Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9466041 | Marine Pollution Bulletin | 2005 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
Colony-forming eutrophic marine microorganisms in ballast water were counted in samples taken on board in 2002 and 2003. In the ballast water in Japan, viable cell numbers were highly variable but not by more than 105.1Â colony-forming units (CFU)Â mlâ1 regardless of season. Even when ballast water was discharged offshore, values varied but not by more than 105.0Â CFUÂ mlâ1. The effectiveness of the ballast water exchange was unconfirmed, except for the February 2003 voyage. No microbial colonies were counted in the reloaded ballast water in the high seas on that voyage, which contributed to the reduction of the total number of viable cells sampled in the discharged ballast water at the Ras Laffan port in Qatar. In sediment samples, the values of 105.2-106.0Â CFUÂ mlâ1 were estimated for all seasons in which voyages took place. The maximum of the marine Vibrio species, 110Â CFUÂ mlâ1, was observed in the ballast water sample taken in July 2003. The estimated total viable cell numbers in sediments were higher than those counted in the ballast water throughout the experiments, indicating the importance of sediment management as well as ballast water management on vessels traveling from Japan.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Oceanography
Authors
Haruo Mimura, Ryo Katakura, Hiroshi Ishida,