Phytoplankton Diversity in Offshore, Port and Ballast Water of a Foreign Vessel in Negros Occidental, Philippines

Author(s):  
Brian Gil S. Sarinas ◽  
Lorna D. Gellada ◽  
Marlon R. Teruňez ◽  
June Raymund Peter V. Flores ◽  
Aaron C. Hisanan ◽  
...  

Introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in our ocean is one of the greatest threats according to the IMO (International Maritime Organization). Alien or invasive species travel from one ocean to the other through ballast water from the international shipping industry which is very inevitable. In the Philippines, few existing studies were established on phytoplankton composition in ballast tanks of a foreign vessel; thus this study is conducted. This study aimed to identify the phytoplankton diversity of offshore, port and ballast water from a foreign vessel docking in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Furthermore, this study aimed to determine the cell density, generic diversity and evenness and physicochemical characteristics such as pH, temperature and salinity. A total of 39 liters were taken from the middle column of the offshore, port and ballast tanks through sounding pipe and siphon technique. Temperature, pH and salinity were measured, in situ. All water samples were preserved with Lugol’s solution and transported in the Phycology laboratory at Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-AQD. This study provides baseline information on phytoplankton diversity present in offshore, port and ballast water from a foreign-going vessel in the Philippines.   Keywords - ecology and conservation, ballast water, phytoplankton, generic diversity, ballast water sampling, generic evenness, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Author(s):  
Makoto Arai ◽  
Humberto S. Makiyama ◽  
Liang-Yee Cheng

In recent years, ballast water has been blamed for a variety of marine pollution problems, particularly for transporting harmful aquatic organisms from one part of the world to another and damaging the ecosystem of the new areas. A relatively simple mechanism to control this problem is to exchange ballast water on the high seas between ports in order to remove invasive species before the ship reaches its destination. However, some issues regarding ballast exchange on the open sea need to be addressed before this operation is introduced. One of them is the sloshing of the sea water in the ballast tank. In this paper, ballast water exchange on the open sea by means of the Sequential exchange method is simulated. Irregular seaways are generated from the ISSC spectrum, and the sloshing response of the water in the ballast tanks of a large merchant ship is numerically computed by using a finite difference code developed by the authors. The results showed that there is little possibility that severe sloshing presents a serious problem in regard to the ballast tank’s strength, especially in the case of a bulk carrier whose tanks are generally short in length, with sloshing anticipated only at the low water level.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Evans ◽  
Emma Langley

The adoption of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWMC) in 2004 (herewith the Convention) has sought to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in the ballast water and sediments of ships, threatening marine ecosystems worldwide. The Convention sets out the various requirements and the various steps vessels owners / operators and port States need to undertake in order to effectively manage ballast water and sediments. However, there are still open issues and uncertainty, including the scientific and practical challenges of sampling of ballast tanks and monitoring compliance with the Convention’s standards. In order to monitor compliance with the Convention’s standards, documented management practices can be inspected for appropriateness and inspection of vessel log books can give an indication that practices have been implemented. However, sampling is the most effective way to ensure compliance with standards set out in the Convention. To check compliance with the D-1 (exchange) standard, vessel log books should be inspected and sampling can be used to check for anomalies in the composition of the ballast water (e.g. salinity). D-1 compliance is intended as an interim step until treatment systems are more widely available – although, some ports may require exchange as well as treatment in the long term. Compliance with the D-2 (performance) standard following treatment of the ballast water requires the sampling of biological, chemical and physical parameters. Whether checking compliance to the D-1 or D-2 standards, there are significant sampling challenges. These include the logistics of gaining vessel access; having multiple sample methods available to suit ballast tank access restrictions; getting a representative sample; sample analyses; sample interpretation and; what to do if a sample fails? In addition to this, local requirements can present further challenges (e.g. small time windows for bacterial analysis). This paper will highlight the difficulties of sampling ballast tanks in practice, drawing from national and international experiences, and will also comment more broadly on the sampling process and governance – such as regional differences and the role of port State control. Drawing on protocols adopted by other states will help to facilitate a more efficient, consistent and organised implementation of the Convention to the shipping community worldwide.


Author(s):  
M. Diasamidze ◽  
A. Shotadze

Ballast water provides stability and maneuverability to a ship. Large ships can carry millions of gallons of ballast water. Ballast water discharged by ships can have a negative impact on the marine environment. There are thousands of marine species that may be carried in ships’ ballast water; In order to reduce the risk of new introductions of exotic species, the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments in 2004. This Convention aims ‘to continue the development of safer and more effective Ballast Water Management options that will result in continued prevention, minimization and ultimate elimination of the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens’. To prevent possible invasions, organisms should not be discharged from ballast tanks. This can be achieved by treating the ballast water, for instance by killing organisms that are travelling in the ballast water.


2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek K. Gray ◽  
Hugh J. MacIsaac

To reduce the transfer of nonindigenous species, regulations require transoceanic ships to exchange ballast with ocean water before discharging into the Great Lakes. Although ballast water exchange (BWE) is effective for live freshwater animals, laboratory experiments provide mixed results with regards to its impact on diapausing zooplankton eggs. We conducted an in situ test of the effectiveness of BWE for treating diapausing eggs in ballast sediments. Incubation chambers containing ballast sediment were placed in ballast tanks of cargo vessels transiting from North America to Europe. Each vessel had paired ballast tanks, one of which remained filled with Great Lakes water (control), while the second was exchanged with mid-ocean water. Laboratory viability tests were then conducted to compare viability of eggs recovered from sediments placed in both treatments, as well as identical sediments that remained at the laboratory in cold storage. No significant differences in egg viability were detected between treatments, but more species hatched from sediment that remained in cold storage. Results indicate that physical conditions in ballast tanks may affect egg viability, but saltwater exposure does not eliminate the risk of species introductions via diapausing eggs. Strategies that minimize sediment accumulation in ballast tanks can reduce the risk of species introductions via diapausing eggs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  

The Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL) encompasses a prehistoric volcano caldera that caters to many documented endemic species. Although regarded as a unique area with the potential to house a diverse ecological community, biodiversity research in TVPL is still found wanting. The present paper aims to provide baseline information and increase research interests on the herpetofaunal diversity of TVPL, in light of its many undocumented terrestrial faunal species. Twelve study sites within the municipalities of Tanauan, Mataasnakahoy, and Balete were visited during survey trips from May to November 2015. A combination of transect and opportunistic sampling techniques were utilized, with morphometric data and sexual maturity recorded for each specimen collected. This preliminary survey provided 24 newly documented species of amphibians and reptiles occurring within TVPL. A total 10 frog species (from families Bufonidae, Ceratobatrachidae, Microhylidae, Dicroglossidae, Ranidae, and Rhacophoridae) and 14 reptile species (from families Agamidae, Gekkonidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Acrochordidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, and Tryonychidae) were documented. Of the reptiles recorded, 3 are endemic species and widespread throughout the Philippines: Gekko mindorensis, Hydrosaurus pustulatus, and Draco spilopterus. Also recorded were the Philippine endemic frogs Kaloula picta and Limnonectes woodworthi along with the Luzon endemics Platymantis mimulus and Varanus marmoratus. The species-effort curve of amphibians showed a distinct plateau whereas the species-effort curve of reptiles has shown an increasing trend suggesting that additional sampling efforts should be done in the area to further increase knowledge of the TVPL herpetofaunal diversity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 182 ◽  
pp. 02004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Bielski ◽  
Jacek Wachowicz ◽  
Ryszard Bielski ◽  
Arkadiusz Adamczyk ◽  
Hendra Jantanata

Diagnostics in ballast water management is the main remedy to protect against the threat of spreading invasive species that can be carried in ships' ballast tanks. This phenomenon is getting better known and understood. New and more effective methods of preventing threats related to this are being developed. Procedures are created to ensure environmental safety in the face of ever-increasing transport by sea. The article characterizes both the background of the problem, basic diagnostic medics used in ballast water management, as well as procedures and basic techniques used to ensure the safety of the natural environment..


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumnima Ghimire ◽  
Narayan Koju

Ghimire S, Koju NP. 2021. Short Communication: Fish diversity and its relationship with environmental variables in Kamala River, Nepal. Biodiversitas 22: 4865-4871. Kamala River originates from the lower part of the Mahabharat range and flows through inner to outer Terai, providing a broad range of ecosystem services; provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural. However, the information regarding the environmental factors and species diversity in the river is not available enough. Hence the study aimed to explore baseline information on the diversity and abundance of fish and their relation to environmental variables. The fish diversity was assessed in five sections of Kamala River and correlated with different environmental variables. The study was carried out during September- October 2019, marking the post-monsoon season of Nepal. Fish samples were collected using cast nets, and physiochemical parameters were analysed onsite and in the laboratory. Altogether 19 freshwater fish species belonging to 5 orders, 8 families, and 15 genera were recorded. Cyprinids were the most dominant in the river, while Channids, Mastacembelids, Botiids, Sisorids, Gobiids were represented less. The Redundancy Analysis (RDA) ordination method revealed that species variation was correlated with temperature, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and nitrate. Nonetheless, different river sections were disturbed due to mining, deforestation, and construction activities, which could pose a real threat to fish diversity and population, and other aquatic organisms.


Author(s):  
A. Manuel ◽  
A. C. Blanco ◽  
A. M. Tamondong ◽  
R. Jalbuena ◽  
O. Cabrera ◽  
...  

Abstract. Laguna Lake, the Philippines’ largest freshwater lake, has always been historically, economically, and ecologically significant to the people living near it. However, as it lies at the center of urban development in Metro Manila, it suffers from water quality degradation. Water quality sampling by current field methods is not enough to assess the spatial and temporal variations of water quality in the lake. Regular water quality monitoring is advised, and remote sensing addresses the need for a synchronized and frequent observation and provides an efficient way to obtain bio-optical water quality parameters. Optimization of bio-optical models is done as local parameters change regionally and seasonally, thus requiring calibration. Field spectral measurements and in-situ water quality data taken during simultaneous satellite overpass were used to calibrate the bio-optical modelling tool WASI-2D to get estimates of chlorophyll-a concentration from the corresponding Landsat-8 images. The initial output values for chlorophyll-a concentration, which ranges from 10–40 μg/L, has an RMSE of up to 10 μg/L when compared with in situ data. Further refinements in the initial and constant parameters of the model resulted in an improved chlorophyll-a concentration retrieval from the Landsat-8 images. The outputs provided a chlorophyll-a concentration range from 5–12 μg/L, well within the usual range of measured values in the lake, with an RMSE of 2.28 μg/L compared to in situ data.


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