Mesopotamian Journal of Marine Science

The aim of the present study was to perform induced breeding and to observe embryonic and larval development stages in different seasons for mature male and female Koi carp, Cyprinus carpio, was done by administering the synthetic hormone ovaprim, in a single dose for males and a double dose for females at 0.4-1.0 ml/kg body weight via an intramuscular injection. Spawning occurred between 5-6 hrs after the 2nd injection in summer (April) at a temperature of 26-29 oC and 17-20 0C in winter (December). Using doses of 0.4ml/kg, 0.7ml/kg and 1.0 ml/kg of ovaprim, the fertilization rate of eggs were obtained at 42.31%, 54.55% and 61.82 % in summer and 26.92%, 38.00% and 39.23 % in winter. Hatching rates were 42.78%, 44.60% and 55.00 % in the summer season and 30.22%, 31.01% and 31.67 % in the winter season with the same doses of ovaprim. The fertilized eggs were adhesive, transparent, and spherical with diameters ranging between 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm and yellowish white in color. Due to a positive response to the hormone Ovaprim, considerable fertilization and hatching rate, short embryonic period and larval development, it is possible to conduct a successful breeding program of this species commercially.

A total of 198 specimens belonging to four fish species (Thunnus tonggol, Sphyraena barracuda, Pomadasys argenteus and Lutjanus gibbus) were purchased from Al-Mehwat fish market, Hodeidah, Yemen and inspected for acanthocephalan infections. Two acanthocephalans were detected. Juveniles of Serrasentis sagittifer were recovered from the intestine, pyloric caeca, body cavity, mesenteries and some internal organs of the above- named fishes with prevalence of 11.7%, 11.9%, 24% and 4.4%, respectively and a mean intensity of 3.3, 2.2, 5 and 2, respectively. Generally, male fishes showed higher values of infection in comparison with female fishes. Encysted juveniles of Gorgorhynchus sp. were recovered from the intestinal mesenteries of T. tonggol only with a prevalence of 3.3% and intensity of 2.5. The occurrence of the above-named acanthocephalans represents their first record from the Yemeni fishes of the Red Sea.

Soil quality is an important factor in fish pond productivity as it controls pond bottom stability, pH of overlying water and concentrations of plant nutrients required for the growth of phytoplankton. A satisfactory site for constructing fishponds is that where the soil is very deep with neutral pH, weather infiltration is very low; mineralization of organic matter takes place rapidly. The present study was carried out to assess different soil parameters in different aged ponds and to find out the relationship between different aged ponds with different bottom soil parameters. Three groups of ponds (1-5 years, 6-10 years and above 10 years) were analyzed. There was no significant change of soil pH among different aged ponds. Significant variations were observed in textural compositions of different aged group pond’s soil. Mean percentages of clay and silt were found to be increasing with the increase of pond’s age. Amount of organic matter and organic carbon also increased sharply with the increasing of pond’s age. No significant variation were found from different aged group ponds for soil pH but the amount of organic matter, organic carbon, silt and clay were significantly increased with the increasing of pond age that may deteriorate the quality of pond’s bottom soil.

A survey on soil mycoflora in Thi-Qar marshes have been studied. A total of 22 fungal species belonging to 13 genera were isolated and identified. The average of the total fungal colony count ranged between 1550-4150 colonies/gm of soil. Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Stachybotrys and Phoma were of the mostly occurred genera in soil samples constituting 98.67%, 82.67%, 69.33%, 57.0% and 52.0%, respectively, and the mostly occurred species were; A. terreus, A. flavus, C. cladosporioides and S. atra; constituting 74.67%, 69.33%, 69.33% and 57%, respectively. Nine fungal species: Alternaria chlamydospora, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, Bipolaris spicifera, Fusarium oxysporum, Exserohilum rostratum, Trichoderma viride and Ulocladium botrytis were identified to produce the four investigated enzymes: cellulase, amylase, lipase and protease. All the tested isolates were identified as cellulase and amylase producers, A. candidus, A. flavus, B. spicifera and C. cladosporioides were an excellent producer of cellulase, while A. terreus, Stachybotrys atra and T. viride were the most active amylase producers. A. flavus, F. oxysporum and U. atrum showed the highest lipase production. The higher activity of protease was produced by A. candidus, A. flavus and T. viride.

Two types of the subsurface layers were investigated by two Boreholes on the two banks of the Shatt Al Arab River near the old Al-Rebat port at Basrah city. Sub Bottom Profiling along the River section has also been investigated. The boring was carried out in two sides of Shatt Al-Arab at Al-Ashar and Al-Tanuma sides at Al-Rebat square. Marine geophysical investigations were made including Sub Bottom profile technique (SBP) using the Strata Box instrument. Besides, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) technique was used along a 400 m section for determining the cross section of the River. the Boring Log Data of two Boreholes have been represented depending on SPT Values as the bearing Strength of subsoil layers profiles, which is matching with the sedimentary layers resulting from the seismic profiles for obtaining the geotechnical model of subsurface layers along cross section of the River. High bearing capacity layer is very dense sandy layer which appears at -22m of the elevation on sea level and extends to -29 m in left bank of the River. This layer is old deposits belonging to Dibdiba deposits (upper Miocene-Pleistocene).

Fish is known to be one of the cheapest sources of animal protein and other essential nutrients required in human diets. The knowledge of proximate biochemical composition of fishery species is fundamentally important for: the application of different technological processes, the characteristics post-mortem of species, as an aspect of quality of raw material and giving an idea of sexual stage. The study was conducted to determine the proximate biochemical composition of four marine fishes of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. The study fishes were Dasyatis americana, Dasyatis pastinaca, Dasyatis zugei and Gymnothorax favagineus. From the study, it was found that Dasyatis americana contains highest protein, fat and ash concentration while Dasyatis Pastinaca holds highest concentration of moisture and lowest value of protein and fat. On the other hand, Dasyatis zugei hold lowest concentration of moisture and ash. Proximate biochemical composition of all species showed that their percentage of protein and fat content are good and can be a food item in parallel to the bony fishes.

Four Coastal lagoons, namely Bomba, Katayta, Bardia and Um El-Shawish located in the eastern part of Libya investigated seasonally for oil pollution throughout the period from July 1998 to April 1999 at five stations. The lowest level of oil pollution was observed in summer while the highest level was observed in spring. There was an evidence of seasonal variation which is attributed to the environmental conditions prevailing in the specific ecosystem. Spectroflourometeric method have been adopted to measure the total concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons TPHs .Levels of TPHs ranged from 3.33 µg/l in summer to 27.91 µg/l in spring, in Bomba Gulf, in Katayta ranged, from 4.09 µg/l in summer to 27.09 µg/l in spring, from 3.50 µg/l in summer to 28.48 µg/l in spring in port Bardia, from 6.33 µg/l in autumn to 10.93 µg/l in winter, in Um El-Shawish Inlet. It was suggested that 10 µg/l indicate contamination of marine life with oil.