the second most air polluted city in the
Water Pollution is a current issue that has serious consequences; it progresses everyday in our lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water.