Short-term effects of heavy metal and temperature stresses on the photophysiology of Symbiodinium isolated from the coral Fungia repanda

Ghoora MD, Pilly SS, Chumun PK, Jawaheer S, Bhagooli R. 2017. Short-term effects of heavy metal and temperature stresses on the photo-physiology of Symbiodinium isolated from the coral Fungia repanda. Ocean Life 1: 11-20. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the heavy metals, copper, zinc and lead, on the photo-physiology of the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium isolated from the coral Fungia repanda. Freshly isolated Symbiodinium found to belong to clade C were exposed to different concentrations of the three heavy metals for 3-hour and 18-hour treatments at 28°C and 32°C. The Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometry technique was used to determine the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), relative maximum electron transport rate (rETRmax) and maximum non-photochemical quenching (NPQmax) of the photosystem II (PSII). An increase in non-photochemical quenching accompanied by a decrease in photosynthetic capacity was noted for copper at a concentration of 50 µg/L for both temperatures. The Fv/Fm was not significantly affected by the Zn treatments. However, at 28 °C, isolates treated with 100 µg/L Zn for 18 hours showed an increase in non-photochemical quenching accompanied by a decrease in photosynthetic capacity. Pb had the most profound effect on all of the isolates. The Fv/Fm significantly decreased and an increase in NPQmax was noted. The decrease of rETRmax and increase in NPQmax for the heavy metal bioassays under 32 °C were more significant than at 28 °C. This study suggests that Cu (≥50 µg/L), Zn (≥ 100 µg/L) and Pb decrease the photosynthetic capacity of the Symbiodinium isolates from F. repanda especially more so with increasing temperatures.

Variable PSII functioning and bleaching conditions of tropical scleractinian corals pre-and post-bleaching event

Mattan-Moorgawa S, Rughooputh SDDV, Bhagooli R. 2017. Variable PSII functioning and bleaching conditions of tropical scleractinian corals pre-and post-bleaching event. Ocean Life 1: 1-10. This study compared pre-bleaching and post-bleaching conditions of eight reef-building corals, Acropora cytherea, Acropora hyacynthus, Acropora muricata, Acropora sp., Pocillopora damicornis, Pocillopora eydouxi, Galaxea fascicularis and Fungia sp., in terms of visual coloration (non-bleached (NB), pale (P), partially bleached (PB) and bleached (B)) and chlorophyll fluorescence yield at photosystem II (PSII)). A total of twenty colonies from twelve stations along four transects were surveyed at Belle-Mare, Mauritius, from October 2008 to October 2009, and compared to the CoralWatch Coral Health Chart. PSII functioning, measured as Fv/Fm, were recorded in coral samples using a pulse-amplitudemodulated (PAM) fluorometer. Physico-chemical parameters (sea surface temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity and pH) were recorded in situ. An increase in SST up to 31.4ºC in February 2009 triggered the bleaching event observed in May 2009 at the site. Acroporids showed the first sign of bleaching and paling as from January 2009 when mean SST was at 30ºC. Branching coral (P. eydouxi) and solitary coral (Fungia sp.) exhibited only 15% of their colonies showing paling by April 2009. A. cytherea, A. hyacynthus, and A. muricata showed varying bleaching conditions [Pale (P), Partially-bleached (PB) and Bleached (B)] at onset of the bleaching event whilst Acropora sp. showed only a paling of its colonies. Post-bleaching data indicated a differential recovery in visual coloration and PSII functioning among the corals. P. eydouxi and Fungia sp. showed no bleaching conditions throughout the study. P. damicornis and G. fascicularis indicated a quick coloration recovery from P to NB after the bleaching event, although their maximum quantum yield at PSII did not show significant changes in P and NB samples. A. muricata recovered faster than A. hyacynthus and A. cytherea in terms of PSII functioning. A differential recovery was observed post-bleaching event among the eight coral species, in terms of recovery of color and PSII functioning. The order of recovery was as follows: massive-like/ solitary corals > branching and semi-bulbous corals > tabular corals.

Tide pools diversity in Bojonglarang-Jayanti Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia

Pribadi TWK, Kanza AA. 2017. Tide pools diversity in Bojonglarang-Jayanti Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. Ocean Life 1: 43-48. Tide pools are micro-ecosystem in the intertidal zone, which have unique characteristics such as extreme water temperature range. Organisms living in it can survive by adapting to these extreme conditions. Study on community structure of macroinvertebrate in tide pools and along with the influencing environmental conditions has been carried out to observe species that can survive in such extreme conditions. Quantitatively, descriptive study on biotic and abiotic parameters was done by observing the tide pools, which passed 500-meter transect line parallel to the shoreline. Analyses of the biotic parameters included varied species, dominant species, species richness, species diversity index, dominance index, important value index, and macroalgal coverage. The observed abiotic parameters comprised water and air temperature, light intensities, conductivity, salinity, depth of tide pools in low tide conditions, extensive of tide pools, pH, and DO (Dissolved Oxygen). Results in physical parameter measurements showed that the water temperature, light intensity, and conductivity were at the high category, while air temperature, salinity, and depth of water were in the normal category. The results showed 31 species of macroinvertebrate of 21 families and 6 classes, with the highest relative abundance on Ophionereis dubia by 0.56. Macroalgal was dominated by Sargassum polycystum with 7.62% coverage. Species Diversity Index of macroinvertebrate was 2.53, with Dominance Index 0.85. These indexes indicated the dominance of particular macroinvertebrate species, which have the tendency to be adaptive to extreme water temperature range.

Trawling ban impact on the stock density of shrimps in the Java Sea, Indonesia

Tirtadanu, Suprapto. 2017. Trawling ban impact on the stock density of shrimps in the Java Sea, Indonesia. Ocean Life 1: 49- 54. The level of over-exploitation of shrimps and the use of destructive fishing gear in the Java Sea caused the goverment of Indonesia to ban the trawl operation since 2015. Information on the stock density of shrimps in the Java Sea is needed for evaluation of the management regime. The aims of this research was to study the impact of the trawling ban on the density of shrimps in the Java Sea. The research was conducted in October-November 2015 and October-November 2017 using a swept area trawl method. The results showed that the biomass of demersal fish and rays has increased but the biomass of shrimps in the Java Sea has decreased that might be due to the predator-prey relationship.The biomass of some smaller-size shrimps such as Metapenaeopsis palmensis, Trachypenaeus malaiana and Metapenaeopsis stridulans decreased, while the biomass of larger shrimps such as Metapenaeus ensis, Penaeus merguiensis and Penaeus monodon increased. This condition caused the changes of dominant shrimps in Java Sea where the dominant shrimps before the trawling ban were M. palmensis, while the dominant shrimps after two years trawling ban were M. ensis. From the results, there is an assumption that the ecosystem is more stable after two years of the trawling ban. Most of the density of larger-sized shrimp increased only in the middle of Java Sea, while the density in the coastal zone still decreased. We suggest regulations to control the quota of fishing vessels in the coastal waters to ensure the sustainability of shrimp resources.

Review: Biology of the commercially used sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Echinoidea: Echinodermata)

Toha AHA, Sumitro SB, Hakim L, Widodo N, Binur R, Suhaemi, Anggoro AW. 2017. Review: Biology of the commercially used sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Echinoidea: Echinodermata). Ocean Life 1: 1-10. Tripneustes gratilla is a species of sea urchin in shallow tropical waters. The species is economically and commercially important, has ecological value, and prospects as a biological control agent. It is considered as the commercially traded sea urchin. Overexploitation has caused a sharp decline in T. gratilla populations. Understanding biological aspects of T. gratilla is critical to the sustainable use of this resource in the future.

Threat of blast fishing on coral diversity in Peucang Island, Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

Gumbira RWW, Rizkia F, Pribadi TDK, Hidayat MS. 2017. Threat of blast fishing on coral diversity in Peucang Island National Park, Indonesia. Ocean Life 1: 26-31. As a maritime country with high biodiversity, the health of Indonesian coral reefs is of high concern. Coral reef ecosystems are friable, and mortality occurs relatively quickly after disturbance, not only by nature but also by human activities such as fish bombing. Fish bombing is a big issue that has always threatened coral reefs, including in Peucang Island, part of Ujung Kulon National Park, a place that is protected by law to preserve its natural diversity. A study on coral coverage was conducted to observe the condition of corals and related biota in a coral reef ecosystem. Data was collected using Point Intercept Transect method in 2m and 8m depths. The results showed that coral coverage in 8-meter depth is only 44.02 percent of the live coral in 2-meter depth. The reduction in the value of Diversity Indices, Dominance Indices as well as the Evenness Index in all study sites led to low diversity, with no dominance by a particular species at any of the study sites. The results also showed that corals are well distributed in both depths. Over the past three years, the damage to corals in Peucang Island had generally increased by 0.7 percent due to fish bombing activities.

Short Communication New record of Indian oil sardine Sardinella longiceps from the coastal region of Bangladesh

Shamsunnahar, Baki MA, Sarker A, Hasina Begum M, Zafaria M, Islam NN, Ahmed MdS. 2017. New record of Indian oil sardine Sardinella longiceps from the coastal region of Bangladesh. Ocean Life 1: 11-13. We report the first record of Indian oil sardine Sardinella longiceps from the southern coast of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. The sample specimens were collected from Pathorghata, Barguna, Bangladesh on 25th October, 2015. Morphometric and meristic studies were performed for taxonomic identification. Genomic DNA was extracted from tissue samples and mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene was amplified for molecular characterization of this species. The morphometric and meristic data and DNA barcoding confirm the presence of S. longiceps in Bangladesh. This report updates the geographical distribution for this species confirming its presence in the coastal region of Bangladesh, and extends the number of marine fish known from the area.

Ecotourism development to preserve mangrove conservation effort: Case study in Margasari Village, District of East Lampung, Indonesia

Setiawan W, Harianto SP, Rommy Qurniati R. 2017. Ecotourism development to preserve mangrove conservation effort: Case study in Margasari Village, District of East Lampung, Indonesia. Ocean Life 1: 14-19. The conservation efforts by Margasari community have produced the enhancement of mangrove forest areas, however the utilization of mangrove forest by people around was low. To make the conservation effort sustainable needs to develop mangrove ecotourism so they can utilize mangrove forest existence. This research intended to study the conservation and ecotourism effort in Margasari Village and the community perception of ecotourism development. This research was conducted in March-April 2017 in Margasari Village by interviewing 96 respondents. The data collection was undertaken through field observation, key informant interviews, and structured interviews with questionnaire. The result showed, the conservation effort was protecting, preserving, and utilizing of mangrove such as mangrove nursery, mangrove plantation, utilizing of jeruju and pedada fruit as food and counselling to the villagers not to cut mangrove and enter the mangrove forest. The ecotourism activities were boating around the mangrove, mangrove planting tourism, and bird watching. The conservation and ecotourism effort conduct by the people who joined community groups. But it was dominated by the group manager. So the financial benefit from ecotourism had limited for few people. Nevertheless, Margasari community agreed with the ecotourism development and was willing to participate in developing the ecotourism.

The enhancement in comprehension for the younger generation of school age in conserving coastal biodiversity in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia

Handayani T, Widiarti R, Soepardjo AH, Afriyani F, Burhanuddin E. 2017. The enhancement in comprehension for the younger generation of school age in conserving coastal biodiversity in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia. Ocean Life 1: 20-25. The exploration and exploitation can lead to the ecosystem and natural resources degradation. Kepulauan Seribu of Special Area of Jakarta has been extensively utilized and developed for tourism area, which could lead to the decreasing of environmental conditions. The awareness for keeping the ecosystem and marine life should be developed since early age. The objective of this research is to determine the level of understanding and ability in conserving the marine environment in their neighborhood for school-age generation. The method used in this study was quantitative with descriptive analysis. Two groups of the Junior High School students of Pulau Tidung and Pulau Harapan of the Kepulauan Seribu were provided training on conservation on coastal ecosystems. The education and training encompass the observation activity for coral reef using the Coral Health Chart method, seagrass condition observation through SeagrassWatch method, and introduction in the mangrove ecosystem. Based on the study, it can be inferred that the resulting activity indicated the level of understanding of cognitive abilities of two groups of the Junior High School in those two locations has increased. In addition, they affective ability increased sharply toward the students from Pulau Tidung whereas in Pulau Harapan an occurred a large increase in psychomotor abilities. The conclusion of this program is managed to improve the understanding and ability to act for the younger generation in conserving marine and coastal environments.