eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
1
8
18618
Original Article
Activity Rhythms of Barnacles as a Behavioural Bioindicator of Copper Pollution in Lake Timsah, Suez Canal, Egypt
Alaa El-Din Sallam
alaadin60@hotmail.com
1
Mahi Ghobashy
2
Elham Elkhawass
3
Abdel-Fattah Ghobashy
4
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
The present study aimed to introduce barnacles as a behavioural bioindicator in Lake Timsah, Ismailia,
Egypt. A special design is successfully applied for automatical monitoring of the barnacle cirral
activities. Two barnacle species, Balanus eburneus and B. amphitrite, were collected for the present
experiments. The observed typical cirral activities served mainly for feeding. Fast beats reached up to
100 beats per minute whereas normal beats were up to 50 beats per minute. B. eburneus exhibited
circatidal rhythmicity under free-running conditions (continuous darkness and constant temperature).
As an indicator of the pollution level, the cirral activity patterns were observed under different copper
concentrations. Exposure to Cu2+ concentrations of 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, and 0.2 mg/L was
achieved to determine 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr LC50 values. The LC50 values were 1.33, 0.635, 0.40 and
0.291 mg/L in B. eburneus whereas they reached 1.184, 0.493, 0.272 and 0.139 mg/L in B. amphitrite,
respectively. The B. eburneus cirral activity pattern was directly and proportionally influenced by water
copper concentrations at 24 and 96 hr LC50 conditions. It could be concluded that the cirral activity
rhythmicity in barnacles, as an essential behavioural pattern, may be considered as a good tool for
monitoring the pollution in Lake Timsah. The developed design may also be a useful tool for studying
several environmental interactions of the barnacles.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18618_ca9fa05e8ab5c4085adc6a4eac1680cf.pdf
Balanus eburneus
cirral activity
Marine environment
rhythmicity monitoring
toxicity
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
9
14
18619
Original Article
The Biological Effects of Bifenthrin on T-cells and Neurons: A Comparison of Activity
A. Nandi
1
D. Chandi
2
C. Thurber
3
L. DeLuca
4
Stephen Pryor
5
A. McLaughlin
6
L. Gibson
7
Josephine Bonventre
8
K. Flynn
9
Benjamin Weeks
weeks@adelphi.edu
10
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, P.O. Box 210, Old Westbury, NY 11568
Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, P.O. Box 210, Old Westbury, NY 11568
Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, P.O. Box 210, Old Westbury, NY 11568
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Pyrethroids are considered a less toxic class of pesticides and are therefore increasingly formulated for
household use. In current study we compare the toxicity of the pyrethroid (bifenthrin) with the
organochlorine (lindane) and the mitochondrial poison (rotenone) to mammalian T-cells and neurons.
Cells were treated for twenty-four hours with various concentrations of pesticide and then assessed for
morphology and measured for viability using trypan blue exclusion. Lindane and rotenone produced an
LD50 of 500 μM and 500 nM, respectively, in T-cells and 5 μM and 250 nM, respectively, in neurons.
Lindane and rotenone had a lowest observable effect level (LOEL) of 100 μM and 50 nM, respectively,
in T-cells and 100 nM and 1 nM, respectively, in neurons. Significant toxicity was observed with lindane
and rotenone, whereas bifenthrin did not reduce the viability of either cell type at concentrations as high
as 1 mM. However, bifenthrin stimulated T-cell homotypic aggregation which is associated with cell
activation. Further, bifenthrin inhibited the neurons from forming neurites. While these results support
the claim that pyrethroids are less toxic than many other pesticides, they raise concerns that chronic
exposure to pyrethroids could contribute to inflammation and hypersensitivity and also to developmental
neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18619_5ca939955558cc73c6849b45a49ecac8.pdf
Pyrethroids
bifenthrin
neurons
T-cells
neurite
toxicity
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
15
24
18620
Original Article
Impact of some Anthropogenic Activities on the Diversity of Ground Insects at the Southern Area of Port Said, Egypt
Abeer Shaban
1
Fayez Semida
fayezsemida@hotmail.com
2
Mohamed Bedir
3
Ahmed Abo-Ghalia
ahaboghalia@yahoo.com
4
Iman Bahgat
5
Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education (Port Said), Suez Canal University
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education (Port Said), Suez Canal University
The present study aims to assess the impact of some anthropogenic activities on the ground insects.
Ground insects were sampled, by using pitfall traps in a nested design, from four different localities in
the southern area of Port Said, Egypt, for 15 months (from July 2004 to September 2005). The localities
represented three different human impact activities (industrial, animal rearing and cultivated localities)
and one control locality. Each locality was represented by two separated sampling sites (20X20 meters),
and each site had twenty individual traps distributed systematically. Habitat type and plant covers were
clearly different among the four localities and to a less extent within localities. Species diversity varied
spatially among the different localities. There was no significant difference in the diversity of ground
insects among the study period. Nevertheless, the cultivated sites had the highest diversity, while animal
rearing sites had the lowest one. In contrast, animal rearing sites recorded the highest species richness;
while cultivated sites had the lowest one. The different localities had distinct and characteristic groups
of species responding to anthropogenic activities.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18620_3b02fd93aafd3adb6a02eebfea246f24.pdf
biodiversity
ground insects
anthropogenic activities
species abundance
species richness
Port Said
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
25
32
18622
Original Article
Age and Growth of the Cockles Cerastoderma glaucum and Papyridea papyracea in Lake Timsah, Suez Canal
Samia Mohammad
samya_hm@hotmail.com
1
Mahmoud Mohallal
2
Saad Mohammed
3
Mohamed Attia
4
Faculty of Education, Suez Canal University, El-Arish, Egypt
Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Faculty of Education, Suez Canal University, El-Arish, Egypt
The cockles Cerastoderma glaucum and Papyridea papyracea are found among the most abundant
molluscs in Lake Timsah, Suez Canal. Age determination based on shell-ring count was conducted to
establish growth curves for their life-span. For this purpose, monthly collections of the specimens were
carried out in the period between June 1996 and June 1998. Age composition proved the dominance of
two and three years old individuals for both species. In C. glaucum, the shell length varied between 9.9
and 35 mm for males, and between 13.3 and 35 mm for females with a mean asymptotic length of 42.37
and 35.02 mm, respectively. On the other hand, P. papyracea revealed a wide range of shell length that
varied between 7 and 60 mm, and had an asymptotic length of 69.51 mm. Some environmental factors
that expected to affect growth are also discussed.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18622_7707b4aa4da23b0579f636f50642f4ad.pdf
bivalves
Cockles
Cerastoderma glaucum
Papyridea papyracea
Age Determination
growth curves
Lake Timsah
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
33
40
18623
Original Article
Assessment of Oil Pollution Situation in Sharm El-Maiya Bay, Sharm El-Sheikh South Sinai, Egypt
Rafat Khattab
rafifi2001@yahoo.com
1
Tarek Temraz
2
Mohamed Kotb
3
Mahmoud Hanafy
4
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Sharm El-Maiya bay is bounded by multi million pounds tourism investments in Sharm El-Sheikh area.
The key stone for investments in this area is the water sports and amenities. All of this was hindered by
the presence of a persistent oil film covering the sea surface as well as an oily smell especially noticeable
in hot and windy days. The purpose of this work was to identify sources and level of petroleum
hydrocarbons as well as to establish a data-base for future monitoring and defining mitigation measures
for rehabilitation program. In total, 17 sites plus a control site were investigated. Water and sediment
samples were collected, extracted, purified and analyzed using spectro-fluorometry and Gas
chromatography (GC). Results indicated that chronic oil pollution was prevalent in the surface sediments
(0-20 cm depth) in confined areas of the western and south-western sites of the bay. The average
hydrocarbons concentrations recorded in deep (> 20 cm depth) and surface sediment varied between
(20.3 to 1263.5 μg/g), the most contaminated sediments were restricted to the intertidal flat just outside
the place of an old Power Plant. The spilled oil was found to be originated from different sources such as
fuel leakage and dumping of oil wastes as well as other types of hydrocarbons from the disembarked
power plant, creating the existing problem of permanent oil pollution. However, the GC analysis has
indicated that oil degradation was processing very well.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18623_e1cd943bc467b2f5e0aca2f56e750e48.pdf
Marine pollution
Red Sea
Hydrocarbons
Gas chromatography
spectroflurometery
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
41
52
18624
Original Article
Quantitative Assessment of Gamete Production in Two Commercially Harvested Clams, Venerupis aurea and Tapes decussata (Bivalvia:Veneridae) in Lake Timsah, Suez Canal, Egypt
Kandeel Kandeel
kandeel_hashem76@yahoo.com
1
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, 63514 Fayoum, Egypt
Monthly relationships between shell length and gonad weight for two clams of commercial value;
Venerupis aurea and Tapes decussata from El-Taawen area in Lake Timsah, Suez Canal, were
determined between August 2004 and September 2005. Spawning frequency and individual gamete
production (fecundity) under natural conditions were assessed by monitoring fluctuations in the gonad
weight of standard-sized individuals. The results showed that the gonadal development and spawning
continue throughout the year. There is no evidence of clearly defined reproductive cycles. The two
species showed no “reproductive senility” and spawned several times per year. Gamete production,
expressed as weight loss at spawning, occurred at different rates throughout the consecutive spawning
periods and was positively correlated with body size. Spawning efficiency increased or decreased linearly
with size. The relative amounts of reproductive material released by examined clams of different sizes
reached 45.34 and 53.62% of the gonad weight during December 2004 for V. aurea and T. decussata,
respectively. Both species exhibited remarkable reproductive effort in Lake Timash.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18624_b24b25ac421f051be5d637113c0715fc.pdf
fecundity
Lake Timsah
Spawning
spawning efficiency
Veneridae
Tapes decussata
Venerupis aurea
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
53
62
18625
Original Article
Effect of Dredging and Dumping Operations on Zooplankton Community During the Construction of East Branch Harbor, Port Said, Eastern Mediterranean, Egypt
Mohsen El-Sherbiny
mohsenrussia@yahoo.com
1
Maher Aamer
2
Ali Gab-Alla
3
Marine Science Department, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
During the dumping and dredging operations of East Branch Harbor, Port Said, Eastern Mediterranean,
zooplankton community of the surrounding water was studied versus the prevailing environmental
conditions between 1999 and 2000. The most affected environmental variable was total suspended solids
which showed significant increase at different disposal sampling sites. Other conditions of temperature,
salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen content and chlorophyll a were in normal range. The diversity and
abundance of zooplankton community were in normal range recorded in the area without significant
variation between the dumping and the control sites. In total 68 taxa were recorded in the study area. The
density of the total zooplankton standing crop varied between 5021 and 14390 individuals/m3 to 6702
and 16135 individuals/m3, with an average of 8563 and 10071 individuals/m3 at disposal and control
sites, respectively. Copepods outnumbered the total zooplankton (average 65.3%) and are dominated by
Centropages kroyeri, Paracalanus parvus, Clausocalanus arcuicornis, Oithona nana and Euterpina
acutifrons. The results revealed that during the construction of the East Branch Harbor, the dredging and
dumping processes may had a very minor effect on zooplankton community but it was not significant.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18625_ac3436e668125260986e137b62806538.pdf
Zooplankton
dumping
dredging
Port Said
Eastern Mediterranean
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
63
71
18626
Original Article
Sedimentation Stress and Population Density of Zooxanthellae in Some Corals Along the Egyptian Red Sea Reefs
Maher Aamer
maheraaziz@yahoo.com
1
Mohammed Kotb
2
Saad Mohammed
3
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41552 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41552 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41552 Ismailia, Egypt
The temporal variations of coral zooxanthellae populations were studied in six sites at Sharm
El-Sheikh area, Northern Red Sea, on four scleractinian species (Acropora humilis Dana, Pocillopora
verrucosa L., P. damicornis Ellis and Solander, and Stylophora pistillata Esper). For this purpose, coral
samples were collected monthly from March 2001 to May 2002. In addition, other fourteen sites were
chosen along the Egyptian Red Sea reefs to determine the spatial variations of the coral zooxanthellae
population. Samples for this purpose were taken during October 2002 from a similar depth contour of 5m
at all sites. The population densities of coral zooxanthellae varied widely from coral species to other. The
highest zooxanthellae density was recorded in the tissue of the coral A. humilis (annual average: 1.529 ×
106 cell/cm2) and the lowest occurred in the tissues of the coral S. pistillata (annual average: 0.649 × 106
cell/cm2). The maximum densities of zooxanthellae in the four coral species were recorded at sites with
moderate Secchi disk reading and TSS. However, the minimum densities of coral zooxanthellae were
recorded at sites with Secchi disk readings and TSS exceeded than 5.75 m and 147.5 mg/L, respectively.
Concerning the seasonal variations, the maximum zooxanthellae densities in the four coral species were
recorded during the period of late autumn-early winter, while the minimum densities were counted
during summer.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18626_54c8d29b6728bbf07b84cd74bc403cef.pdf
Coral reef
Red Sea
TSS%
zooxanthellae density
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
73
80
18627
Original Article
Studies on the Ecology of Zooplankton Standing Crop of Sharm El-Maiya Bay, Sharm El-Sheikh, Northern Red Sea, Egypt
Maher Aamer
maheraaziz@yahoo.com
1
Mohsen El-Sherbiny
mohsenrussia@yahoo.com
2
Ali Gab-Alla
3
Mohammed Kotb
4
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41552 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Monthly samples were collected at several sites from Sharm El-Maiya Bay for studying the
physicochemical parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids (TSS),
nutrient salts, and chlorophyll-a), and zooplankton standing crop during 2000-2001. Nutrient salts were
in the normal levels with means of 1.21, 0.52, and 3.61 μg-at/l for nitrate, phosphate, and silicate,
respectively, inside the bay. TSS and Chlorophyll a was higher inside than outside the bay. The annual
magnitude of the standing crop of zooplankton in the bay (average: 6710 ind./m3) was higher than
outside the bay (at the reference site) being 4567 ind. /m3. The highest zooplankton crop was recorded in
October (average: 9825 ind./m3) and the lowest occurred in May (average: 2708 ind./m3). The high
abundance inside the bay may be correlated with the high phytoplankton standing crop (i.e. chlorophyll-a
biomass) of the bay. A total of 62 zooplankton species, in addition to larval stages, were identified inside
and outside the bay. The species numbers ranged from 15 to 42 inside the bay and from 20 to 45 at the
reference area. Copepoda was the most abundant group, constituting on the average 65% of the
zooplankton community of the bay and was dominated by Acartia spp. This species was abundant inside
the bay but was almost absent outside the bay at the reference site with its high density in June
(2191ind./m3).
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18627_ef638900c837404e9c10f8f1443388cd.pdf
Ecology
Red Sea
Sharm El-Maiya
Zooplankton
eng
Egyptian Society for Environmental Sciences
Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
1687-5052
2090-2786
2006-11-01
1
1
81
88
18628
Original Article
Impact of Environment on the Diversity of Lepidopterous Insects In Three Egyptian Governorates
Abd EL-Fattah Amer
mabroukdn@hotmail.com
1
Marguerite Rizk
2
Aida Iskandar
3
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Plant Protection Research Institute, Fayoum Branch, Fayoum, Egypt
Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural research Centre, Giza, Egypt
Ecological and geomorphological factors that control the distribution of Lepidopterous insects were
thoroughly examined in three different areas of Egypt. These areas are Senoris, Fayoum Governorate;
Al-Arish, North Sinai Governorate; and Kharga Oasis, New Valley Governorate. One hundred and ninety
two species belonging to 143 genera represent in 23 families were recorded. The study of similarity
between the three areas was carried out using Sørensen equation. The results indicated that there are
significant differences between these areas. Similarity in species copmposition nonetheless, is the highest
among Fayoum and Al-Arish areas (70%), followed by Fayoum and Kharga Oasis (64%). The least
similar areas were Al-Arish and Kharga Oasis (57%). Al-Arish has the highest number of characteristic
species (41 species) forming 42.27% of the total number of the recorded characteristic species; while
Fayoum has the least number of characteristic species (20 species) comprising 20.62% of the total. New
Valley has 36 species representing 37.11%. Eleven new-recorded species were collected during this
study, one belongs to family Elachistidae “Leucoptera scitella Zeller”, five belongs to family Noctuidae
“Acontia hortensis Smith, Clytei syriaca (Bugnion), Agrotis sordzeana Brondt; Nola harouni Wiltshire,
Eulocastra diaphora Staudinger”, one belongs to family Pieridae “Colias hyale L.”, and four belonging
to family Pyralidae “Staudngeria yerburii Bulter, Hypotia colchicalis H.-Sch., Parastenia daradis
(Chretien), and Synaphe marbidalis Guenée”.
https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18628_f60948398f0ded2850911200d96e967f.pdf
Al-Arish
biodiversity
Fayoum
Lepidoptera
New Valley
Noctuidae