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Item Sensory Evaluation of Butter and Milk Derived from Oyster Nut(MJRD, 2025-03-21) Shayo, Philipina F; Emmanuel, John; Oscar, Allen; Balole, Paul; Mlowe, Diana; Sangiwa, Veronica; Runyoro, Joan; Aluko, AngelaThis study explores the sensory evaluation of butter and milk made from oyster nuts (Telfairia pedata), a lesser-known but nutritionally rich seed. The evaluation involved a panel of trained assessors who assessed the products on the basis of key sensory attributes, such as appearance, texture, flavour, aroma, and overall acceptability. The oyster nut milk added with strawberry and oyster nut butter with cocoa, sugar, pumpkin seeds and chocolate had higher scores of 7.57 and 6.52, respectively, on overall acceptability. However, as a dairy-free product alternative, oyster nut milk and butter scored highly on sensory evaluations, suggesting a significant market potential and positive benefits for cardiovascular health. The two products exhibit potential, though further refinement in processing could enhance its acceptability. These findings suggest that oyster nut-derived products could serve as viable alternatives in the growing market for plant-based dairy substitutes, especially for consumers seeking unique and allergen-free options.Item Career Aspiration in Relation to Academic Achievement among Undergraduate Students of Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Tanzania.(MIER Journal of Educational Studies Trends & Practices, 2024-11) Mhule, Daliko; Babu M Daliko; Ngonyani,Mussa; Sumbiz, EnericoAcademic achievement and career aspirations are pivotal in preparing youth for socio economic participation. This study investigated the relationship between the career aspirations and academic achievement of 217 randomly selected undergraduate students, utilizing a cross-sectional survey design and the career aspirations scale (Gregor & Brien, 2016). Results showed that students had moderate career aspirations (Median=3.29) and academic performance (Median=3). Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U Test indicated no significant gender differences in career aspirations (U=5895, z=.117, p=.91) but a significant difference in academic achievement (U=4775.50, z=-2.57, p=0.01), suggesting that career aspirations predict academic success. The findings highlight the need for academic support services to enhance student performance and career goals, emphasizing career aspirations (U=5895, z=.117, p=.91) but a significant difference in academic achievement (U=4775.50, z=-2.57, p=0.01), suggesting that career aspirations predict academic success. The findings highlight the need for academic support services to enhance student performance and career goals, emphasizing career aspirations as critical for academic success and a central concern for educational policy.Item Diversity and Abundance of Arthropods at Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Tanzania.(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, 2016-09-06) Ojija, FredrickDespite the high abundance of arthropods in many terrestrial environments, our understanding of their ecological diversity and abundance remain unknown in some habitats. The aim of this study is to assess the abundance, diversity and species richness of some arthropods found in grassland and woodland habitats at Mbeya University of Science and Technology in Tanzania. A total of 1719 arthropods belonging to 63 species under 12 orders and 46 families were collected. Parameters such as Shannon index, Simpson index, Margalef index, Evenness index and Sorenson similarity index were used to analyse the diversity of arthropods. Result showed that, Hymenoptera (33.101%), Coleoptera (28.098%) and Orthoptera (17.510%) were the most dominant orders, whereas the least abundant order were Diptera (0.814%) and Scolopendromorpha (0.291%). The grassland showed high species richness, Margalef index (D = 6.930), abundance (n = 1177), Evenness (E = 0.854) and Shannon diversity (H = 3.339) of arthropods. The abundance of arthropod groups between grassland and woodland differed significantly(p<0.05). Sorensen similarity index in both habitats showed 53.5% similarity. Therefore, result indicates that the grassland habitat has the potential to support arthropod diversity and act as effective refugia for some arthropods from woodland.Item Energy Resources: Their Causal Relationship with Ecology and Environments.(Asia Pacific Academy of Science Pte. Ltd., 2025-03-19) Lyanda, Romanus Peter; Ojija, FredrickEnergy resources are critical drivers of economic development and societal progress, but their extraction, conversion, and use have profoundly impacted ecological systems and the environment. Therefore, it is essential to explore the relationships between energy resources and the environment throughout history. This paper examines the causal relationships between energy resource utilization and environmental changes, addressing both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. We analyze the environmental consequences of energy extraction and consumption, including pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change, and evaluate sustainable approaches to mitigate these effects. Fossil fuels have been the primary source of energy and are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and habitat destruction, all of which exacerbate global climate change. On the other hand, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power are considered more sustainable. However, they also have environmental impacts, such as habitat disruption and high resource consumption. Researchers argue that trade-offs must be managed between increasing energy use, facilitated by technological advancements, and achieving sustainability. Energy generation and ecological goals should not be viewed as opposing or irreconcilable. With the implementation of appropriate policies, measures, and guidelines, energy production can be aligned with efforts to mitigate climate change and promote sustainability.Item Global Dynamics of Fractional-order Model for Malaria Disease Transmission(Asian Research Journal of Mathematics, 2022) Helikumi, Mlyashimbi; Lolika, Paride O.In this study, we formulated and analyzed a fractional-order model for malaria disease transmission using Atangana-Beleanu-Caputo in sense to study the effects of heterogeneity vector biting exposure on the human population. To capture effects the heterogeneity vector biting exposure, we sub-divided the human population into two sub-groups namely; the population in high and low risk areas. In the model analysis, we computed the basic reproduction number R0 and qualitatively used to assess the existence and extinction of disease in the population. Additionally, we used the fixed point theorem to prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions. Numerical schemes for both Euler and Adam-Bathforth-Moulton are present in details and used in model simulations. Furthermore, we performed the numerical simulation to support the analytical results in this study. From numerical simulations, we estimated the values of model parameters using least square fitting method for the real data of malaria reported in Zimbabwe. The sensitivity analysis of the model parameters was done to determine the correlation between model parameters and R0. Finally, we used the Euler and Adam-Bashforth-Moulton scheme to simulate the model system using estimated parameters. Overall, we noted that fractional-order derivatives have more influence on the dynamics of malaria disease in the population.Item Nitrogen and Phosphorus‑Related Functional Genes Enhance Nutrient Removal in the Integrated Aquaculture Wastewater Bioremediation System in the Presence of Photosynthetic Bacteria(Springer nature, 2025) Ramzan, Muhammad N.; Shen, Ding; Wei, Yingzhen; Emmanuel, Arslan; Nicholaus, Regan; Yang, Wen; Zheng, ZhongmingIntegrated Aquaculture Wastewater Bioremediation Systems (IAWBSs) are crucial for treating nutrient-rich mariculture water. However, there is a lack of detailed information about the functional mechanisms between nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) functional genes and the bacterioplankton community in the presence of photosynthetic bacteria (PSB). This study evaluated the connections between N and P functional genes in IAWBSs under the influence of PSB. The results showed significant improvements in effluent qual- ity, with removal efficiencies of 79, 74, 83, 90, and 71% for NO2− −N, NO3− −N, PO43−-P, NH 4+ −N, and COD Mn, respectively. Adding PSB enhanced and altered microbial diversity within the system, promoting the abundance of functional genes related to N and P cycling. Notably, genes associated in denitrification (nirK and nirS), ammonification (ureC) and amoB, involved in nitrification, were significantly increased after PSB was added. Fur- thermore, genes such as phnK, phoD, and phoX, which are involved in P transformation, also showed increased abundance levels. These genes were closely linked to the micro- bial community distribution, species diversity, and nutrient cycling. Microbial community changes can result in changes in functional gene abundance. This study provides important and novel insights for developing bioremediation strategies for polluted sites. This demon- strates the fundamental relationships between the IAWBSs’ functional units and the distri- bution of microbial communities under the influence of PSB.Item Influence of Environmental Variables and Anthropogenic Activities on Soda-Saline Lakes Chemistry in Northern Tanzania: A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach(ELSEVIER, 2025) Lameck, Azaria S.; Rotich, Brian; Ahmed, Abdalrahman; Kipkulei, Harison K.; Akos, Peto; Boros, EmilThis study employed Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems to explore the in fluence of environmental factors and human-induced land use/land cover changes on the chemistry of soda-saline lakes in Northern Tanzania. Satellite-based rainfall data were sourced from the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) datasets, and temperature data were obtained from MERRA-2. Monthly precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in lake watersheds were analyzed from 1981 to 2022, while land use and land cover changes were assessed for 2000, 2014, and 2023. Soil types were acquired from the FAO Digital Soil Map of the World, while geological characteristics were sourced from the US Geological Survey database. The findings revealed that the region’s climate is ideal for enhancing evapotranspiration, leading to mineral precipitation, and altering the chemistry of soda-saline lakes. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index revealed increased drought events in the lake basins since 1987, with prolonged drought occurrence between 2000 and 2017. The results also showed that the region is characterized by a variety of soil types, including ferric acrisols, chromic cambisols, calcic cambisols, entisols, inceptisols, eutric fluvisols, distric nitisols, humic nitisols, mollic andosols, ochric andosols, and pellic vertisols. Furthermore, the region is distinguished by diverse geological processes, from Precambrian-Cambrian to tertiary intrusive, triggered by volcanic and tectonic activity. Land use/land cover changes results indicated dy namics in the various classes with an overall decrease in areas under water bodies (− 39.80 %), forests (− 22.57 %) and bareland (− 36.18) while agricultural land (111.01 %) built-up areas (434.72 %), shrubs and grasses (72.77 %) increased in area coverage over the 23 years study period (2000–2023). This study underscores the complex interplay between environmental variables and human activities in shaping the chemistry of soda-saline lakes.Item Teachers’ Perceived Influence of Sanitation Manual Utilization on Promotion of Wellness among Secondary School Inhabitants in Ilorin Metropolis(Mbeya University of Science and Technology, 2025-03-01) Abubakar, Baba D.; Suleiman, Mohammed S.; Ibrahim, Ologele; Adekunle, Uthman K.; Olanrewaju, Abdulganiy AtandaAn essential subcomponent of the school health program is environmental sanitation. The study examined the teachers’ perceived influence of sanitation manual utilisation on the promotion of wellness among secondary school inhabitants in Ilorin Metropolis. The study specifically looks into whether the availability of basic facilities and equipment, the proper use of school sanitation manuals, and adherence to different strategies for implementing school sanitation affect the health promotion of students in Junior Secondary Schools in Ilorin Metropolis. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for this study comprises 4,484 junior secondary school teachers in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 360 samples for this study. The researcher-developed questionnaire and checklist were used. The reliability of the instrument was established through the split-half method, and a coefficient of 0.85 was obtained using Spearman-Brown correlation statistics analysis. Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage were used for answering the research questions, while inferential chi square statistics were employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings were that teachers perceived the availability of school sanitation facilities and equipment, effective utilisation of the equipment and facilities, and the implementation of various strategies for sanitation as influencing the promotion of wellness among junior secondary school students in Ilorin Metropolis. The study recommends that government or school proprietors should ensure effective provision of facilities such as water supply, toilets, and accessories.Item Comparative Study of Bachelor of Civil Engineering Curricula in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania: A Systematic Review(IISTE, 2021) Mhando, Yusuph B.; Kifanyi, Gislar E.This paper compares the curricula of Bachelor degree in the field of civil engineering. This helps improving the quality of curriculum that generates demand driven engineering graduates with an equal competency in the context of labour market. Descriptive survey was adopted, and a checklist of courses from purposively selected higher learning institutions was used. Constant comparative analysis to categorize types of information investigated was adopted. Findings indicate that Bachelor degree programme in civil engineering at Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) and St. Joseph College of Engineering and Technology (SJCET) has duration of 3 or 4 years depending on the entry qualification of the student, whereas at Arusha Technical College (ATC) it takes 3 years to complete the programme. On the other hand, inconsistency on the number of courses and academic loads offered in these institutions was revealed. The study suggests a joint development of curricula for training programmes. This could help trainers, researchers, curricula developers and policy makers to harmonize and minimize discrepancies of the curricula contents of the same programme offered in different institutions.Item Support Children to Develop Desire in Science, Technical and Technology Education: The Case of Kinondoni Pre-Primary Classroom, Tanzania(Open Access, 2021) Kibani, Leoncia HenericoRecent studies have shown that science, technical and technological fields are underrepresented academically and professionally from school to university level. The interests in learning such fields can be traced back from early childhood education to higher learning levels. Studies revealed that teaching and learning materials either guided or free when integrated into children’s games and plays become valuable resources that create desires into learning these subjects. This study therefore, explored on the supportive teaching and learning materials employed by teachers and parents in children’s game and plays to build their desire and interests of learning the subjects. The study was conducted in Kinondoni district, Tanzania. The study employed a mixed method approach based on descriptive survey design. The study collected data from 230 participants in 20 pre-primary classes. Purposive sampling was for teachers and parents. Random stratifies sampling technique adopted to get pre-primary classes. Findings revealed that children curiosity and interest in learning science, technical and technological elements are impacted by improper and inadequate supportive learning materials. Also, types of plays and games engaged in, classroom environment, parent’s participation in children plays and communication done to children. Majority 20 (100%) teacher were employing certain common games and plays those bored children. Many 16 (80%) teachers do not implement recommended supportive materials effectively. The study concluded that supported children demonstrate curiosity and interest which build foundation for future professionals, expertise and specialists. The study recommends for positive support to children’s ideas, natural curiosity and perspectives to enhance their interest in learning science, technical and technology aspects.Item A Note on Fractional-Order Model for Cholera Disease Transmission with Control Strategies(Mbeya University of Science and Technology, 2021-12-29) Helikumi,Mlyashimbi; Lolika,Paride O.In this paper, we formulated and analyzed a fractional-order model for cholera disease transmission that consists of human population and surrounding environment. Three control strategies namely: health education campaigns, hygiene practices, and treatment of infected individuals are investigated. We divided the human pop- ulation into three sub-classes namely: Susceptible, infected and recovered classes. The main assumptions on the disease transmission were that susceptible humans acquire the disease through contact with either infected humans or directly from environment. Mathematical analysis of the model was carried out and the threshold quantity R0 which determine the existence of the disease in the population was determined. The model analysis showed that the disease exist in the population whenever R0 > 1 and dies wherever R0 ≤ 1. It was also noted that both the disease-free and endemic equilibria are globally stable. Further more, we performed the numerical simulations of the model and the results showed that the order of derivatives have the influence on spread of cholera disease in the population. It was also noted that both the aforementioned control strategies have the potential to minimize the spread of cholera in the community.Item Mathematical Analysis of Harvested Predator-Prey System with Prey Refuge and Intraspecific Competition(Tanzania Journal of Science, 2021) Mapunda, Alanus; Sagamiko, ThadeiIn this paper, a predator-prey relationship in the presence of prey refuge was studied. The analysis of the dependence of locally stable equilibrium points on the parameters of the problem was carried out. Bifurcation and limit cycles for the model were analyzed to show the dynamical behaviour of the system. The results showed that the system is stable at a constant prey refuge m = 0.3 and prey harvesting rate H = 0.3. However, increasing m and decreasing H or vice versa, the predator-prey system remains stable. It was further observed that for a constant prey refuge m ≥ 0.78, the predator population undergoes extinction. Therefore, m was found to be a bifurcation parameter and m = 0.78 is a bifurcation valueItem Community Structure, Conservation Status, and Functional Groups of Bird Species in Mbeya Range Forests, Tanzania(Science Education Technology, 2022-03-07) Ojija, Fredrick; Manyanza, Ndaki M.The Mbeya range forest reserves (MRFRs) of the southern highland of Tanzania are an important hotspot for biodiversity conservation. However, its avian biodiversity has hardly ever been studied. Thus, for the first time, this study presents the inventory of bird species from MRFRs, demonstrating community structure, functional group, and conservation status. The study was carried out in four forest areas (i.e., Idugumbi, Kawetire, Mount Loleza, and Muvwa) within the MRFRs. The bird survey was carried out monthly between March 2018 and June 2018. Standardised line and point counts, as well as mist netting, were used to collect data. A total of 1052 individual birds, representing 41 species and 22 families, were recorded. Relative abundance, Shannon and Simpson species diversity, and species richness were high in Idugumbi forest and lowest in Kawetire forest. Species diversity differed significantly between the four forest areas. Moreover, Idugumbi and Muvwa had relatively low species composition dissimilarity compared to other forest areas. Different bird functional groups, i.e., insectivores, granivores, nectarivores, carnivores, frugivores, or combinations of these, were recorded in MRFRs. The insectivores were twice as abundant as granivores and nectarivores. The multi–layered vegetation structure of native plants in the Idugumbi forest appears to benefit and contribute to bird communities. The study reveals that MRFRs are an important hotspot for bird species that require ecological monitoring and protection. As a result, appropriate land–use practices near MRFRs should be followed to ensure long–term avian conservationItem Advanced Level Student Competences In Doing Biology Practical: The Case Of Dissection Of Frog In Kinondoni And Bagamoyo Districts, Tanzania(IJRISS, 2021) Kibani, Leoncia H.This study examined students’ learning competences of biology practical skills during dissection of animal specimen Frog/Toad in A’level secondary schools in Kinondoni and Bagamoyo district. Mixed method approach and case study design were employed. Biology practical sessions were examined in 10 secondary schools, five from each district. Participants involved 10 form six biology students and 2 teachers from each school. Data were collected through interview with teachers, focus group discussion with students and participatory observation. Sampling was purposively to teachers and randomly to students. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed thematically and descriptively respectively. Findings includes: A’level students were not competent in dissecting frog. Students lack practical technical skills in dissection, lack clear knowledge on the internal features of frog, lack knowledge on the ethics of dissection processes, lack familiarity of some dissecting materials and skills in using dissecting tools. There was limited practical guides and facilities needed for dissection. The study concludes that teachers need to be trained on how to teach practical lessons. The study recommend the government to supply guides and dissecting kits to all schools and make a follow on what and how students are learning practical lessonsItem Quantitative Assessment and Predicting the Effects of Soil Pollutants on Herbaceous Biomass Production in Reserved Forests.(Springer, 2021-05-12) Malunguja, Gisandu K.; Devi, AshalataHeavy metal concentrations in surface soils of Reserved Forests (RFs) have a significant impact on understorey herbaceous layer. However, research on their effects on herbaceous productivity and ecological risk in Assam’s RFs is still scarce. Thus, we undertook an eco logical study to gain a better understanding of this. Levels of ecological risks were assessed using geostatistical indices, and the impacts of metals on productivity were predicted using Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis. Results identified a total of 64 herbaceous plants (13 grasses, 42 forbs, and 09 climbers) from 29 families and 61 genera. According to IVI, the dominating grasses, forbs, and climbers were Cynodon dactylon, Datura stramonium, and Piper betle, respectively. Herbaceous productivity was strongly negatively correlated with heavy metals (i.e. Cr (- 94%), Cd (- 83%), Pb (75%), Ni (- 65%), for grasses; and Ni (- 89%), Cr (- 74%), Pb (- 66%), Cd (- 59%) for forbs). This suggested that metals are strong predictors of herbaceous productivity with a significant impact. Meanwhile, the contamination and pollution levels ranged from slightly to severely contaminated and from moderately to highly polluted. Among the metals, Pb and Cd were highly contaminating with significant implications on productivity. Regression analysis found that metals exerted a considerable impact, accounting for approximately 43.4%, 61.7%, 80.0%, and 49.3% of the variances in Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb, respectively. The empirical model for predicting metals’ Y effects on productivity is: ˆ = 24.977 ? 288.607Cd ? (- 149.635Cr) ? (- 6.534 Ni) ? (- 6.656Pb). Therefore, policymakers must devise efficient metal discharge mitigation techniques in the RFsItem Current Trend on Plant Species Diversity and Productivity Potential among Community Conserved Ngitili Subjected to Grazing Pressure in Kishapu District, Tanzania(IJSRED, 2020-04) Malunguja Gisandu K.; Devi AshalataNgitili is the common practice among the Sukuma ethnic community in Tanzania, which involves retaining an area of standing vegetation during the rainy season and opening it up for grazing at the peak of the dry season. Exposure of Ngitili into extensive grazing has been associated with species alteration in terms of diversity and productivity. We conducted a field study to assess the trend of Ngitili, in Kishapu district of Tanzania. A phytosociological survey was carried to recognize vegetation composition using a point sampling technique. Regeneration potential was determined based on the population size of seedlings, saplings and adults. Herbaceous and tree species productivity potential was computed based on established allometric models. We recorded a total of 66 plant species, of which 20 were grasses, 18 were forbs, and 28 were trees. The dominant grass species were, Aristida spp. (28.9%) while Monechma debile (4.6%) was the dominant forb species. Importance Value Index recorded, Acacia drepanolobium (45.4) and Balanite aegyptica (42.9) as dominant trees species. The majority of the tree (51.8%) exhibiting a “Not regenerating” condition. A diversity of 1.8 to 2.4, with a stocking potential of 1.23±0.05 tDM ha-1 , 512.07±193.86 stems/ha, and 5.66±0.21 tCha-1, for herbaceous and tree species was recorded, respectively. Therefore, the sustainability of Ngitili in Kishapu are highly threatened by ongoing grazing pressure.Item Strategies for Enhancing Service Satisfaction and Students' Retention in Private Secondary Schools: A Case Study in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania(Mbeya University of Science and Technology, 2024-09-30) Mbegalo, Matata J.The study investigated the strategies for enhancing service satisfaction and student retention in private secondary schools in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania. It aimed to explore the levels of service satisfaction, identify the strategies for enhancement, and investigate interventions for retention. Using a case study design, 47 respondents participated, including 20 students, 8 parents, 4 school managers, and 8 head teachers, alongside 7 other education stakeholders. Data collection encompassed interviews, observation, and documentary reviews, with subsequent content analysis employed for data interpretation. The study’s findings highlight a concerning trend: low service satisfaction among customers within the selected schools. Despite existing strategies, the overall experience falls short of expectations. The study recommends that schools focus on designing and implementing internally driven strategies by considering the uniqueness of the needs of their students, conduct regular needs assessments to identify gaps and areas for improvement, implement a mechanism to track customer satisfaction continuously to make necessary adjustments through regular feedback, and schools should use customer satisfaction data to identify at-risk students.Item Improving Mathematics Education Through Teacher Professional Development: A Tanzanian Perspective(MUST Journal of Research and Development, 2024-09-30) Sarungi ,Veronica P; Mutenzi ,FredrickThis study aimed to explore mathematics teachers’ perceptions of professional development. The study involved two public secondary schools in Ilala Municipality, Dar es Salaam. This was a qualitative study based on case study design. The study involved fourteen (14) participants that were selected purposefully. Two (2) heads of the schools, two (2) Academic Teachers, two (2) heads of mathematics departments, and eight (8) mathematics teachers were equally involved from both schools. Interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, and document analysis methods were used in data collection. Both interviews and focus group discussion were audio-recorded by using a protected smartphone with password to ensure data security. The documents reviewed includes; school policies, school calendars, and mathematics departmental meetings’ minutes. The data collected were analysed thematically to identify and interpret key themes. The data analysis was based on the following steps: transcription, data reduction, presentation, and discussion of findings. Fictitious names were used for names of people and schools to ensure confidentiality and anonymity. The study revealed that teachers perceived professional development as formal programs to improve teachers’ quality that were time-consuming and costly, while informal professional development programs were overlooked by teachers and other educational stakeholders. The study recommends that, in order to improve teachers’ quality as intended in professional development, there is a need to raise awareness for both formal and informal professional development programs among teachers and a learning community as a whole.Item The Functional Diversity of Microbial Communities in the Multi‑Compartment Biofilters of Shrimp Mariculture Effluents Using 16S rRNA Metabarcoding.(Springer, 2023-07-18) Lukwambe, Betina; Nicholous, Regan; Zheng, ZhongmingMicrobes play important roles in mariculture biofilter systems, such as biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and organic matter degradation. However, their functional diversity for nutrient removal in shrimp mariculture effluents influenced by multi-compartment biofilters remained elusive. This study explored the functional diversity of microbial communities for nutrient removal in the multi-compartment biofilters of shrimp mariculture effluents. We explored the bacterial taxonomy using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and the ecological functional diversity of the bacteria was assigned using Functional-Annotation-of-Prokaryotic-Taxa analysis (FAPROTAX). According to the Illumina dataset, there was a high heterogeneity, with phase two (P2) treatment showing significant reversible shifts in microbial communities’ population and biogeochemical dynamics relative to phase one (P1). The genera Candidatus aquiluna, Marivita, HTCC , Anaerospora, and Arcobacter were abundant in both stages and may have the functional capability of biodegrading inorganic matter (OM). FAPROTAX results showed that the predominant functional groups (P1 and P2) for nutrient removal were related to chemo-heterotrophy. Furthermore, the nitrate-reduction and nitrate-ammonification were highly significant (P < 0.05) at P2, resulting in an average removal efficiency of 81.39% for total nitrogen (TN) and 80.63% for total phosphorus (TP). The results suggested that incorporating multicompartment biofilters in the system provides a suitable substrate environment for the potential proliferation of Proteobacteria, Nitrospirae, and Bacteroidetes. Overall, this study enlightens the potential roles of the microbial communities under the influence of biofilters in promoting the feasible and most efficient bioremediation approaches for mariculture effluents.Item Enhanced Aquaculture Wastewater Treatment Using Water Spinach (Ipomoea Aquatica Forsskal) and Exogenous Compound Bacteria(Elsevier, 2024) Xu, Jiaojiao; Nicholaus, Regan; Wang, Yangcai; Yang, Wen; Zhu, Jinyong; Zheng, ZhongmingBioremediation technology has been widely recognized as a sustainable treatment method for purifying aqua culture wastewater. We established two types of ecological floating beds, one with water spinach (WS) only and another with water spinach combined with exogenous compound bacteria (WS-ECB) for the treatment of the Pacific white shrimp aquaculture wastewater of low-salinity. The exogenous compound bacteria used in this study was composed of Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Bacillus subtilis in a certain proportion. Microbial com munity dynamics were analyzed by using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and water quality was determined. Both two treatments were effective in the remediation of aquaculture wastewater. The removal efficiencies of CODMn, TN and TP in the WS group were 34.33 %, 66.54 % and 73.01 %, respectively, and the removal efficiency of NH4 + in the WS-ECB group was 93.79 %. Furthermore, the addition of water spinach and exogenous compound bacteria increased the abundance of some bacteria that are involved in regulating water quality and altered the succession of microbial communities. The microbial communities were shaped by both stochastic processes (including limited dispersal) and deterministic processes (including environmental condi tions and biotic interactions). Importantly, stochastic processes dominated the assembly of both water and rhizosphere microbial communities in different treatments, while deterministic processes contributed more to the rhizosphere microbial community in the WS-ECB than in the WS. Overall, our study emphasizes that plant and microbial remediation was a potential and effective approach to remove the nutrients of water, and clarifies the bacterial community dynamics and assembly mechanisms during aquaculture wastewater treatment processes.