No abstract

The aim of this study was to determine parameters of dissolved oxygen, temperature and nitrogen in the coastal basin of the Jamapa River as indicators of eutrophication. Six sampling sites were selected in the lower basin, where samples were collected in triplicate in each site, during three seasons; north winds, dry and rainy. Results of the research, analyzed using the Minitab statistical program, were: site 2 showing the maximum value of dissolved oxygen with 5.83 mg/L; site 5 with the maximum temperature value of 30.3 ºC, during the dry season. Whereas, maximum mean values of total nitrogen were at site 2 (4.596 mg/L) and site 5 (4.281 mg/L). Coastal basins can change markedly the nitrogen concentration with respect to weather and environmental conditions. As well as, reduced forms of nitrogen cause alterations in dissolved oxygen and the increase in water temperature, along with high concentrations of nutrients.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of heavy metals on Maradol papaya cultivation soil, through the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the ecological potential risk index (RI). Soil samples from 15 locations in the Cotaxtla municipality of Veracruz, Mexico were tested for pH, soil texture, and concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and organic matter (MO). The pH varied between values of 5.5 ± 0.10 and 7.7 ± 0.22, while the MO varied from 1.57% ± 0.97% to 13.1% ± 1.342%. The type of soil texture represented 48% sandy loam, 40% loam, 8% clay loam, and 4% silt-loam. For heavy metals, average levels were found in the following order Cr (0.695 ± 0.018) > Zn (0.615 ± 0.016) > Pb (0.323 ± 0.012) > Cu (0.983 ± 0.011) > Cd (0.196 ± 0.011) mg kg−1. The Igeo values from 96% of the analyzed sampling points were below zero and were considered uncontaminated. The other 4% of samples, from the Potrerillo1 (PT) site, had Igeo values of 1.13, where the highest concentration of Cd was found, which indicates moderate contamination levels. The RI index at the PT site was in the category of moderate contamination, and the rest of the points correspond to the category of low pollution.

Farming aquatic plants can be used as an alternative in the treatment of effluents from aquaculture production units and in turn, in the production of biomass plant for feeding terrestrial and aquatic organisms. This research aims to evaluate the efficiency of duckweeds Spirodela sp. and Lemna sp. in the treatment of tilapia effluents (Oreochromis niloticus). The experiment was performed in triplicate and was conducted under natural environmental conditions within the facilities of the Laboratory of Applied Aquaculture Research (LAAR) of the Technological Institute of Boca del Río (ITBOCA). Each treatment contained 230 liters of effluent in each tube, with a water column of 40 cm and a seeding density of 400 g/m 2 of vegetative biomass. The evaluation of the efficiency of Spirodela sp. and Lemna sp., in the removal of dissolved nutrients, was performed in 7 monitoring times; 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. The results showed an efficiency in nutrient removal at 120 h of 75, 74 and 66% of N-NH 3 ; 96, 92 and 75% N-NO 2 ; 93, 88 and 75% N-NO 3 ; 75, 72 and 64% N-NTK; 73, 60 and 58% of N-org., and 73, 63 and 68% of P. On the other hand, the removal of TSS and BOD5, during the first 24 h, was 83, 54, 58% and 65, 59, 33%, in the treatments. The efficiency in nutrient removal of both duckweeds, showed that both plants can be used in the treatment of effluents, being a sustainable and economical alternative for the aquaculture industry.

Scorpaena brasiliensis and S. plumieri are relevant fish species in reef systems, but little is known about their parasitic helminth communities and their structure. This paper describes such community in terms of species richness and diversity. A helminthological study was conducted on 33 specimens of S. brasiliensis and 36 S. plumieri, captured in the Pajaros and Cabezo Reefs, in the Veracruz Reef System National Park (VRSNP), Veracruz, Mexico. The helminth community structure was analyzed in both host species. A total of 10 parasitic species was registered in S. brasiliensis (5 digeneans, 1 cestode, 3 nematodes, 1 acanthocephalan), while S. plumieri hosted 11 species (4 digeneans, 1 monogenean, 1 cestode, 4 nematodes, 1 acanthocephalan), with 8 common species. The species with the highest prevalence were Pseudocapillaria (Icthyocapillaria) sp., with 18.2% and 19.4% in S. brasiliensis and S. plumieri, respectively. Component community richness for S. brasiliensis was S = 10, with Shannon index diversity value of H' = 2.08. For S. plumieri, such values were of S = 11 and H' = 1.91. Richness and diversity in the component and infracommunity levels for both hosts are lower than in other parasite communities of marine fishes in the southern Gulf of Mexico.