A note on the silent decline of the Caspian environment.

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest enclosed water body, experiences significant transformations in its physico-chemical properties and a decline in bioresources due to extensive anthropogenic activities. These activities include the discharge of diverse pollutants and bio-physical alterations such as over-fishing, hunting, and physical alterations to rivers. While acute manifestations such as a fall in the Caspian water levels and wetland desiccation are more overt, the pervasive impact of human activities contributes to a likely irreversible decline in environmental quality that we aim to spotlight in this discussion in order to facilitate its restoration.

The effects of the water-soluble fractions of crude oil on liver and kidney tissues of Caspian Kutum juveniles, Rutilus frisii.

The lethal and histopathological impacts of crude oil's Water-Soluble Fraction (WSF) on the liver and kidney tissues of juvenile Rutilus frisii were investigated. The LC50 96 h of WSF was calculated at 33.95 ppm. Fish exposed to two concentrations (0.1 LC50 and LC50) of WSF and control for 24 and 96 h were used for histopathological studies. Tissues in the control group and 0.1 LC50-24 h were healthy, and no specific damages were observed. With increasing exposure time (96 h) and concentration (LC50), damages' type, frequency, and intensity gradually increased. Cloudy swelling, loss of cell boundary, nuclei deformation, and congestion of blood vessels were found in the liver, enlarged glomeruli, reduced Bowman's space, and occlusion of the tubular lumen, were found in the kidney. It is demonstrated that the WSF of crude oil can cause severe damage to the tissues of juvenile Kutum, depending on the exposure concentration.

Tracking of sea level impact on Caspian Ramsar sites and potential restoration of the Gorgan Bay on the southeast Caspian coast.

The situation of Ramsar sites along the Caspian Sea coast has deteriorated over the past decades, and this is more noticeable in the narrow coastal strip of the south Caspian Sea. In this study we investigate how the Caspian Sea level changes affect the coastal Ramsar sites. Particularly, we focus on the Gorgan Bay in the southeast corner of the Caspian Sea, which is experiencing extensive water level decline, even desiccation. We used satellite images from three periods corresponding to periods of two sea level falls and one sea level rise, in order to decipher spatio-temporal changes of the wetlands. We conducted field campaign in the Gorgan Bay for sampling and measurement of physical, chemical and biological parameters. We simulated water circulation for the past, current and future conditions of the Gorgan Bay, which is essential to sustain better water exchange between the Bay and the Caspian Sea. We applied dust simulation in the case of a total desiccation of the Gorgan Bay. The result shows that the total area of the Caspian coastal Ramsar sites during the two periods of the sea level fall is almost the same; however, the aerial changes in the southern wetlands are more visible. Nutrient and plankton analysis of the Gorgan Bay display mainly mesotrophic conditions, in some areas close to eutrophic ones. The average current velocity in the main inlet is 2.5 cms-1. Dust simulation indicates that in case of the Gorgan Bay desiccation, it will become a dust source for the surrounding area up to 60 km. Simulation of the water circulation with dredging of inlets (future scenario), indicates that the water exchange velocity doubles compared to the current scenario. A recommended inlet maintenance would accelerate water circulation and reduce residence time, which will lead to better trophy and prevent bay desiccation.

Effects of dietary thyme essential oil and prebiotic administration on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) welfare and performance.

The aim of this study was to examine the combined effects of thyme essential oil (TEO) and prebiotic (Immunogen ®) on growth performance, hematological parameters, innate immunity, and oxidative status of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. For this purpose, the fish (11.92 ± 0.06 g) were fed (3% of biomass) experimental diets that contained 0 (Control; without Immunogen and/or TEO); 1% TEO + 0.1% Immunogen (T1); 1% TEO + 0.2% Immunogen (T2); 2% TEO + 0.1% Immunogen (T3) and 2% TEO + 0.2% Immunogen (T4) for 60 days. According to results, all experimental treatments exhibited similar final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR), which were significantly higher than those of the control treatment. Although all treatments reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group, the lowest value was observed in T4. All experimental treatments showed a significant increase in amylase and protease activity compared to the control group. Moreover, the fish fed on T4 and T1 diets showed the highest and lowest lipase activity. Dietary TEO and Immunogen supplementations significantly increased WBC count and Hb level compared to the control group. Fish fed on control and T2 diets displayed lower hematocrit than fish fed on other experimental diets. The highest and lowest MCH index were recorded in T3 and control groups, respectively. The fish fed diets supplemented with T3 diet presented significantly higher MCV index compared to the control and T2 treatment. All experimental treatments exhibited similar AST, and ALP activities, which were significantly lower than those of the control group. Also, the lowest ALT activity was observed in T2 and T4 treatments compared to other groups. Dietary TEO and Immunogen supplementations significantly enhanced skin mucus total Ig, total protein level, and ACH50, protease, and lysozyme. All experimental treatments exhibited enhanced intestine total Ig, ACH50, and lysozyme level. Dietary thyme essential oil and Immunogen supplementations significantly enhanced liver antioxidant parameters including catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased MDA production compared to fish fed on control diet. As a result, it can be suggested that the combination of thyme essential oil and Immunogen (specially 2% TEO + 0.2% Immunogen) is useful for enhancing the yield and well-being of farmed rainbow trout.

Hypoxia in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

In this article dissolved oxygen results of research cruises through the Persian Gulf during 2018-2019 are discussed. The results showed that summer to autumn hypoxia occurred mainly at depths ≥ 50 m to the bottom. This seasonal hypoxia started in late summer reaching its greatest severity in mid-autumn with an area of 50,000 km2 in the Persian Gulf. The minimum oxygen measured at the near-bottom layer of the western basin in autumn (25.8 µmol/kg) was lower than any previous measurement in the open waters of the Persian Gulf. In the Strait of Hormuz, the seasonal hypoxia appeared in summer in the near bottom of the most eastern part at the Iranian side. pHT values recorded in hypoxic waters were as low as what is predicted for surface ocean under ocean acidification in 2100. Considering the results, we suggest evaluating the effects of hypoxia and acidification on the Persian Gulf ecosystems.

The effect of the water soluble fraction of crude oil on survival, physiology and behaviour of Caspian roach, Rutilus caspicus (Yakovlev, 1870).

The water soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil is a complex and toxic mixture of hydrocarbons that aquatic organisms directly encounter in oil spills. WSF plays an important role in the toxicity of crude oil to aquatic organisms. In the present study, the effects of WSF on juvenile Caspian roach, Rutilus caspicus, at lethal and sub-lethal level was investigated. The lethality of WSF on R. caspicus was studied by conducting 96h LC50 tests with semi-static exposure methods with 6 and 24h solution renewals. The 96h LC50 of WSF was estimated at 62.5% and 35.9% WSF concentrations for 24h and 6h renewal methods, respectively. To investigate the sub-lethal effect of WSF on R. caspicus, fish were exposed to 62.5, 31.3, and 6.3% concentrations of WSF for 24h and changes in their respiration rate and swimming activity was monitored during the exposure. At the end of the exposure period, four hematologic parameters [O2 and CO2 pressures (pO2 and pCO2), hematocrit, and hemoglobin content] of the fish were measured. The result of the behavioural experiment revealed that all three studied concentrations of WSF elevated the respiration rate and reduced the swimming activity of R. caspicus. No significant changes were detected in the hematocrit and hemoglobin content of the fish blood, but the blood pO2 of the fish exposed to 62.5% WSF decreased while the blood pCO2 increased. The results of this study suggest that the egression of the volatile components in hydrocarbon mixtures during conventional semi-static toxicity tests may lead to underestimating the toxicity of the hydrocarbons. The results of the sub-lethal experiments propose that failure of the respiratory system that leads to asphyxia may be a major mechanism that results in lethal effect of WSF in high concentrations.

The effect of sublethal concentrations of the water-soluble fraction of crude oil on the chemosensory function of Caspian roach, Rutilus caspicus (YAKOVLEV, 1870).

The water-soluble fraction of crude oil is a complex and toxic mixture of hydrocarbons. Because aquatic organisms directly encounter it, the water-soluble fraction plays an important role in the toxicity of crude oil in aquatic environments. To determine whether fish are attracted to or avoid the water-soluble fraction, Caspian roaches (Rutilus caspicus) were exposed to different concentrations of the water-soluble fraction in a choice maze apparatus. The results showed that Caspian roaches can detect and avoid 2 mg/L of the water-soluble fraction. To study the effect of the water-soluble fraction on the olfactory function of fish, Caspian roaches were exposed to 3.2 mg/L and 16 mg/L of the water-soluble fraction for 96 h; afterward, exposed fish encountered food extract in a choice maze apparatus. The present study showed that the water-soluble fraction significantly impairs the olfactory function of roaches. To investigate the effect of olfactory system dysfunction on the feeding behavior of fish, Caspian roaches were exposed to 3.2 mg/L and 16 mg/L of the water-soluble fraction. After 4 d, 8 d, and 12 d of exposure, the feeding behavior toward the food extract was tested. The results showed that both 3.2 mg/L and 16 mg/L of the water-soluble fraction suppress the feeding behavior of Caspian roaches. The present study demonstrates that sublethal concentrations of crude oil's water-soluble fraction impair the olfactory function of fish and consequently suppress the feeding behavior.

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) biodegradation in contaminated sediment is an attractive remediation technique and its success depends on the optimal condition for the PAH-degrading isolates. The aims of the current study was to isolate and identify PAHs-degrading bacteria from surface sediments of Nayband Bay and to evaluate the efficiency of statistically based experimental design for the optimization of phenanthrene (Phe) and Fluorene (Flu) biodegradation performed by enriched consortium. PAHs degrading bacteria were isolated from surface sediments. Purified strains were then identified by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Taguchi L16 (4(5)) was employed to evaluate the optimum biodegradation of Phe and Flu by the enriched consortium. Total of six gram-negative bacterial strains including Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus, Roseovarius pacificus, Pseudidiomarina sediminum and 3 unidentified strains were isolated from enrichment consortium, using Fluorene (Flu) and phenanthrene (Phe) as the sole carbon and energy source. The enriched consortium showed highest degradation abilities (64.0% Flu and 58.4% Phe degraded in 7 days) in comparison to a single strain cultures or mixtures. Maximum biodegradation efficiency was occur at temperature = 35°C; pH = 8; inoculum size = 0. 4 OD600nm; salinity = 40 ppt; C/N ratio = 100:10. In conclusion our results showed that, indigenous bacteria from mangrove surface sediments of Nayband Bay have high potential to degrade Flu and Phe with the best results achieved when enriched consortium was used.

Visitor impact on rocky shore communities of Qeshm Island, the Persian Gulf, Iran.

The influence of visitors on macroinvertebrates of rocky intertidal shores was investigated in southern coasts of the Qeshm Island, the Persian Gulf, Iran. Qeshm Island located at the Strait of Hormuz, with an area of 1,491 km(2), is the largest island in the region. This island consists of a number of important natural habitat types including creeks, mangroves, corals, and sandy, muddy, and rocky shores that accommodate diverse marine flora and fauna communities. Two rocky shores were selected at the touristic beaches being visited regularly, and further two control locations selected at pristine shores. Intertidal macroinvertebrates were collected from six microhabitats including rock platforms, cobbles, boulders, crevices, sea walls, and rock pools during two different periods representing high and low tourist seasons. Species richness, density, and assemblage structure in heavily visited shores were compared with that of control locations. Striped barnacles (Balanus amphitrite) were present on platforms of all locations, thus the changes in their size were used as the obvious contrast associated with visitor's impact. A total of 70 macroinvertebrate species from 11 phyla were recorded. Significant differences were detected in taxonomic richness, density, and assemblage structure of macroinvertebrates between heavily visited and pristine shores, suggesting that macroinvertebrates were adversely affected by visitors' impact at heavily visited shores. The test of changes in species richness, density, and assemblage structure from high to low seasons yielded mixed results. The significant changes in density and assemblage structure from high to low seasons were only observed in one heavily visited shore. A significant reduction in size of striped barnacles was observed only in one heavily visited shore. The opportunistic or fugitive species (e.g., small macroalgae and barnacles) were dominant macroinvertebrates on heavily visited shores indicating early succession stage. The results presented here showed that macroinvertebrates were adversely affected by human activities in subtropical rocky shore.