Present report is a first record from the area of North Arabian Sea which describes morphological features of marine centric diatom Bellarochea malleus isolated after 1.5 year of Tasman Spirit Oil Spill during Bioremedial Project (BP). Hydrographic parameters, cell count along with comparison of morphometric data with other reports has also been documented

Baig, Hina Saeed

Rehman, Aliya

Tabassum, Asma

Aquatic Commons

Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 20(1&2), 87-91, 2011.  
 
BELLEROCHEA MALLEUS (BRIGHTWELL) VAN HEURK: A 
NEW RECORD FROM NORTH ARABIAN SEA AFTER    
TASMAN SPIRIT OIL SPILL 
 
Asma Tabassum, Hina Saeed Baig and Aliya Rehman  
Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi -75270, Pakistan (AT, AR); 
National Institute of Oceanography, Karachi, Pakistan (HSB). 
email: centricdiatomist@gmail.com 
 
ABSTRACT: Present report is a first record from the area of North Arabian Sea which 
describes morphological features of marine centric diatom Bellarochea malleus isolated 
after 1.5 year of Tasman Spirit Oil Spill during Bioremedial Project (BP). Hydrographic 
parameters, cell count along with comparison of morphometric data with other reports 
has also been documented. 
 
KEYWORDS: North Arabian Sea, Morphological features, Bellarochea malleus, 
Tasman Spirit Oil Spill, Hydrographic parameters. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
Bellerochea is a common widespread marine planktonic genus (Hernandez-Becerril, 
et al., 2013). Its presence is linked with high turbidity and nutrient rich surrounding area 
(Yahia-Kefi, et al., 2005). This genus has not been previously reported from Northern 
Arabian Sea bordering Pakistan. In this study it has been documented for the first time 
from the area of study. 
MATERIALS & METHODS 
 
Phytoplankton samples were collected from 16 different locations of Sea view 
affected area of Clifton, Karachi (Fig. 1) during Bioremedial Project after Tasman Spirit 
Oil Spill. The samples were immediately fixed in formalin and then examined under light 
microscope. 
Observations: 
Bellerochea malleus (Brightwell) Van Heurck (Fig. 1a &1b) 
Hendey, 1964, p. 112, Plate 6, Fig. 5; Round et al. 1990, p. 280, Fig. b; Hasle & 
Syvertsen, 1997, p. 229, Plate 48 (p. 228); Teanpisut & Patarajinda, 2007, Fig. 2:24 (p. 
121). 
Cells united and assembled in the form of chains, rectangular, broader than long in 
girdle view, lanceolate to triangular valves, weakly silicified; gaps generally very small 
between cells due to curvature of valve, chromatophores numerous, discoid plastids. 
 
Morphometric data: Apical axis: 13 µm 
 
Local Distribution: Bellerochea malleus was found very rare at station 3 of 
Bioremedial Project (Table 1). 
 
88 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 20(1&2), 2011. 
  
 
Fig. 1.  Map showing affected area of Sea view Clifton Karachi. 
 
Table 1: Collection date, hydrographic parameters and site of Bellerochea malleus 
recorded during BP 
 
S. 
No. Date Site Latitude Longitude pH 
Salinity 
(‰) 
Water 
Temperature 
(⁰C) 
1. 18/04/05 Station 3 24.768 66.9641 8.2 36 25.8 
 
General Distribution: Hendey 1964: British Coastal Waters; Shameel & Tanaka, 
1992: North Arabian Sea; Hallfors, 2004: Baltic Sea; Teanpisut & Patarajinda, 2007: 
Chang Island, Gulf of Thailand; Liu, 2008: Chinese Seas; Mather et al., 2010: Canadian 
Coastal Waters; Anonymous, 2011: Taiwan. 
 
DISCUSSION 
 
In the year 2003 largest ever recorded incident of an oil spill was observed in the 
area of North Arabian Sea bordering Pakistan at Clifton beach Karachi resulted in the 
addition of high amount of Iranian crude oil in the coastal belt. Previous findings showed  
                             Tabassum et al.: Bellerochea malleus: a new record                            89 
 
 
Fig. 1a. Bellerochea malleus. View of chain in Light Microscope. Scale bar = 13µm 
Fig. 1b. Bellerochea malleus. Representation of Line diagram. Scale bar = 13µm 
 
adverse effects of crude oil on phytoplankton (Adekunle, et al., 2010; Hallare et al., 
2011) specifically on diatom community structure (Jaiswar et al., 2013) in different areas 
of the world affected by an oil spill. Though a great many studies were conducted to 
evaluate the effects of crude oil on living organisms after Tasman Spirit Oil Spill incident 
(Hassan & Javed, 2011; Saifullah & Chaghtai, 2005; Khursheed et al., 2008; Meo et al., 
2008). However, present study also aimed to analyze the hazardous effects of Tasman 
Spirit Oil Spill on the centric diatom species assemblages. 
 
Table 2. Comparison of morphometric data of Bellerochea malleus isolated from 
different  locations 
 
Subrahmanyan, 
1946 (Madras 
Coast, Indian) 
Hendey, 
1964 
(British 
Coastal 
Water) 
Hasle & 
Syvertsen, 
1997 
 
Hernandez-
Becerril et al., 
2013 (Puerto 
Rico) 
Present 
study 
(North 
Arabian 
Sea) 
Apical axis 
 
50 µm - 78 µm 110 µm 22µm -   210 µm 
20 µm - 
55 µm 13 µm 
Pervalvar axis - 20 µm 13 µm - 34 µm 
18 µm - 
45 µm 
- 
 
90 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 20(1&2), 2011. 
  
  
Fig. 2. Cell count of Bellerochea malleus during Bioremedial Project. 
 
In this study Bellerochea malleus was recorded for the first time from North Arabian 
Sea bordering Pakistan. Observed facts revealed that cell count of this species was very 
low and isolated only from one station during the study period.  Morphometric data 
(Table 2) showed that diameter of the cells presently studied was below the recorded 
range reported by other researchers from respective areas of their study. It was described 
earlier that the presence of Bellerochea malleus is interconnected with nutrient rich 
environment (Yahia-Kefi, et al., 2005). The observed low cell count and its presence in 
only one sample of  BP after 1.5 year of spill indicates the hazardous effects of crude oil 
on its assemblages as well as gradual recovery in the environmental condition of the 
affected area. 
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Bellerochea malleus (Brightwell) Van Heurk: a new record from North Arabian Sea after Tasman Spirit Oil Spill

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Bellerochea malleus (Brightwell) Van Heurk: a new record from North Arabian Sea after Tasman Spirit Oil Spill

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