Evaluation of the bioremediation potential of mud polychaete Marphysa sp. in aquaculture pond sediments

Organic enrichment from aquaculture could alter the chemical composition of the fishpond bottom by increasing the levels of organic matter (OM), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), and lower pH of the sediment. Polychaetes can contribute to the nutrient cycling and remediation of polluted sediment. A laboratory experiment was conducted to test the remediation potential of small and large mud polychaete Marphysa sp. introduced to two types of fishpond sediment. Initially, Sediment A had lower OM, S, Fe, and higher pH than Sediment B. After 30 days, in Sediment B, large polychaetes significantly decreased the OM level (27%) while both small and large polychaetes promoted significant decreases of S (71%) and Fe (70–73%) in both sediment types. The increase of sediment pH was promoted by the presence of polychaetes (0.53–0.69) although pH level in small polychaete was not significantly different with the no polychaete treatment. Regardless of polychaete treatment, the pH level of Sediment B (1.04 ± 0.10) was significantly improved than that of Sediment A (0.17 ± 0.02). In both sediments, large polychaetes (95%) had better survival rates than small polychaetes (73%). These findings reveal that large Marphysa sp. can significantly improve sediment quality by decreasing the levels of OM, S, and Fe and improve pH level to a more basic form without compromising its survival. Large polychaetes are recommended to be used as bioremediators of organically enriched aquaculture pond sediment.The first author is grateful to the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-SEI ASTHRDP) and UPV, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE) for the scholarship and thesis grant, respectively. The authors are thankful to Vicente T. Balinas (statistician), the staff of Laboratory for Advanced Aquaculture Technology (LFAAT) and Polychaete Production Laboratory (Study Code FD-03-08 T) of SEAFDEC/AQD