Levels of Heavy Metals in Fishes (Cheilinus trilobatus) from the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan

Heavy metal concentrations of Ni, Mg, Co, Cr, Cd and Cu were investigatedusing flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) in the liver, kidney, muscle, scale, gonad, gill and stomach of Cheilinus trilobatus fish species from the northern Gulf of Aqaba. Cheilinus trilobatus fish species were collected during the period May to August 2013. The results indicated significant differences between different organs of Cheilinus trilobatus for Ni (p = 0.0002), Fe (p = 0.0213), Co (p p Cheilinus trilobatus and its length. The levels of metal concentration of the present study were generally lower or within the ranges of those found in the fish of the Red Sea. After all, Cheilinus trilobatus fish species was found to be safe for consumption and do not pose a significant threat to the health of human consumers.

Heavy metals pollution in sediment cores from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

The distribution of metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn) was determined in sediment cores collected from five major areas representing different anthropogenic activities along the Jordanian coast during 27 February-11 March 2008. Metal concentrations in these sediments were relatively low compared to reported values from polluted areas. At some of the sites metal concentrations showed fluctuations with depth in the core suggesting changes in metal loading with time. The calculated contamination factors (CFs) for the suite of metals decreased in the following order Cd > Pb > Cr > Ni >Zn > Cu. The Pollution Loading Index (PLI) calculated for the different areas were highest at Phosphate Loading Berth (0.008, 0.2607, 0.0161, 0.007, 47.9375 and 0.0296 for Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr, respectively) and lowest at Hotel Area (0.0001, 0.0075, 0.0008, 0.0006, 1.0483 and 0.0005 for Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr, respectively) with others sites between these extremes. Result of this study could be used to assess the magnitude of pollution at each site and guide rational management decisions. Moreover, the data constitutes a baseline against which future anthropogenic effects can be assessed.

Marine litter at (Al-Ghandoor area) the most northern part of the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

Composition and abundance of submerged marine litter at one selected site within a coral reef area along the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba has been estimated. The litter was collected in a clean up voluntarily campaigns that took place in the period 19 September 2006. A total of 14613 items weighing 4112.2 kg were collected during the survey. Mean litter density in the individual sampling sites varied between about 1 and 6 items/m2 with an over all mean density of 2 items/m2. The mean weight of the collected items per sampling site varied between 0.06 and 1.81 kg/m2 with an overall mean of 0.85 kg/m2. Cans accounted for 41% of the collected items, plastic was the second most popular (38%) while glass litter was the third most abundant item (17%). By comparison, other items formed only 4% of the total items collected during the campaigns. Approximately 46% of the plastic litter consisted of fragments followed by bottles bags and containers (18%). Potential sources are pointed out and recommendations and actions to deal with the problem are suggested.

Levels of trace metals in three fish species Decapterus macrellus, Decapterus macrosoms and Decapterus russelli of the family carangidae from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Jordan

Fishes of the family Carangidae, Decapterus macarellus, Decapterus macrosoma, and Decapterus russelli, were collected from the Jordanian Aqaba coast during 2008-2009 for the determination of their metal concentrations in various organs (muscle, liver, kidney, gonads, gills, and stomach food contents) using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results showed significant differences in metal concentration between species. The present study indicated significant differences of heavy metal elements among different organs of the same species. The results did not reveal any significant differences between male and female organs, and the only significant difference were found for Pb in Decapterus macorsoma and for Cu in Decapterus russelli. The low metal concentrations found in muscle tissue (in all studied species) has implications for human health.

Isolation and molecular identification of <i>Ascomycetes</i>in sediments and waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

Using molecular approach, we aimed to identify fungal phylotypes that exist in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red sea. Several samples were taken from sediments and seawater of three locations along 26 kilometers at 5 m depth. 18S small subunit rRNA gene was targeted for PCR amplification and sequencing. Partial sequences introduced as query in BLASTN phylogenetic analysis revealed 100% identity with Ascomycota, namely, Aspergillus sp. Penicillium sp. and its closely related Eupenicillium sp. The top scorer species in this analysis were Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus wentii, Aspergillus flocculosus, Penicillium expansum and Eupenicillium javanicum with 98% - 100% identity. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrates close relatedness among isolated fungi and potential association with Ascomycetes. This study reports a new geographical location in which facultative marine Ascomycetes exist in, and sheds some light on fungal diversity in Gulf of Aqaba.

Distributions of pigments in reef sediments, contribution of phytoplankton to organic matter budget in coral reef

The temporal distributions of pigment on bio-genic calcareous and terrigenic reef sediments, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll c, fuco- xanthin, and porphine concentrations were mea- sured monthly in two sediment columns (0 - 15 cm) for one year. Pigment concentrations in-creased significantly during winter (Novem-ber-April) in both sediment types particularly in the upper layers of the sediments. Phytoplankton contributions to organic matter were found to be 8 ± 3 and 6 ± 2% in calcareous and terrigenous sediments respectively. The accumulation and the successive degradation of phytoplankton detritus to inorganic nutrients in calcareous sand may partly sustain the productivity of the coral reef communities which live in nutrient-poor environments.

Pickworthiidae and Aqabarellidae New Family (Caenogastropoda, Mollusca) of Aqaba, Jordan: Their Larval Shells and Remarks about Their Evolution and Relation

Among small sized gastropods found in Aqaba (Jordan), Sansonia occurs relatively common with Sansoniacebuana which is recognized from the the fringing reef near the Marine Biological Station at Aqaba, while Mecoliotia and Chrystella are rare. Mecoliotia aqabaensis n. sp and Chrystella shinaqi n. sp are described with the later resembling Chrystella finckhi. They are compared with other members of the Pick-worthiidae, of which a new species of Discrevina from Indonesia is described. A species of Aqabarella new genus resembles in shape of its teleoconch members of the Pickworthiidae but its protoconch is distinct in ornament of the larval shell and shape of the aperture and it is placed in it own family, Aqabarellidae. Aqabarella urdunensis is relatively more common than the rare Aqabarella pulchella. Similar larval shells are found in Vanikoridae, Planaxidae and Cerithiidae, those of Littorinidae and Rissoidae are more distinct and all of them differ from those of the Aqabarellidae, while some ancient small species from the Triassic tropical Tethys had a similar protoconch.