Qatar University Life Science Symposium 2016: Biodiversity, Sustainability and Climate Change, with Perspectives from Qatar

Mangroves are a unique vegetation community that can adapt to harsh climatic conditions, including in areas of high temperature and high salinity levels. It is an important coastal wetland community in many countries that provide a multitude of ecosystem services. Qatar has a small mangrove community covering about 21 km² and it is probably the only natural vegetation type found in Qatar. They are important because of their aesthetic value, as a buffer zone protecting the lowland coastal area as well as its role in storing carbons. Therefore, it is important to understand mangroves response to global climatic variability. This is particularly important as Avicennia, which is the only mangrove species found in Qatar has limited elevation range and less able to resist extreme physical and environmental changes. Species distribution models combined with GIS and Remote Sensing are some of the tools that can be used to project the potential change of mangrove vegetation communities. These spatial information technologies can be used to extract and map current distribution of mangrove vegetation while species distribution model can be used to predict the potential geographical distribution of suitable habitats and species occurrence. In the current research, MaxEnt, GIS and high resolution World View 3 satellite data were used to classify, map and predict mangrove vegetation. The preliminary findings show the potential habitats in the east and the northwest part of Qatar. This research is important as there are no current studies examining the spatial distribution of mangroves or assessing the potential impact of climate variability on mangrove communities in Qatar.

CO2 fixation by phototrophic microalgae has been addressed as a possible global carbon emissions reducer, whilst simultaneously producing useful products. Especially in Qatar, the prospect of using microalgae for CO2 abatement is promising: high solar irradiance, large areas of non-arable land, and large amounts of CO2 emissions make it seemingly the ideal place for algae cultivation. In order to promote high biomass productivities, and subsequent CO2 uptake rates, effective CO2 supply to the cultivation system is of high importance. However, the low solubility of CO2 in water, as well as the limiting tolerance of microalgae to increased CO2 concentrations, results in low efficiency of CO2 capture by microalgal production systems. In order to overcome these hurdles, this research focused on selecting local desert microalgae strains with high tolerance to increased CO2 levels, and developing growth media in order to increase the solubility of CO2. Forty-five locally isolated marine microalgae strains were screened for growth under increased CO2 concentrations, ranging from 0.04% to 30% (v/v). A number of different trends in CO2 tolerance could be identified from the results; a number of strains showed a clear inhibition of growth with CO2 concentrations of 5% and higher, whilst others showed increasing growth rates for increasing CO2 concentrations up to 30%. The trend in growth rate suggests that even higher CO2 concentration could be applied without growth-limiting effects, and could even stimulate higher growth-rates. In order to further increase the productivity of high CO2-tolerant strains, as well as to investigate the effects of pH on the CO2 tolerance of low-tolerant strains, various strains were cultivated in alkaline media and high CO2 concentrations. Besides leading to an increased solubility of CO2 in the culture media, increasing the pH is thought to balance the acidification effect of CO2 – possibly leading to higher CO2 tolerances. Overall, applying these strains and media adaptations for large-scale applications is expected to increase the CO2 transfer efficiency to the culture, resulting in decreased operational costs and higher overall productivities.

To this day, there is a dearth of published research on environmental awareness, attitudes and behaviour in the Arabian Gulf, and there is no systematic data regarding the value people place on the environment. Understanding the operating social and political context, community values, and potential incentives in the face of environmental change is crucial for designing appropriate intervention measures and informing environmental policy of the region (Moran, 2010; Schultz & Kaiser, 2012). By narrowing the focus down to university-educated youth in Qatar, this paper aims to bridge the gap between reported environmental attitudes and actual behaviour by evaluating different factors that could motivate the younger generation to become more involved in Qatar's environmental conservation efforts and lead to a more sustainable social and economic growth. Ajzen's (1991) Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is employed as the main conceptual framework, hypothesising attitudes, perceived behavioural control and social norms as predictive of pro-environmental behaviour. For the purposes of this study, the model was expanded to consider childhood activities in nature, education, and proximity to an environmental issue as additional factors that are deemed relevant for predicting pro-environmental behaviour. To test the hypothesised correlation between the different factors and environmental behaviour, a close-ended questionnaire was administered to 299 Qatar University undergraduate students in May 2016, with series of questions regarding their time spent in nature, environmental attitudes, social pressure to behave pro-environmentally and whether they feel in control over their actions. Statistical analyses of the gathered data revealed partial applicability of the theoretical model for understanding environmental behaviour, with several factors of the original TPB model (namely attitudes, positive social norms and internal locus of control) as well as supplementary factors (childhood time in nature and university-level education) emerging as significant predictors of pro-environmental behaviour. In addition, analysis of open-ended questions revealed religion and governmental incentives as additional factors that have the potential to motivate students into more pro-environmental behaviour. A general lack of awareness was reported by the respondents, who often blamed ignorance for people's unwillingness to act more pro-environmentally in their daily lives. Although the respondents held overwhelmingly pro-environmental attitudes, their willingness to engage in pro-environmental behaviour was not as evident, due to several factors at play. The paper concludes by suggesting ways how those factors can be utilised to help shape the environmental behaviour of younger generations; however, it also warns that only by bridging the gulf between academic research and policy-making can the gulf between stated environmental values and actual behaviour be truly overpassed.

Scarcity of water and availability of land for agricultural production are the most environmental issues that facing the (GCC) countries and Qatar one of them. Qatar lies in region which characterized by having high evaporation rate and minimum rate of precipitation, so the salt built on the soil in relatively high concentration. The natural vegetation of Qatar is scarce, scattered and limited to certain areas. Halophytes could play a major role to minimize adverse environmental impacts, such as global warming and the enhancement of primary productivity. The present study is kind of the first in screening for local halophytes to quantify their level of tolerance to saline environment. The outcome of this research is expected to serve future research in investigating halophyte economical values and their utilization of the salt effected lands in coastal and in inland areas of Qatar. Seven treatment levels of different concentrations of NaCl including the control treatment (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mM NaCl) were used to evaluate both seed germination stage and seedling growth of selected Qatari halophytes. Eight halophyte species were selected for the seed germination experiment those are: Salsola setifera, Halopeplis perfoliata, Caroxylon imbricatum, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Acacia tortilis, Limonium axillare, Tetraena qatarensis and Aeluropus lagopoides. In general the seed germination experiments showed a decrease in the rate of germination as the salt concentration increased. Most of the studied species had a degree of germination up to 200 mM NaCl. The recovery of seeds subjected to high salt concentration have shown a rapid high percentage recovery up to 94% after being subjected to 600 mM NaCl for Halopeplis perfoliata. Five halophytes species were selected to be used for the seedling growth experiments. The two measured parameters used to evaluate the effect of salt concentrations on seedling growth are plant height and dry weight (biomass) for both above and belowground parts. The obtained results from all measured parameters showed no significant differences among seedlings of Caroxylon imbricatum, Suaeda aegyptiaca and Tetraena qatarensis. In respect to different salinity concentrations, Our results indicated that future utilizing of these plants for any commercial product will be valuable to secure drinking water and food in Qatar.

Coral reefs represent one of the most biologically and socio-economically important natural assets in the Arabian region, particularly in Qatar. Stress through increasing sea temperatures and salinities, growing development, and other pressures, has resulted in shifts in reef communities across the region in recent years. Branching corals have disappeared from most reef systems while previously thriving inshore reefs are being reduced to rubble with little signs of life remaining. We here conduct a thorough re-assessment of coral reefs around Qatar, focusing on coral cover and biodiversity using photoquadrat surveys, and we investigate potential environmental drivers of coral communities in the region. Results show higher coral cover on offshore reefs than on inshore reefs. Additionally, among previously documented inshore corals reefs, several have lost their coral cover and have shifted to non-coral ecosystems composed of rubble, turf algae, and oysters. Coral diversity is higher on offshore reefs than inshore reefs, with previously reported species now absent on inshore reefs. Environmental factors such as salinity and sea surface temperatures could play an important role in driving current patterns of coral biodiversity and biogeography and in predicting their shift as a function of future regional climate scenarios. We expect inshore reefs to be generally more fragile and susceptible to stress due the higher variability in environmental conditions. These same inshore reefs are also the most exposed to human interactions and coastal development. To ensure the future of coral reefs in the region and to sustain their ecosystem services, coral reefs in Qatar will need to be effectively regulated (i.e. through the development and implementation of an ecosystem-based management plan). In addition, recovery of impacted reefs could be assisted through the creation of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs), allowing for natural replenishment of coral communities through connectivity. In the meantime, local reefs are likely to continue their decline in coral cover and diversity, particularly the inshore environments.

Overwhelming scientific evidence has emphasized that climate change is a serious global threat driven by human activity and requires a global response. The importance of marine microbial diversity and the involvement of microbes in processes such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles, production and consumption of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane has been highlighted in the past. Qatari marine environment is unique with an unusual harsh and arid climate, which influences sea salinity and temperature, thus influencing the water density and currents. Of economic importance, these waters are heavily influenced through anthropogenic use. Thus, Qatar's marine flora including the exotic phytoplankton and zooplankton species have adapted and developed a tolerance for extreme conditions. However, despite their relevance for ecosystem functioning, little is known about smaller size classes of organisms (bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi) in coastal habitats, their diversity, their distribution, biological interactions and how they cope with environmental changes. Therefore, a QNRF funded study, a first step towards an understanding and protection of the Qatari marine biosphere, established a baseline of microbial life in the waters surrounding Qatar, in order to monitor and react to the effect of global changes in these waters. Our multi-collaboration project established a comprehensive understanding of microbial biodiversity in Qatari coastal waters using the culture and metagenomic approaches. Results will be presented and the future perspectives discussed.

Acknowledgement: This Research was supported by grant (NPRP-6-647-1-127) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) to Rashmi Fotedar, Teun Boekhout, Jack. W. Fell, and Thorsten Stoeck.

The Arabian Gulf, an economically and geopolitically important marine area, is a semi-enclosed and shallow basin with an average depth 36 m. The Gulf is one of the seasonally warmest (i.e., in summer) and most saline marine regions, which naturally experiences extreme seasonal heating, cooling, and evaporation cycles. Recent economic development and industrialization along with climate change also have introduced significant anthropogenic pressures on this naturally-stressed marine environment. Due to its semi-enclosed, shallow morphology and unique climatic setting, the impacts of environmental pressures are increasingly manifested in the hydrography and biogeochemistry of the Gulf. Oceanographic data collected within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Qatar, although limited in space and time, indicate that physical and biogeochemical properties exhibit high spatial and temporal variability. Previous observational and numerical studies of the region conclude that increased field observation activity is required to better investigate the physical and biogeochemical dynamics of the Gulf. Long-term, continuous, and integrated monitoring of the marine environment, therefore, is essential to understand the status and seasonal/interannual variability of marine physical and biogeochemical dynamics as well as to predict any significant future changes in water column and ecological properties in response to environmental pressures and climatic changes. In this study, basin-scale oceanographic data collected in Qatar's marine region in the recent years are comparatively analyzed with available historical observations to assess thermohaline trends in water column structure and continental shelf circulation, to identify spatial and temporal data gaps, and to provide recommendations regarding optimal time and space coverage for future observational studies.

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in dust trapped on air conditioning unit filters operating in residential and workplace locations in Doha, Qatar were sampled and measured. Fourteen samples were collected and their PAH congener profile were quantified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the medians of ΣPAH16, which include seven carcinogenic components (ΣPAH7), were 214.7 ng g^− 1 and 129.2 ng g^− 1 of dust respectively for the residential samples, and 224.4 ng g^− 1 and 137.9 ng g^− 1 respectively for dust samples collected in an office workplace environment. Among all samples, benzo (b) fluoranthene (BBF) and benzo (a) pyrene (BAP) were the dominant congeners in both the residential and workplace samples, representing 18.2% and 16.9% of the ΣPAH16, respectively. Factors of correlation were calculated for various PAHs, and showed that lighter molecular weight PAHs have a significant positive correlation with heavier congeners within the residential samples, while workplace samples showed a negative correlation with BAP, Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene (IND), and Dibenz (a,h) anthracene (DBA). Benzo (a) pyrene equivalent (BAPe) was used to assess the risk of human exposure to PAH inhalation. BAPe estimates for residences sampled averaged 0.019 μg g^− 1, with a maximum of 0.063 μg g^− 1 of dust, while workplace estimates averaged at 0.056 μg g^− 1 with a maximum of 0.148 μg g^− 1. Source apportionment assessment indicated that most residential and workplace PAHs samples have a pyrogenic origin with few showing evidence of petrogenic origins. All quantified PAHs concentrations and estimated BAPe in Qatar indoor dust samples are well below reported values elsewhere in the world.

The genus Trichoderma contains a few species of soil fungi that received extensive academic and applied research. These species have been used successfully for industrial and commercial applications including biopesticides. Trichoderma species isolated from Qatar had showed thermotolerance and preference of high pH (El Badawy et al, 2016). To reveal the extent of Trichoderma species in Qatar, initial survey was carried out by isolating that fungi from samples collected from two experimental and two commercial farms. Then their antagonism against Rhizoctonia sp were evaluated. Further in order to determine the biodiversity in one location, a detailed survey was conducted by isolating Trichoderma species from 16 soil samples obtained from a single plot of 1000 m² located in one of the experimental farms. These isolates were evaluated for their potential to grow on pH 8 under 4 temperature regimes. The initial survey revealed the presence of Trichoderma (5 isolates) in all locations. The isolates differed in their morphology and antagonism against 5 isolates of Rhizoctonia sp isolated from one of the research farm. The two Trichoderma isolates from the same farms were more effective than the other three. This superiority in antagonism may reflect the coevolution of the two genera in the soil of this farm. In the detailed survey, it was remarkable to isolate three Trichoderma species (6 isolates) from the single plot. Four of the isolates were belong to one species (T. longibrachiatum). Morphological and molecular variations were observed within this species. One of the four isolates showed different colony color and conidial color than the rest. The same isolate showed a few differences at the molecular level. The sequence of the ITS rDNA (508 bp) showed substitution of 20 nucleotides (15 single, one of 2 and one of 3 nucleotides) All the three species isolates gave reasonable growth measured as dry weight even at 35 °C. There were significant differences between species in their optimum temperature which range between 25 and 30 °C. This study showed the abundant presence of the Trichoderma species in Qatari soils that could sustain and survive conditions of arid regions or the fluctuating temperature rising due to global warming. The presence of diversity between and within species will allow screening and selecting Qatari isolates with desirable characters as bio-pesticide for arid climate.

Acknowledgment: This paper is funded partially by NPRP –EP grant# [NPRP-EPX– 014-4-001] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.

Water is an important natural resource and is necessary for the survival of all living things. With industrial development and the increase in population, there has never been more demand on water resources like what we are seeing today around the world. Moreover, climate change effects such as droughts and desertification is a problem many countries are facing, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. Qatar is one of these countries with very limited water resources, yet the demand on water is great due to its vast industry and continuous increase in population. It is one of the most dry and arid regions in the world which is facing inconceivable challenges in protecting fresh water for domestic, agriculture and industrial uses. Thus, reusing treated sewage effluent (TSE) will be essential to overcome the water scarcity in this country. Although the reuse of TSE is vital to save water and sustain the environment, it may adversely affect the environment if the treatment process is inadequate. Sewage effluents contain numerous contaminants which should be removed completely before being discharged or reused. A wide range of these contaminants are persistent to the conventional treatment processes such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). PPCPs and EDCs are regularly used all over the world and normally their final destination is the sewage water. Due to insufficient removal, they are discharged into the aquatic environment carrying adverse effects on the aquatic creatures, animals, and also humans. It is suggested that TSE goes through an advanced treatment process to minimize the environmental concerns due to the contamination with PPCPs and EDCs. This project aims to analyze the TSE produced in Qatar for the existence of a variety of PPCPs and EDCs. A pilot plant with an advanced treatment technology called advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) will be used to study the removal of these compounds. The AOPs to be studied will be based on different combination of ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and ultraviolet light. AOPs enhance the water treatment process by the production of the highly oxidizing hydroxyl radicals (OH√). In the preliminary tasks the TSE was analyzed for the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration as well as a variety of ions. The TOC and phosphate showed elevated concentrations of 5.02 and 1.33 ppm respectively. Jar test experiments were conducted to reduce these compounds by coagulation using ferric chloride and alum. TOC was decreased by 33% while phosphate was removed completely when the coagulant dose was ≥ 50 ppm. The removal of TOC is important prior to disinfection to avoid the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) which are suspected carcinogens. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the TOC concentration should not exceed 2 ppm. This project has an influence on the sustainability of the environment by saving water, reducing energy consumption (required for desalination processes), and eliminating environmental pollution.