Abstract
Effect of the benthic echiurid Urechis unicinctus juveniles on the chemical characteristics of organically enriched sediment, as well as the individual survival rate and growth in various sediments, was investigated in this study to ascertain the effectiveness of U. unicinctus in the bioremediation of organically polluted sediment. The content of acid volatile sulfide (AVS) in the sediment of three coastal areas was 0.4±0.1 mg/gㆍdry sediment in Seonso, 0.1±0.01 mg/gㆍdry sediment in Myo-do, 0.02±0.01 mg/gㆍdry sediment in Dolsan-do, respectively. 500 juveniles with average body length of 1.2±0.3 mm were bred in these sediments. After 30 days, the AVS content of three places decreased to 0.29±0.3, 0.08±0.01 and 0.0l±0.01 mg/gㆍdry. After 60 days, the content was 0.23±0.03, 0.0l±0.01, 0.0l±0.01 mg/gㆍdry. The AVS content in the control (sediment from Seonso without juveniles) was 0.39±0.75 mg/gㆍdry sediment (after 30 days) and 0.45±0.01 mg/gㆍdry sediment (after 60 days). At the same time, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total ingition loss (TIL) of these sediments showed the same trend with that of AVS. Furthermore, 60 days later, the survival rate and growth of juveniles were 71.2%, 11.1±l.0 mm in Seonso, 89.8%, 12.0±1.3 mm in Myo-do and 81.6%, 11.9±1.9 mm in Dolsan-do. It was suggested that U. unicinctus can survive better in less polluted environment. Under different U. unicinctus juvenile density (100, 300, 500, 700, 900 individuals), after 60 days cultivation, the AVS content decreased from 0.4±0.1, 0.4±0.1, 0.4±0.3, 0.4±0.3, 0.4±0.3 mg/gㆍdry to 0.4±0.2, 0.3±0.2, 0.2±0.1, 0.2±0.1, 0.2±0.1 mg/gㆍdry. Therefore, the higher the density of juveniles, the greater the effect in improving the sediment. In comparison to different initial AVS concentration (0.40±0.01, 0.35±0.01, [I can't find a reference to this number above], 0.29±0.02, [I can't find a reference to this number above], 0.18±0.03, [I can't find a reference to this number above], 0.06±0.02 mg/gㆍdry sediment [I can't find a reference to this number above] and the control 0.0±0.0[I can't find a reference to this number above]), after 30 days cultivation with 500 juveniles, the AVS content was 0.29±0.03, 0.19±0.0, 0.15±0.01, 0.12±0.02, 0.05±0.0mg/gㆍdry and 0(control). After 60 days cultivation, the content was 0.23±0.03, 0.12±0.4, 0.10±0.01, 0.18±0.03, 0.06±0.02 mg/gㆍdry and 0 (control). Use % decrease in AVS content to state: The impact of U. unicinctus on the sediments was greater with higher concentrations of AVS. The results of this study indicate that U. unicinctus is effective in the biological treatment of sediments polluted by AVS and other organics.