Estuaries and coastal zones are dynamic transitional systems which provide many economic and ecological benefits to humans, but also are an ideal habitat for other organisms as well. These areas are becoming contaminated by various anthropogenic activities due to a quick economic growth and urbanization. This chapter explores the sources, chemical speciation, sediment accumulation and removal m...

Algae are very large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms that can carried out photosynthesis and have ability to capture energy from sunlight. Algae play an important role in sustainable and organic agriculture where it is used as biofertilizer and soil stabilizers. Algae, particularly the seaweeds, are used as fertilizers, resulting in less nitrogen and phosphorous run...

Amphoroid taxa have been revised in recent decades. Many species formerly assigned to Amphora have been transferred to other recently proposed genera, as Seminavis (Naviculaceae) and Halamphora (Catenulaceae). In Brazil, there are few studies focused on amphoroid taxonomy. This study presents a taxonomic investigation of five uncommon amphoroid taxa from Brazilian diatom flora: Seminavis pusill...

Physico-chemical parameters, species composition and seasonal variation in phytoplankton abundance have been studied in other regions of Indian coastal waters (Saravanakumar et al., 2008; Vengadesh Perumal et al., 2009). For confirming the good quality of water resources large number of physico-chemical parameters, extend and source of any pollution load must be know for which monitoring of phy...

Key words: aircraft de-icing fluid (ADF), phytoremediation, tolyltriazole, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol Aircraft de-icer fluids (ADFs) and antifreeze solutions are mainly formulations of either propylene or ethylene glycol and additives such as benzotriazole methyl substitution isomers (tolyltriazoles), and surfac-tants. Although the formulations are proprietary, in general the glycols are...

As a result of taking water samples in spring 1999, 26 species of silica-scaled chry­ sophytes were found in the Kis-Balaton Reservoir I, one of the most remarkable aquatic habitats in Hungary. From them, 23 have been identified with certainity, two were ques­ tionable and two were identified to genus level. 12 species are new to Hungary and 19 spe­ cies had not been found in Kis-Balaton before...

Preservation of terrestrial fauna and flora has been the main reason for the settlement of most protected areas in the past 30 years, but although those areas may include water bodies, this does not necessarily mean that the biodiversity of freshwater environments are also protected. In the present study, the fauna inventory of eight streams (1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th orders) of three microbasins o...

This 25-y study monitored aquatic and terrestrial gamma-ray-emitting radionuclide levels near a nuclear power plant. It is the only known, long-term environmental survey of its kind. It was conducted neither by a utility owner, nor by a government agency, but rather by a private, environmental research institution. Compared to dozens of other flora and fauna, periphyton was found to be the best...

Riparian wetlands are temporarily or permanently inundated and/or water-logged zones along the margins of streams and rivers. They link permanent aquatic habitats with upland terrestrial habitats, and surface-water with groundwater. This chapter focuses on riparian wetlands associated with low-order tropical streams, which have been lesser studied than equivalent ecotones associated with large ...