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Ben Othman, H., Leboulanger, C., Le Floc'h, E., Mabrouk, H. H., & Hlaili, A. S. (2012). Toxicity of benz(a)anthracene and fluoranthene to marine phytoplankton in culture: Does cell size really matter? J. Hazard. Mater., 243, 204–211.
Résumé: The toxicity of benz(a)anthracene and fluoranthene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) was evaluated on seven species of marine algae in culture belonging to pico-, nano-, and microphytoplankton, exposed to increasing concentrations of up to 2 mg L-1. The short-term (24 h) toxicity was assessed using chlorophyll a fluorescence transients, linked to photosynthetic parameters. The maximum quantum yield Fv/Fm was lower at the highest concentrations tested and the toxicity thresholds were species-dependent. For acute effects, fluoranthene was more toxic than benz(a)anthracene, with LOECs of 50.6 and 186 mu g L-1, respectively. After 72 h exposure, there was a dose-dependent decrease in cell density, fluoranthene being more toxic than benz(a)anthracene. The population endpoint at 72 h was affected to a greater extent than the photosynthetic endpoint at 24 h. EC50 was evaluated using the Hill model, and species sensitivity was negatively correlated to cell biovolume. The largest species tested, the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella, was almost insensitive to either PAH. The population endpoint EC50s for fluoranthene varied from 54 mu g L-1 for the picophytoplankton Picochlorum sp. to 418 mu g L-1 for the larger diatom Chaetoceros muelleri. The size/sensitivity relationship is proposed as a useful model when there is a lack of ecotoxicological data on hazardous chemicals, especially in marine microorganisms. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Ben Othman, H., Pringault, O., Louati, H., Hlaili, A. S., & Leboulanger, C. (2017). Impact of contaminated sediment elutriate on coastal phytoplankton community (Thau lagoon, Mediterranean Sea, France). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 486, 1–12.
Résumé: Effects of sediment-released contaminants and nitrogen were assessed on phytoplankton communities sampled from Thau lagoon (France, Mediterranean Sea) and one close offshore marine station. Phytoplankton was exposed to sediment elutriate (seawater containing a mix of metals, organic chemicals, and nutrients) or to ammonium enrichment for four days using immersed microcosms exposed to natural conditions of light and temperature. Functional (production – respiration balance) and structural (taxonomy and cell densities) responses of the phytoplankton community were assessed. In the lagoon, both treatments stimulated phytoplankton growth, compare to controls. Conversely in the offshore station, the phytoplankton growth was stimulated only with the sediment elutriate addition. In offshore and lagoon stations, both treatments caused a shift in the taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton. Proliferation of potentially toxic diatoms and dinoflagellates resulted from the addition of elutriate. Correspondence analysis determined that phytoplankton from the offshore station was more sensitive to both treatments compared to the lagoon community. According to daily production and respiration balance, lagoon community metabolism remained heterotrophic (P < R) for all treatments, whereas only transient shifts to net autotrophy (P> R) were observed in the offshore community. Direct toxicity of contaminants released from sediment, if any, was therefore masked by nutrient enrichment effects, whereas indirect evidence of contaminant pressure was highlighted by changes in community composition and metabolism. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Bodin, N., N'Gom-Ka, R., Ka, S., Thiaw, O. T., Morais, L. T. de, Le Loc'h, F., et al. (2013). Assessment of trace metal contamination in mangrove ecosystems from Senegal, West Africa. Chemosphere, 90(2), 150–157.
Résumé: The inorganic contamination of sediment and harvested molluscs was investigated in the mangrove environment of Southern West Senegal. Trace metals were analysed in surface sediments, two bivalves (Arca senilis and Crassostera gasar) and three gastropods (Conus spp., Hexaplex duplex and Pugilina morio) collected from four stations: Dionewar, Niodor and Falia localised in the Saloum Delta, and Fadiouth from the Petite Cote. A geochemical normalisation approach by using aluminium allowed for discrimination of sediment contamination among sites. Indeed, Fadiouth appeared highly contaminated with Cd, Hg and Ni compared to the Saloum Delta. For all mangrove sites, trace metals exhibited significant higher concentrations (on a dry weight basis) in shellfish compared to sediments, excepted for Ni and Pb. The distribution pattern followed a similar global trend in molluscs regardless of the spatio-temporal variability, with the predominance of Zn (80% of total metals) followed by Cu and Cd. However, strong differences of metal bioavailability and bioaccumulation in biota were demonstrated, revealing the requirement of employing a suite of organism bioindicators to monitor metal contamination in mangrove ecosystems. From an ecotoxicological point of view, trace metal levels in sediments from the Petite Cote and the Sine-Saloum Estuary were below the effects range-low (ERL) threshold limit of the sediment quality guidelines for adverse biological effects (SQGs). On the opposite, some concerns about Cd contamination of edible shellfish from Southern West Senegal were highlighted, from both the safety point of view of local populations' health, and the chemical quality point of view of exported resources.
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Bouloubassi, I., Méjanelle, L., Pete, R., Fillaux, J., Lorre, A., & Point, V. (2006). PAH transport by sinking particles in the open Mediterranean Sea: A 1 year sediment trap study. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 52(5), 560–571.
Résumé: One year time series of sinking particles were collected at two depths in the open Mediterranean Sea and analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Average total PAH concentrations were 593 ± 284 ng g -1 at 250 m and 551 ± 198 ng g -1 at 2850 m. Total PAH fluxes averaged 73 ± 58 ng m -2 d -1 at 250 m and 53 ± 39 ng m -2 d -1 at 2850 m. Contamination levels and, thus, exposure of marine organisms to PAH are comparable in surface and deep waters. Deep waters appear as a significant, yet overlooked, PAH sink. PAH temporal patterns show noticeable seasonality. This is partly due to varying levels of specific components such as the winter increase of pyrolytic PAH. Downward transport processes and the nature of sinking particles also impact on PAH fluxes, as inferred during periods of increasing productivity. Different phase-associations and interactions with particulate organic carbon for low-MW fossil PAH and high-MW pyrolytic PAH influence their downward transport efficiency. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Brouwer, G. M., Duijnstee, I. a. P., Hazeleger, J. H., Rossi, F., Lourens, L. J., Middelburg, J. J., et al. (2016). Diet shifts and population dynamics of estuarine foraminifera during ecosystem recovery after experimentally induced hypoxia crises. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 170, 20–33.
Résumé: This study shows foraminiferal dynamics after experimentally induced hypoxia within the wider context of ecosystem recovery. C-13-labeled bicarbonate and glucose were added to the sediments to examine foraminiferal diet shifts during ecosystem recovery and test-size measurements were used to deduce population dynamics. Hypoxia-treated and undisturbed patches were compared to distinguish natural (seasonal) fluctuations from hypoxia-induced responses. The effect of timing of disturbance and duration of recovery were investigated. The foraminiferal diets and population dynamics showed higher fluctuations in the recovering patches compared to the controls. The foraminiferal diet and population structure of Haynesina germanica and Ammonia beccarii responded differentially and generally inversely to progressive stages of ecosystem recovery. Tracer inferred diet estimates in April and June and the two distinctly visible cohorts in the test-size distribution, discussed to reflect reproduction in June, strongly suggest that the ample availability of diatoms during the first month of ecosystem recovery after the winter hypoxia was likely profitable to A. beccarii. Enhanced reproduction itself was strongly linked to the subsequent dietary shift to bacteria. The distribution of the test dimensions of H. germanica indicated that this species had less fluctuation in population structure during ecosystem recovery but possibly reproduced in response to the induced winter hypoxia. Bacteria seemed to consistently contribute more to the diet of H. germanica than diatoms. For the diet and test-size distribution of both species, the timing of disturbance seemed to have a higher impact than the duration of the subsequent recovery period. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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