This dataset includes data collected to determine the effects of formaldehyde on nitrification processes in biofilters of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) from two field trials. Biofilter nitrification was monitored by measuring the levels of total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, and nitrate in experimental aquaria containing a small biofilter before and after formaldehyde was applied to the test system.

This dataset includes laboratory data collected to determine the effects of formaldehyde on nitrification processes in biofilters of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Data from the laboratory studies were used to inform methods used to conduct field trials in a pilot and commercial-scale RAS. Biofilter nitrification was monitored by measuring the levels of total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, and nitrate in experimental aquaria containing a small biofilter before and after formaldehyde was applied to the test system.

These data were collected to determine the effect of nitrapyrin, a commercial nitrification inhibitor, on nitrification by a diverse nitrifier-enriched microbial (NEM) community. The NEM community was originally collected from an aquaculture pond in Columbia, Missouri and cultured in HEPES-buffered, minimal mineral salts media, supplemented with a nominal dose of 2 milligrams per liter ammonia-nitrogen, added as ammonium-sulfate. NEM were exposed to nitrapyrin (0 to 32 micrograms per liter) for 192 hours. Before dosing, the nitrapyrin was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). After dosing, the DMSO concentration in the flasks was 0.1 percent volume to volume. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, water hardness, conductivity, alkalinity, turbidity, and nitrapyrin were monitored at intervals during the experiment.

SOUR and qPCR data. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Kapoor, V., M. Elk, and X. Li. Inhibitory effect of cyanide on wastewater nitrification determined using SOUR and RNA-based gene-specific assays. Letters in Applied Microbiology. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, USA, 63(2): 155-161, (2016).

Limited amounts of forage fish are available as an ingredient in feeds for the expanding aquaculture industry. Work is being conducted on a variety of underutilized materials to provide new sources of protein, oils, and minerals for fish feeds. These materials include invasive species such as carp and mussels, waste from fish and clam processing, and process waste from fish farms. Successful utilization of these materials adds needed protein and marine oils to the growing aquaculture industry, and eliminates the environmental impact of landfill or dumping at sea of these waste streams. Proximate analysis and solubility of new materials.

The information contained in this data release are the results observed and collected during an experiment that tested the efficacy of nine compounds (2’4’ dihydroxychalcone, bithionol sulfoxide, carnidazole, furaltadone, plumbagin, oxyclozanide, quinacrine, tomatine, and toltrazuril), previously found to be effective against the parasitic ciliate family Philasteridae (Iglesias and others, 2002; Sueiro and others, 2022). One commercially available product (Kordon Ich Attack) was also tested, however was omitted from these data as it was not effective at the highest dosage trialed (100 microliters [µL] of the product in 900 µL ciliate culture). The efficacy of the compounds was tested by applying each to subcultures of Philaster apodigitiformis (strain FWC2) originally isolated from coelomic fluid of Diadema antillarum specimen collected from a reef in Key Largo, Florida (FL) on June 15th, 2022 (Hewson, and others, 2023). The compounds were tested at the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (USGS SPCMSC), Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory in St. Petersburg, FL, USA between November 2022 and August 2023. Prior to treatment, the compounds were dissolved in either dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or sterile deionized water (DI) to create 20 millimolar (mM) stocks, and further diluted in sterile artificial seawater (ASW) to generate 1 mM working stocks. These working stocks were then used to create final testing concentrations of 100 micromolar (µM), 50 µM, 25 µM, 12.5 µM, 6.25 µM, and 3.13 µM for each run of the experiment. Controls included 1000 µL of unamended culture and 900 µL culture plus either: 100 µL ASW, 100 µL DMSO diluted in ASW to the highest concentration used in the drug trials (i.e., 10 µL DMSO in 190 µL ASW), or 100 µL DI water diluted in ASW to the highest concentration used in the drug trials (i.e., 10 µL DI in 190 µL ASW). Compounds identified to be effective within 24 hours were then trialed for 15-minute exposure periods. Each potentially effective compound was tested at its highest dosage (100 µM) by mixing 90 µL of scuticociliate culture and 10 µL of 1 mM stock solution on a Sedgwick Rafter chamber and observing the mixture continuously for 15 minutes using a Meiji Techno EMZ-13 microscope. Each successful treatment was then trialed again for 15 minutes at 50% the previous concentration. During this experiment, only quinacrine and tomatine showed potential for further testing.

There is no data as no experiments were conducted (literature review). This dataset is associated with the following publication: Li , X., V. Kapoor , C. Impellitteri , and K. Chandran. Measuring nitrification inhibition in wastewater treatment systems: current state of science and fundamental research needs. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 46(3): 249-289, (2016).

There is no data as no experiments were conducted (literature review). This dataset is associated with the following publication: Li , X., V. Kapoor , C. Impellitteri , and K. Chandran. Measuring nitrification inhibition in wastewater treatment systems: current state of science and fundamental research needs. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 46(3): 249-289, (2016).

Data were collected to determine the abundance of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in Cladophora algae growing on rocks, breakwall structures, or submerged dreissenid mussel beds around southern Lake Michigan. Cladophora samples (N=33) were collected between June and September 2015 from three urban areas: (a) Jeorse Park, East Chicago, Indiana, (b) Calumet Beach, Chicago, Illinois, and (c) North Beach, Racine, Wisconsin, and a National Park site, Portage Lakefront, Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana. Corresponding lake water samples (N=33) were collected approximately 15-20 feet away from submerged algal mats. Genomic DNA was extracted from water and processed algal samples. The abundance of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in water and algal samples was determined by a SYBR-Green quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay by targeting the nifH gene. The coordinate file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitudes and longitudes. The data files include DNA quality and yield from water and algal samples, and abundance of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in water and algal samples as determined by the SYBR-Green qPCR assay.

This dataset shows the measured response of the photosystems of seagrasses to herbicides in experiments conducted in 2014. The purpose of the experiments were to develop and validate a miniature toxicity assay using isolated seagrass leaves in 12-well plate. The aim of this study was to quantify the acute phytotoxicity of PSII herbicide, Diuron, on the seagrass Halophila ovalis while validating a 12-well plate fluorescence bioassay using the imaging pulse amplitude modulation fluorometry. Fluorescence-derived phytotoxicity endpoints in the isolated leaves were directly compared with potted and unpotted but intact (hydroponic) seagrasses and the influence of light on photosynthetic efficiency and damage to PSII were assessed. These data will enable improved assessment of the risks posed by PSII herbicides to tropical seagrass for both regulatory purposes and for comparison with other taxa. Methods: A miniature 12-well plate acute phytotoxicity assay was developed to assess the exposure of seagrass to PSII herbicides:- 1. All acute exposures (up to 24 h) were conducted in static conditions using measured concentrations of Diuron. 2. Pule amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry (see below) was applied as a sensitive indicator of PSII herbicide toxicity to isolated seagrass leaves and intact plants. Inhibition of photosynthesis was measured after 24 h exposure using (PAM) fluorometry. Two parameters were measured (effective quantum yield, deltaF/F’m and maximum quantum yield, Fv/Fm). The inhibition of photosynthetic yields relative to controls were plotted as dose-response curves by fitting inhibition data with measured concentrations using a 4-parameter logistic model (SigmaPlot 11). The herbicide inhibition concentrations (ICxx) that inhibited deltaF/Fm' and Fv/Fm by 10 and 50% (IC10 and IC50, respectively) were determined from each curve. 3. Leaves were screened for acceptable levels of photosynthetic efficiency before the start of each experiment. 4. Rapid light curves were used to assess the photosynthetic performance of the seagrass as a function of irradiance and to enable the selection of ambient illumination for the experiments. 5. Fluorescence images were taken using the I-PAM to spatially assess photosynthetic impact of Diuron in the isolated leaves. 6. The photosynthetic condition of plants were re-examined by I-PAM regularly over 24 h in the absence of herbicide to test for leaf deterioration over the exposure period. 7. Dose-response relationships were compared between I-PAM and Mini-PAM data to verify consistency with other studies. 8. Dose-response relationships were compared between isolated leaves in 12-well plates and intact plants (both potted and hydroponic) to validate the sensitivity of the well-plate method. 9. Dose-response relationships were compared using the well plate method at four light levels to (i) test consistency and repeatability under different irradiance conditions and (ii) examine the potential for Diuron to impact on seagrass under varying light conditions. 10. Potential interactions between irradiance and Diuron on effective and maximum quantum yields were explored using the Independent Action (IA) model. Format: Miniature bioassay dataset_Wilkinson_et_al_2014.xlsx: This is the measured response of the photosystem of Halophila ovalis (a seagrass species) to Diuron over time. Plant rep: Plant replicate (3 plants used in each potted and hydroponic tank). Leaf rep: leaf replicate (21 leaves used for solvent control and 9 leaves used per treatment). deltaF/Fm': effective quantum (light adapted) yield measured by a Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer. Fv/Fm: maximum quantum (dark adapted) yield measured by a Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer. Solvent control: no herbicide but contains less than 0.03% v/v ethanol carrier as per the treatments. Time (hr): duration of exposure in hours (24 h was the duration of the herbicide exposure). PAR: Photosynthetically active radiation