Caractérisation hydrobiologique saisonnière de la lagune de bizerte (Tunisie)

Cette étude a pour but la caractérisation hydrobiologique d’une lagune méditerranéenne (lagune de Bizerte, nord de la Tunisie) sur la base de dix campagnes de mesures réalisées à une fréquence mensuelle durant l’année 2004, de janvier à décembre. Deux parmi ces dix campagnes ont fait l’objet d’un maillage fin avec 118 stations en mai et 40 stations en septembre. Le reste n’a couvert que 10 stations seulement. Pendant ces campagnes, des paramètres physicochimiques ont été mesurés (Température, Salinité, Oxygène dissous). Des mesures de paramètres chimiques et biologiques ont été effectuées au laboratoire (Ammonium, Nitrates, Phosphates, Azote total, Phosphore total, Chlorophylle a et Phéopigment).Une analyse multivariée des données collectées a permis de distinguer deux principaux modes de fonctionnement de la lagune. Le premier mode, expliquant 26,3 % de la variance totale, montre un contraste nord-sud et reflète l’effet relatif de la Méditerranée et du bassin versant de la lagune, alors que le second mode, expliquant 18,2 % de la variance totale, montre un contraste est-ouest qui traduit l’effet du lac Ichkeul. Les paramètres qui contribuent significativement au premier mode sont la température, la salinité, la transparence absolue et relative. Ceux qui contribuent au second mode sont la transparence absolue et relative ainsi que la chlorophylle a et le phéopigment. Cependant, les paramètres dont les poids moyens sont non significatifs ont montré des oscillations spatiales importantes en fonction des saisons qui sont en liaison avec les rejets terrestres.The purpose of this study was the hydrobiological characterization of a Mediterranean lagoon (Bizerte Lagoon, North Tunisia) based on ten sampling campaigns carried out during the year 2004, from January to December, on a roughly monthly frequency. Two of these ten campaigns were subject to a high spatial coverage with 118 stations in May and 40 stations in September; the eight remaining campaigns covered only ten stations. During these campaigns, physicochemical parameters were measured (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen) and laboratory analyses were performed for chemical and biological parameters (ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and pheopigments). A multivariate analysis distinguished two principal functioning hydrobiologic modes. The first mode, explaining 26.3% of the total variance, shows a North-South contrast reflecting the relative effect of the Mediterranean Sea and the catchment area. The second mode, explaining 18.2% of the total variance, shows an East-West contrast that reflects the effect of Lake Ichkeul. The parameters that contribute significantly to the first mode are temperature, salinity, absolute and relative transparency, whereas those that contribute to the second mode are absolute and relative transparency as well as chlorophyll-a and pheopigments. However, parameters for which the average weights were not significant showed important spatial oscillations according to seasons, in relation with terrestrial discharges

Systematic review of a RAMSAR wetland and UNESCO biosphere reserve in a climate change hotspot (Ichkeul Lake, Tunisia)

Tunisia\u27s Ichkeul Lake is among the most productive ecosystems in the Mediterranean, with a great regional value thanks to its diversity of habitats. It is an important overwintering area for waterfowl species. It is a RAMSAR wetland, a National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage, and a Biosphere Reserve. This review paper provides a broad overview of the climatic, hydraulic, biogeochemical features, bio-resources, and bio-productivity of the Lake. The interconnectivity between the different environmental components of the lake is presented, highlighting the main characteristics of this vital ecosystem. Its ecosystem consists of a permanent lake bordered by temporary marshes. It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea via Bizerte Lagoon under a typical semi-arid to sub-humid bio-climate with wet and dry seasons. The winter rainfall fills up the rivers and lake with freshwater that overflows into the Tinja River. In summer, high evaporation reduces the water level and allows seawater to enter the wetland from Bizerte Lagoon. The ecosystem is threatened by pollution, the damming of its main rivers, and climate change. The unsustainable water management has resulted in fundamental environmental modifications, as evidenced by the large variation in the salinity, water level, productivity of water plants, and the decline in venue and stop-overs of waterbirds. The current situation is a warning that indicates a general perturbation of the resources of this particular site and of Tunisian wetlands in general, especially that the Mediterranean region has been designated as a climate change hotspot. Accurate hydrological management is needed to boost the physical functioning of the ecosystem, and to gain deeper knowledge of the different phases of the water cycle and its relationship to other long-term environmental cycles for sustainable water management strategies in the most water-scarce region in the world

Oxygen consumption and nutrient fluxes in coastal marine sediments off the Mejerda River delta (Gulf of Tunis)

International audienceThe authors studied the benthic flux of oxygen, dissolved iron and manganese, and nutrients in-situ at three points in the Mejerda River Delta, at depths of 10 m, 20 m, and 40 m, in March and August 2012. Three sedimentary cores were simultaneously drilled, at the same locations, to determine the diffusive flux of Fe2+, Mn2+, NO3-, NH4+, and PO43- and to estimate the diagenetic mechanisms occurring below the sediment–water interface. Photosynthesis was not sufficiently high during the day and the oxygen consumption at the sediment-water interface was about 1.7 to 10 mmol/m²/day, essentially controlled by the degradation of organic matter and oxidation of reduced elements. Nitrate contents were relatively high in the sediment (above 140 μM for NO3-) and their production was not always in conformity with the general scheme of early diagenesis, moreover, the benthic flux between the water and sediment was not clearly established. The diffusive flux of NH4+ and PO43- was always directed to the water column, at averages of 1.27 μmol/m²/day for PO43- and 96.5 μmol/m²/day for NH4+, complying with those measured by the benthic chambers, but representing less than 30% of the benthic fluxes for NH4+ and less than 5% for PO43

Nutrient exchange and oxygen demand at the sediment–water interface during dry and wet seasons off the Medjerda River Delta (Tunis Gulf, Tunisia)

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Suspended particulate matter fluxes along with their associated metals, organic matter and carbonates in a coastal Mediterranean area affected by mining activities

International audienceA study of suspended particulate matter (SPM) fluxes along with their associated metals, organic matter and carbonates, was conducted off the Mejerda River outlet in May 2011 and in March and July 2012 at depths of 10, 20 and 40 m using sediment traps. SPM fluxes are more significant near the Mejerda outlet, especially in winter, but dissipate further offshore. Normalization reveals that the Mejerda is a major source of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Co, all of which are the result of human activities. In contrast, Fe, Mn and N are of authigenic origin. The enrichment factor shows that Pb, Zn and especially Cd are the most highly polluting metals off the Mejerda outlet. This confirms the trend observed on the shores of the Mejerda prodelta and is consistent with the type of mining activities conducted in the Mejerda catchment

Assessing trace metal pollution through high spatialresolution of surface sediments along the Tunis Gulf coast(southwestern Mediterranean)

International audienceTunis Gulf (northern Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea) is of great economic importance due to its abundant fish re-sources. Rising urbanization and industrial development in the surrounding area have resulted in an increase in untreated effluents and domestic waste discharged into the gulf via its tributary streams. Metal (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) and major element (Mg, Ca, Na, and K) concentrations were measured in the grain fine fraction Mg > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cd > Hg. Metals tend to be concentrated in proximity to source points, suggesting that the mineral enrichment elements come from sewage of coastal towns and pollution from industrial dumps and located along local rivers, lagoons, and on the gulf shore itself. This study showed that trace metal and major element concentrations in surface sediments along the Tunis Gulf shores were lower than those found in other coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea

Diagenetic processes and sediment-water exchanges of heavy metals in the Mejerda River Delta (Gulf of Tunis)

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Metal transfer budgets in a Mediterranean marine environment subjected to natural and anthropogenic inputs: case of the Mejerda River Delta (Gulf of Tunis, northern Tunisia)

International audienceDeltaic sediments are important for biogeochemical metal cycling since they are hotspots for metal inputs. In addition, they are potential sites for diagenetic processes leading to either the burial of inorganic contaminants or their release. Diffusive fluxes of certain metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd) in the sediments of the Mejerda River Delta (MRD) (Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia) were quantified by modeling the available concentration profiles in the pore water. The metals’ burial and sedimentation fluxes were also calculated using both the asymptotic concentrations of available metal profiles and sediment trap results. These fluxes were assembled with the exchange fluxes at the sedimentwater interface in order to develop complete metal transfer budgets. The results showed that budgets of Cu and Zn are almost neutral. The sediment appears tobe a good trap for iron since its average burial flux at the three studied stations is about 332.6 g m−2 year−1. Organic matter degradation, carbonate dissolution, and oxyhydroxide reduction are the main mechanisms which accelerate the release of metals associated with the suspended particle matter once they reach the pore water in the seabed

Chemical speciation of Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Co, Ni and Cr in the suspended particulate matter off the Mejerda River Delta (Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia)

International audienceFluxes of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and their associated metals were performed off the Mejerda River Delta during both the wet (March) and the dry (July) seasons in 2012, using sediment traps at study stations at depths of 10, 20 and 40 m. Fluxes nearest to the Mejerda outlet were more significant, especially during winter (36 g m−2 day−1), but dissipated further offshore, 24.5–6 g m−2 day−1 at the 20 m and 21.8–4.8 g m−2 day−1 at the 40 m stations. Many variations observed in seasonal and spatial metal fluxes are similar to those of SPM, in particular Pb and Zn, probably because they are associated with the mining activity characteristic of the Mejerda catchment. Chemical speciation reveals that most of the metals (20–100%) are bound to the residual fraction. The most toxic metals (Pb, Zn) are bound in part to the exchangeable fraction (20–50% for Pb and 5–15% for Zn) making them relatively bioavailable and therefore potentially toxic. While Cu and Cd fluxes are not always clearly established according to season, both metals are apparently sequestered deep in the sediment, bound especially to clays (40–80% for Cd and up to 100% for Cu)

Bioavailability and assessment of heavy metal pollution in sediment cores off the Mejerda River Delta (Gulf of Tunis): How useful is a multiproxy approach ?

International audienceThree core samples were taken from zones offshore from the Mejerda River Delta (Tunisia) and analyzed formajor and trace elements to assess their relationships with organic matter, monosulfides and carbonates, aswell as for pollution and bioavailability. Chemical speciation,ΣSEM/AVS, the enrichment factor (EF) and thegeo-accumulation index (I-geo) were used. Iron, cadmium, lead and zinc – the most frequently mined metalsin the Mejerda catchment – were found as contaminants in the offshore areas. Estimations of trace elementaccumulation using the EF and the I-geo index show that lead, and to a lesser extent zinc, are the most pollutingmetals off the Mejerda outlet. According to their bioavailability, these metals are also the most toxic. Only cadmiumis heavily present in delta sediment (EF N 100) though deeply sequestrated (100% bound to the residualfraction) and thus presents no toxicity