Más que siete mares, un océano

Se analiza la necesidad de conservación de los ecosistemas oceánicos mundiales, y la urgencia de crear áreas protegidas en mar abierto. Los siete mares inspiran imágenes de vastedad, de grandiosa expansión, de variedad y tolerancia casi infinitas. Siempre en el marco de la metáfora, este trabajo se aparta de la visión de los siete mares para apoyar a la de 'un solo océano'. En lenguaje más formal, el objetivo es promover el pensamiento ecosistémico integrado, difundir el mensaje de que el océano es uno, agotable, e incapaz de resisitir el abuso ambiental sostenido. El artículo incluye definiciones, información sobre el primer Ärea Marina Protegida (AMP) en Mar abierto en el Atlántico sudoccidental, Naumuncurá, Banco Burdwood y finaliza con otras lecturas sugeridas.

Photosynthetic bacteria in the marine environment at Porto-Novo

Sediment and water samples were collected from mangrove and estuarine biotopes at fortnightly intervals. The physico-chemical characters of the overlying water were studied. In the mangrove biotope maximum temperature (31.5°C) and in the estuarine biotope maximum salinity (35.6‰) were recorded during the summer season, whereas in post-monsoon period the sulphate content was increased to 516 p.p.m. and the pH was reduced to 7.4. Invariably both in the enriched sediment and water samples four major peaks (at wavelengths 460, 705, 772 and 850 nm) and two minor peaks (at wavelengths 580 and 663 nm) of absorption spectra were noticed. A pure culture of Chromatium sp., isolated from mangroves sediment, showed three peaks of absorption spectra at wavelengths, 500, 580 and 850 nm. The effect of sodium chloride on the growth of Chromatium sp., was also studied and it was observed that maximum growth occurred in the range 1-3% sodium chloride concentration. This isolate was also capable of utilizing various sulphur and carbon compounds. Glycerol and glucose did not show any specific effect whereas pyruvate, malate and acetate increased the growth.

Effects of 2-phenoxy ethanol and MS-222 on milkfish fingerlings (Chanos chanos) as anaesthetic agents

An experiment was undertaken in order to determine an adequate anaesthetic and optimum concentrations for use in the handling of fingerling milkfish (Chanos chanos). The compounds 2-phenoxy ethanol and MS-222 were investigated. Results show the latter to be adequate with optimum concentrations between 100 and 200 ppm.