scholarly journals Sea cucumbers reduce chromophoric dissolved organic matter in aquaculture tanks

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Mohammad Sadeghi-Nassaj ◽  
Teresa S. Catalá ◽  
Pedro A. Álvarez ◽  
Isabel Reche

Background Mono-specific aquaculture effluents contain high concentrations of nutrients and organic matter, which affect negatively the water quality of the recipient ecosystems. A fundamental feature of water quality is its transparency. The fraction of dissolved organic matter that absorbs light is named chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). A sustainable alternative to mono-specific aquaculture is the multitrophic aquaculture that includes species trophically complementary named “extractive” species that uptake the waste byproducts. Sea cucumbers are recognized as efficient extractive species due to the consumption of particulate organic matter (POM). However, the effects of sea cucumbers on CDOM are still unknown. Methods During more than one year, we monitored CDOM in two big-volume tanks with different trophic structure. One of the tanks (−holothurian) only contained around 810 individuals of Anemonia sulcata, whereas the other tank (+holothurian) also included 90 individuals of Holothuria tubulosa and Holothuria forskali. We routinely analyzed CDOM absorption spectra and determined quantitative (absorption coefficients at 325 nm) and qualitative (spectral slopes) optical parameters in the inlet waters, within the tanks, and in their corresponding effluents. To confirm the time-series results, we also performed three experiments. Each experiment consisted of two treatments: +holothurians (+H) and –holothurians (−H). We set up three +H tanks with 80 individuals of A. sulcata and 10 individuals of H. tubulosa in each tank and four –H tanks that contained only 80 individuals of A. sulcata. Results In the time-series, absorption coefficients at 325 nm (a325) and spectral slopes from 275 to 295 nm (S275−295) were significantly lower in the effluent of the +holothurian tank (average: 0.33 m−1 and 16 µm−1, respectively) than in the effluent of the −holothurian tank (average: 0.69 m−1 and 34 µm−1, respectively), the former being similar to those found in the inlet waters (average: 0.32 m−1 and 22 µm−1, respectively). This reduction in the absorption of the dissolved organic matter appears to be mediated by the POM consumption by holothurians. The experiments confirmed the results observed in the time-series. The a325 and S275−295 values were significantly lower in the treatment with holothurians than in the treatment without holothurians indicating a reduction in the concentration of chromophoric organic compounds, particularly of low molecular weight. Discussion Consequently, sea cucumbers appear to improve water transparency in aquaculture tanks. The underlying mechanism of this improvement might be related to the POM consumption by holothurians, which reduces the concentration of CDOM derived from POM disaggregation or to the direct assimilation of dissolved compounds of low molecular weight as chromophoric amino acids.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Mohammad Sadeghi-Nassaj ◽  
Teresa S. Catalá ◽  
Pedro A. Álvarez ◽  
Isabel Reche

Background. The effluents of the mono-specific aquaculture contain high concentrations of dissolved nutrients and organic matter, which affect negatively water quality of the recipient aquatic ecosystems. A key feature of water quality is its transparency. Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) determines most of the light transmission in the ultraviolet and blue bands in the aquatic ecosystems. A sustainable alternative to mono-specific aquaculture is the integrated multitrophic aquaculture that includes species trophically complementary named “extractive” species. Sea cucumbers are recognized as efficient extractive species, with a high potential to improve water quality, due to the consumption of particulate organic matter (POM). However, the effects of sea cucumbers on CDOM are still unknown. Methods. During one year, we biweekly monitored CDOM in two aquaculture tanks with different trophic structure. One of the tanks (-holothurian tank) only contained the primary species, Anemonia sulcata, whereas the other tank (+ holothurian tank) also contained individuals of Holothuria tubulosa and H. forskali. We routinely performed CDOM absorption spectra from 200 nm to 750 nm and determined quantitative (absorption coefficients at 325 nm) and qualitative (spectral slopes and molar absorption coefficients at 325 nm) optical parameters in the inlet waters, in the tanks, and in their corresponding effluents. Results. Absorption coefficients at 325 nm (a325) and spectral slopes from 275 to 295 nm (S275-295) were significantly lower in the effluents of the +holothurian tank (average: 0.33 and 16 μm-1, respectively) than in the effluents of the −holothurian tank (average: 0.69 m-1 and 34 μm-1, respectively), being the former similar to those found in the inlet waters (average: 0.32 m-1 and 22 μm-1, respectively). This reduction in CDOM absorption appears to be mediated by the POM consumption by the holothurians. The reduction of POM concentration in the +holothurian tank may weaken the process of POM disaggregation into dissolved organic matter, which ultimately might have generated CDOM in the –holothurian tank. Discussion. Extractive species such as holothurians improve water transparency through POM consumption, likely because reduces POM disaggregation into CDOM. We suggest that CDOM monitoring in aquaculture facilities, using automatic probes or even remote sensing, could be a useful tool to trace the effectiveness of extractive species at large scales of time and space.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Mohammad Sadeghi-Nassaj ◽  
Teresa S. Catalá ◽  
Pedro A. Álvarez ◽  
Isabel Reche

Background. The effluents of the mono-specific aquaculture contain high concentrations of dissolved nutrients and organic matter, which affect negatively water quality of the recipient aquatic ecosystems. A key feature of water quality is its transparency. Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) determines most of the light transmission in the ultraviolet and blue bands in the aquatic ecosystems. A sustainable alternative to mono-specific aquaculture is the integrated multitrophic aquaculture that includes species trophically complementary named “extractive” species. Sea cucumbers are recognized as efficient extractive species, with a high potential to improve water quality, due to the consumption of particulate organic matter (POM). However, the effects of sea cucumbers on CDOM are still unknown. Methods. During one year, we biweekly monitored CDOM in two aquaculture tanks with different trophic structure. One of the tanks (-holothurian tank) only contained the primary species, Anemonia sulcata, whereas the other tank (+ holothurian tank) also contained individuals of Holothuria tubulosa and H. forskali. We routinely performed CDOM absorption spectra from 200 nm to 750 nm and determined quantitative (absorption coefficients at 325 nm) and qualitative (spectral slopes and molar absorption coefficients at 325 nm) optical parameters in the inlet waters, in the tanks, and in their corresponding effluents. Results. Absorption coefficients at 325 nm (a325) and spectral slopes from 275 to 295 nm (S275-295) were significantly lower in the effluents of the +holothurian tank (average: 0.33 and 16 μm-1, respectively) than in the effluents of the −holothurian tank (average: 0.69 m-1 and 34 μm-1, respectively), being the former similar to those found in the inlet waters (average: 0.32 m-1 and 22 μm-1, respectively). This reduction in CDOM absorption appears to be mediated by the POM consumption by the holothurians. The reduction of POM concentration in the +holothurian tank may weaken the process of POM disaggregation into dissolved organic matter, which ultimately might have generated CDOM in the –holothurian tank. Discussion. Extractive species such as holothurians improve water transparency through POM consumption, likely because reduces POM disaggregation into CDOM. We suggest that CDOM monitoring in aquaculture facilities, using automatic probes or even remote sensing, could be a useful tool to trace the effectiveness of extractive species at large scales of time and space.


2003 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Sipelgas ◽  
H. Arst ◽  
K. Kallio ◽  
A. Erm ◽  
P. Oja ◽  
...  

The main objective of the present study is to test various methods for describing the absorption spectra of coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and to determine the numerical values of some optical parameters of CDOM in lakes with diverse water quality. First, the parameters of an exponential model in different spectral intervals were determined. In addition, the suitability of some other models for the approximation of CDOM spectra was estimated. Specific absorption coefficients of CDOM were calculated from the absorption coefficients and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. The experimental initial data were differences between spectral attenuation coefficients of filtered and distilled water. Two datasets were used: 1) for 13 Estonian and 7 Finnish lakes (altogether 404 spectra between 350 and 700 nm) measured by the Estonian Marine Institute (EMI); 2) for 10 Finnish lakes (73 spectra) measured by the Finnish Environment Institute (FEI). The spectra of CDOM absorption coefficients (aCDOM) were calculated from experimental data taking into account the correction due to scattering properties of colloids in the filtered water. The total content of CDOM in natural waters of Estonian and Finnish lakes was expressed by means of aCDOM at the wavelength of 380 nm. It varied significantly, from 0.71 to 19.5 m−1, the mean value (of all the investigated lakes) being around 6.6 m−1. Slopes of the exponential approximation varied widely, from 0.006 to 0.03 nm−1. Averaged over all lakes values of slope for the interval 380-500 nm obtained from the EMI dataset are close to those obtained from the FEI dataset: from 0.014 nm−1 (without correction) to 0.016-0.017 nm-1 (with different types of correction). These results are in good correspondence with most published data. Attempts to describe the spectra in the region of 350-700 nm by means of hyperexponential functions (∽ exp(-αλη)) show that: (1) η < 1 (in the case of traditional exponential approximation η = 1); (2) a promising idea is to seek the best fit only for wavelengths λ > λ1, where λ1 will be chosen taking into account the real shape of aCDOM spectra. The mean value of the specific absorption coefficient (a*CDOM) at the wavelength 380 nm obtained in this study (0.44 L mg−1 m−1) is close to the values published in the literature, if we assume that a*CDOM (380) is calculated using the data of dissolved organic matter (DOM). The optically non-active fraction of DOM in our study was high and therefore a*CDOM (380) was considerably higher (1.01 L mg−1 m−1) than a*CDOM (380). The results of the present work could be used in the modeling of underwater light field as well as in the interpretation of radiation measurements and optical remote sensing results.


2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (18) ◽  
pp. 4190-4198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Brinkmann ◽  
Philip Hörsch ◽  
Daniel Sartorius ◽  
Fritz H. Frimmel

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Wu ◽  
Jin’e Dai ◽  
Erping Bi

<p>Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in affecting the environmental behaviors of organic contaminants. Effects of two representative DOMs (dissolved humic acid (HA) and tannic acid (TA)) on sorption of benzotriazole (BTA) to a reference soil were investigated by batch experiments. The results indicated that TA had stronger sorption to soil than HA (initial solution pH=6.0±0.1). This is because that TA contains more carboxylic and phenolic groups than those of HA. In the solution with DOM, the enhanced sorption of BTA was caused by cumulative sorption resulting from sorbed DOM. Hydrogen bonding was proposed as the main binding mechanism between BTA and the sorbed DOM. When the solution pH at sorption equilibrium increased from 6.5 to 10.5, the electrostatic repulsion inhibited the sorption of BTA in solution with/without HA. In addition, less hydrogren bonds made the effect of HA in promoting BTA sorption decrease when solution pH changed from 6.5 to 10.5. Higher molecular weight fractions of HA could be preferentially sorbed by the soil, its enhancement on BTA sorption was more obvious than that of the low molecular weight fractions. These findings are conducive to a better understanding of environmental behaviors of BTA as well as other organic compounds with similar structure in the unsaturated zones.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuying Guan ◽  
Ruiming Han ◽  
Nannan Jia ◽  
Da Huo ◽  
Gongliang Yu

Abstract Dissolved organic matter (DOM) acts as a chemical intermediary between terrestrial and lacustrine ecosystems and significantly affects the structure and function of lakes. The optical characteristics of DOM have been widely used to estimate the water quality. However, little is known about its absorption and fluorescence under different trophic states. Especially, comparative research is needed among gradient eutrophic level of plateau lakes when considering their special characteristics. A total of 119 water samples were collected in the Erhai watershed from November 2018 to July 2019 to investigate the optical properties of DOM depending on the trophic state using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis of the excitation–emission matrix. The water quality conditions in the Erhai watershed were classified using the trophic state index (TSI; 31 < TSI < 67). The DOM is largely autochthonous and includes tyrosine-like protein (C1), tryptophan-like protein (C2), and humic-like compounds (C3). Except for an apparent trend of decreasing slope ratio (SR) (p < 0.01), both absorption coefficient at 254 nm and fluorescence intensity increase with the rising trophic state (p < 0.01). In this study, new models (R2aCDOM(254) = 0.762; R2 Fn(355) = 0.705, p < 0.01) basing on significant correlations between the TSI and aCDOM(254) and Fn(355) were established to predict the trophic state. The results of this study demonstrate that the effects of nutrients and environmental factors (pH and water temperature) on DOM vary depending on the trophic state and that the pH plays the main role in DOM production. Our analyses highlight the importance of DOM in aquatic ecosystems and the correlation between TSI and the optical properties of DOM. Our research unmasks the strong linkage between optical parameters of DOM and freshwater quality by applying neural network prediction.


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