Temporal variability of microplastics in shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), feed, water and sediments of coastal and inland culture ponds.

Aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming, is crucial for global food security. However, the increasing presence of microplastics (MPs) in marine environments, shrimp feeds, and atmospheric particles has made MP contamination in shrimp tissues inevitable. This study systematically investigates the abundance, characteristics, and temporal trends (from 15th to the 120th day of culture) of MPs contamination in Litopenaeus vannamei, along with associated feed, water, and sediment across 12 shrimp ponds of two major shrimp-producing regions of India.

Diet characteristics of tidal creek-associated fishes of the northeastern Arabian Sea with special reference to microplastic ingestion.

The present study assessed the diet characteristics, trophic guild structure, and microplastics (MPs) ingestion by a group of fish sourced from the tidal creeks of the Mumbai coast along the Eastern Arabian Sea. The diet patterns were characterized using gastro-somatic index (GaSI), relative length of gut (RGL), diet overlap (α), diet breadth (B), and relative abundance of food items (%IOP), with a special emphasis on MPs contamination. The findings revealed that teleost and shrimps are the most preferred food items for these species.

Assessing the trophic status of a tropical microtidal estuary applying TRIX and Random Forest - A combined approach.

The present study assessed the trophic status of a medium-sized microtidal estuary, Rushikulya, India using a combination of mutimetric trophic indices (TRIX, TRBIX) and a machine learning approach (Random Forest). A total of 108 samples were considered to build a predictive model for chlorophyll a (Chl a) and 17 response water variables by observing two annual periods (2021-2023) at six sampling sites. Mean values of TRIX (5.

Identification of potential breeding ground of flathead grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758), along the Mumbai coast, India, for ecological monitoring and conservation strategies.

Identifying the breeding grounds of fishes is crucial for the sustainable management of fisheries resources. The present study is aimed at identifying the potential breeding ground of Mugil cephalus along the estuary of the North Mumbai coast. A total of 1197 specimens of M.

Exploring biophysical links of catch rate from mid-water trawl fishery in the north-west coast of India, Eastern Arabian Sea: A remote sensing approach.

Fish frequently shift their distribution ranges as a result of changes in preferred environmental factors. Knowledge on distribution of fish in relation to their environmental optima is crucial for improving the understanding of fishing grounds and planning sustainable exploitation. This study investigated the monthly variability in environmental factors impacting the catch rate and the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of fish along northwest coast of India (NWCI) from 2017 to 2019.

Study of feeding biology and diet-associated microplastic contamination in selected creek fishes of northeastern Arabian Sea: A multi-species approach.

This study investigated the diet composition and microplastic contamination in six fish species collected from the creek area of northeastern Arabian Sea. The results show that the diet of the fish is mainly composed of shrimps, algae, fish, and zooplankton, with microplastics constituting up to 4.83 % (Index of Preponderance) of their diet.

Seasonal distribution and abundance of microplastics in the coastal sediments of north eastern Arabian Sea.

The present study reports site-specific data on the seasonal variation in microplastic abundance and characteristics in coastal sediments along the North Eastern Arabian Sea, India. The abundance of MP in coastal sediments ranged from 4400 to 15,300 items/kg dry weight (DW), with the dominance of the size ranging between 100 and 500 μm. In the studied sediment samples, fibers were the most dominant form, followed by fragments.

Microplastics in the foreshore coastal waters, sediment, and coastal fauna of a highly populated megacity - A study on the effect of anthropogenic discharge on clams.

In this study, the microplastics (MPs) abundance, characteristics and their variations across three popular beaches of highly populated and largest megacity of India were documented using clams as an indicator species. The abundance of MPs in clams was 77.39 MPs items/g in soft tissue parts and 198.

The identity and distribution of striped bagrid catfish, Mystus tengara (Hamilton 1822) revealed through integrative taxonomy.

Background: The taxonomic status and geographical distribution of M. tengara are vague. No genetic diversity and phylogenetic study have been done till now to resolve its identity and distribution.

Microplastic pollution in coastal ecosystem off Mumbai coast, India.

Microplastics (MPs) are anthropogenic pollutants which can adsorb toxic substances from surrounding water and absorb into the fish body. During the present study, MPs were observed in water, sediment, and gastrointestinal tracts of marine biota samples collected from the coastal waters of Mumbai, India. The mean abundances of MPs recorded in water samples 372 ± 143 items/liter and 9630 ± 2947 items/kg dry weight (DW) in sediment samples.

Anthropogenic pressure on mangrove ecosystems: Quantification and source identification of surficial and trapped debris.

The mangroves are well known for their ecological services and livelihood support to humankind. The mangrove forest is experiencing extreme pressure due to anthropogenic activities, mainly the debris pollution posing great harm to the mangrove ecosystems. The abundance, sources, and composition of surficial and trapped debris items in the six contiguous mangrove regions of Mumbai were studied by the belt-transect and quadrats method.

Incidence of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract of golden anchovy (Coilia dussumieri) from north east coast of Arabian Sea: The ecological perspective.

Anthropogenic marine litters or microplastics (MPs) accumulation in marine organisms is an emerging environmental threat. In this background, the gastrointestinal tract of Coilia dussumieri (n = 150) was studied in the samples collected from the fishing grounds of the north east coast of Arabian Sea through experimental fishing. Out of the total 150 specimens collected, all showed the incidence of microplastic particulates in the guts.

Microplastics in shrimps: a study from the trawling grounds of north eastern part of Arabian Sea.

Accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in marine organisms poses an imminent environmental threat and health risk due to the possibility of trophic transfer of accumulated MPs in ecologically important food chains. In this context, a field-level study was conducted on the fishing grounds of the north eastern part of the Arabian Sea through experimental fishing, and the gastrointestinal tracts (GT) of three different species of shrimps (n=180) were examined for the incidence of microplastics. The results showed that all shrimp caught from the fishing grounds had significant levels of MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts.

A new species of Stolephorus (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) from the Bay of Bengal, India.

A new fish species, Stolephorus tamilensis sp. nov., is described from the East coast of India.

Effect of environment on spatio-temporal structuring of fish assemblages in a monsoon-influenced tropical estuary.

This study analyzes the trophic structure of fish assemblages in a well-mixed tropical estuary, Zuari, located in southwest coast of India. A total of 224 fish species were collected between September 2013 and August 2016 from 324 sampling events from 9 sampling stations using surface and bottom set gillnets. The sampling events were designed to cover three major seasons such as the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon.

Multigene barcoding and phylogeny of selected Engraulidae species.

Anchovies (Engraulidae) are one of the ecologically important groups and often difficult to identify due to their small size and overlapping morphological characters. In the present study, reference DNA barcodes were generated for 82 individuals representing 13 species of Engraulidae family using mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rRNA genes. The average genetic distance value of COI gene for conspecific, congeneric and confamilial is 0.

Baseline radionuclide concentration in selected marine organisms around the coastal areas of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, west coast of Maharashtra, India.

The present work deals with assessment of baseline radionuclide concentration in marine organisms around selected coasts of Maharashtra, India. This baseline study highlights concentrations of natural and fallout radionuclides in finfish and shellfish species found in the surrounding seawater. Water and fish samples were collected, processed, and analyzed for U, Ra, Ra, Th, K, and Cs by high-resolution gamma spectrometry.

Molecular phylogeny of elasmobranchs inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear markers.

The elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates) being the extant survivors of one of the earliest offshoots of the vertebrate evolutionary tree are good model organisms to study the primitive vertebrate conditions. They play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance and have high economic value. Due to over-exploitation and illegal fishing worldwide, the elasmobranch stocks are being decimated at an alarming rate.

DNA barcoding of gobiid fishes (Perciformes, Gobioidei).

Gobiids constitute a major proportion of fish population in both tropical and temperate freshwater as well as marine ecosystem. Due to their small size, cryptic ecology and ambiguous morphological characters, gobiids diversity was not documented completely. In this study, DNA barcodes were generated for 11 species of gobiids, collected from the Ashtamudi Lake, India.

DNA barcoding of elasmobranchs from Indian coast and its reliability in delineating geographically widespread specimens.

Identification of elasmobranchs by conventional taxonomy is difficult due to similarities in morphological characters. Species-specific molecular markers are good choice for identifying species irrespective of it's life stage. Recently, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene got global recognition as a barcode gene to discriminate all animals up-to species level.

A comparative study on intertidal faunal biodiversity of selected beaches of Mumbai coast.

Comparative study has been done to examine the biodiversity and ecological status of the intertidal region of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bandstand and National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) rocky beaches in Mumbai, West coast of India. A total of 50 species of intertidal organisms were recorded from these shores. Shannon and Simpson's diversity index, Margalefs richness index and Pielou's evenness index indicated different level of ecological state of the shore in different months.

Assessment of coastal pollution through bioassay and transplantation of intertidal clams.

In the present study, a survey of Mahim creek and Bay area was undertaken that indicated absence of fauna, particularly molluscs from the area, which was a repository in the past. During bioassay experiments of Mahim creek water, the clams G. divaricatum and C.