The biological assessment of flora and fauna as standards for changes in the near-shore ocean environment: a study of Barbers Point Harbor.
The biological assessments of the flora and fauna in the near-shore ocean environment, specifically Barbers Point Harbor (BPH), demonstrate the usefulness of these biological analyses for evaluation of the changes occurring following man-made excavation for expansion of the harbor. The study included identification and enumeration of macroalgae and dinoflagellates and analyses of herbivores and carnivores in four areas within the perimeter of the harbor and the north and south entrances into the harbor. Numbers of macroalgae varied between 1994 and 1999 surveys, with significant decrease in numbers in stations C, D and E. Stations A and B were similar between 1994 and 1999 with a slight increase in 1999. The significant differences were shown with the appearance of Gambierdiscus toxicus (G toxicus) in 1999 among the algae in stations A and B. Assessment of herbivores and carnivores with the immunological membrane immunobead assay using monoclonal antibody to ciguatoxin and related polyethers demonstrated an increase in fish toxicity among the herbivore from 1994-1999 (22% increase) with a decrease (22%) in non-toxic fish. This was also demonstrated in the carnivores, but to a lesser degree. It is suggested that the biological analyses of the flora and the fauna of the near-shore ocean environment are appropriate to assess the changes that occur from natural and man-made alterations.
Hokama
Y
Y
Department of Pathology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu 96822, USA.
Wachi
K M
KM
Shiraki
A
A
Goo
C
C
Ebesu
J S
JS
D000818:Animals; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000032:analysis; D004141:Dinoflagellida; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D056890:Eukaryota; D005399:Fishes; D020387:Food Chain; D011157:Population Dynamics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000032:analysis
C109660:gambiertoxin (CTX-4B); D002922:Ciguatoxins; D001618:beta-Lactamases