Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Multiproxy analyses were performed on core MS27PT recovered in hemipelagic sediments deposited on the Nile margin in order to reconstruct Nile River palaeohydrological fluctuations during the last 100,000 years. The strontium and neodymium isotope composition of the terrigenous fraction and the major element distribution reveal large and abrupt changes in source, oscillating between a dominant aeolian Saharan contribution during arid periods and a dominant Nile River contribution during pluvial periods. Iron content shows a strong correlation with strontium and neodymium isotopes. This allows the use of a high-resolution continuous Fe record as a proxy of Blue Nile sediment input over the last 100,000 years. The detailed Fe record, with approximately 10 years resolution during pluvial periods, is consistent with subtropical African records of well-dated lake level fluctuations and thus constitutes a first continuous high resolution record of the East African monsoon regime intensity over Ethiopia.;The detailed Fe record shows the two main known pluvial periods attributed to strengthening of the African monsoon over Ethiopia, the Nabtian period from 14 to 8 ka cal BP and the Saharan period from 98 to 72 ka BR For the first time, the last glacial period (Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2,3 and 4) is documented with a continuous record showing large oscillations between high and low East African palaeo-monsoon regimes.;The end of the Nabtian period occurred at 8 ka in core MS27PT, i.e. much earlier than on the East Equatorial African region where it ended around 5.5 ka. We interpret this as evidence that the southward shift of the rain belt occurred 3000 years earlier over the Eastern Ethiopian Highland and propose that the gradual southward migration of the rain belt was associated with highly variable intensity and longer rainy seasons from 8 to 5 ka. During the last glacial period, two wet periods are present around 60-50 ka BP and 38-30 ka BP. These two humid periods are in phase with the rise of atmospheric CH4 concentrations suggesting that wetland tropical African area was one of the sources of the atmospheric CH4 during the MIS 3. During the Last Glacial Maximum and MIS 4, high Saharan aeolian influxes in phase with records of aeolian dust deposited in East Antarctica are documented. This study highlights the importance of reconstructions of monsoon rainfall fluctuation at high temporal resolution to better understand the link between low- and high-latitude climate variability at millennial timescales.
ISSN: 0277-3791

hal-00496481
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00496481
DOI : 10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.02.006

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We present reconstructions of late Holocene changes in the source of organic matter and siliceous export production in the Relocanví Fjord (41°S, 72°W), Northern Chilean Patagonia, based on organic carbon content, δ13Corg, N/C ratio, diatom assemblages and biogenic silica contents from three sediment cores. The age models are based on a combination of 210Pb profiles, AMS 14C dating, and on the first occurrence of the diatom Rhizosolenia setigera f. pungens, as a stratigraphic marker in the fjords. The cores span the last 300 to 700 yr. Diatoms dominate the siliceous assemblages in the three cores (98% on average). Our results suggest that precipitation seasonality in the region of Reloncaví was high in CE 1300–1400 and CE 1700–1850, with a clear decreasing trend since CE 1850. The latter trend is in agreement with instrumental records and tree-ring reconstructions. These fluctuations seem to be associated with the Southern Annular Mode (SAM).
ISSN: 0033-5894

hal-01217176
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01217176
DOI : 10.1016/j.yqres.2015.05.006

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Integrated field, LA-MC-ICP-MS geochronology and geochemical data from the Novo Oriente Group have been investigated in order to determine their provenance and possible tectonic setting. This group in the southwestern portion of the Ceara Central Domain, is a well-preserved metavolcanosedimentary sequence, in part exhalative, composed of two distinct formations. The proximal coastal Bonsucesso Formation comprises mainly quartzite and minor basic metavolcanic rocks and is in gradational contact with the distal Caranbas Formation which constitutes a metapelitic-volcanic-carbonate sequence, including metabasic rocks with pillow structure and sheared serpentinized ultrabasic rocks. The youngest detrital zircon found in the quartzite of the Bonsucesso Formation yielded an age of ca. 2.1 Ga and well-defined peaks around 2.2.2.3-2.4 and 2.5 Ga. In addition, zircons from a related metabasalt yielded an upper intercept age of 2083 +/- 28 Ma. We interpret the zircons found in this metabasalt as inherited from the host quartzite. This fact is supported by depleted-mantle Nd model ages (T-DM age) from correlated metabasic and metaultrabasic rocks from other places in the Novo Oriente sequence, which have yielded ages between 1.36 and 1.69 Ga, that is younger than the zircon age obtained in the metabasalt extruded over the Bonsucesso quartzite. Geochemical data of the metasedimentary rocks from the Caraubas Formation indicates a provenance composed of a mixture of felsic and intermediate sources typical of old stable cratons and older continental roots of active tectonic settings. The rocks of the Crania (Medio Coreau Domain) and Bacaja Complexes (southeastern Amazonian Craton) exposed to the west of the Novo Oriente Group, and largely covered by the Phanerozoic Parnaiba intracratonic basin, are the most likely source rocks. Since the precise age of the Novo Oriente Group is not yet well constrained, two distinct settings may be proposed: (1) it may represent a more evolved basin developed from extensional processes during the Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1.5-1.3 Ga); and (2) it could constitute part of the passive margin systems developed during the break-up of the Rodinia crown copyright supercontinent (ca. 0.95-0.8 Ga), associated with a pre-Brasiliano/Pan-African ocean (e.g. Pharusian Ocean). Crown.
ISSN: 1342-937X

hal-00512825
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00512825
DOI : 10.1016/j.gr.2010.02.001

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : The seismic characteristics of focused fluid-related features such as pockmarks and carbonate build-ups on the Nigerian continental slope have been investigated using complementary seismic data sets (reprocessed 3D exploration data and 2D Very High Resolution hull-mounted and near-bottom seismic data) coupled with the results of previous studies (sedimentological, geotechnical and geochemical analyses).The results show different types of fluid-related features within the hemipelagic phase of long duration (∼1 Myr) Turbidite/Hemipelagic cycles. They are the product of the disturbance of the hosting sediments following two main distinct processes: (1) no or low sediment deposition caused by fluid escape associated with seafloor settlement (benthic fauna, carbonate precipitation, gas hydrate formation) and (2) post-depositional erosion, caused either by fluid release (dewatering from underlying features such as channels and upward migration from a deep source) or by collapse (destabilisation of gas hydrates). The temporal evolution reveals a decrease in fluid flow during the hemipelagic deposition as witnessed by the decrease in methanogenic activity and by gas hydrate destabilisation. The spatial distribution of fluid-related features seems to be controlled by the type of fault (small fault or structural lineament).
ISSN: 0264-8172

hal-01685513
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01685513
DOI : 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2017.10.004

Éditeur(s) : Amer Geophysical Union
Résumé : In this study, we undertook a reconnaissance study of sediments provenance in the Gulf of Lions focusing over the last 16 ka. We used geochemical and isotopic tracers to determine the source of sediments and give insight into the weathering conditions prevailing. Sediments samples were selected both onshore and offshore from the western, eastern, and central part of the Gulf of Lions. We analyzed bulk sediments, coarse and fine silt, and clay fractions. Elemental and Nd isotope compositions appeared to differ from one grain size fraction to another one. These are interpreted in terms of zircon addition in the coarse silt fraction for the elemental concentrations and variable sources influences for the Nd isotope compositions. Our results indicate that sediments in the Gulf of Lions mainly originated from the Rhone River watershed although a contribution of Saharan dust is seen in one sample. Influence of Pyrenean small rivers is minor in these samples. Some Sr isotope compositions shifts are interpreted as reflecting variable amounts of chemical weathering that are consistent with published paleoclimatic reconstructions.
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (1525-2027) (Amer Geophysical Union), 2011-08 , Vol. 12 , N. Q08006 , P. 20 p.

Droits : 2011 by the American Geophysical Union
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00043/15376/12734.pdf
DOI:10.1029/2011GC003523
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00043/15376/

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : Samples of recent sediments and marine organisms from seven coastal lagoons along the Mexican coast of the Gulf of Mexico were analyzed by gas chromatography and GC-MS coupled system to determine the present levels of fossil hydrocarbons. Results show that the highest concentrations of fossil hydrocarbons are present in organisms and sediments located near petrochemical plants and oil refineries, indicating that petroleum hydrocarbons are being released into the coastal lagoons. Stable carbon isotope ratios (12C/13C) of sedimentary organic carbon in sediment and organism samples were also determined. For most of the lagoons, the delta 13C ratios for sediments ranged from -19.0 to -23.9%, anomalous ratios ranging from -26.8 to -29.3% were shown for sediments and organisms (oysters) of two of the studied areas, probably because of the presence of organic carbon from anthropogenic terrestrial sources.
Oceanologica Acta, Special issue (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1982

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00246/35713/34222.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00246/35713/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé :  
A closed depression is defined as a geomorphologic element where a sediment depository is encircled by hillslopes. Despite the fact that closed depressions are often the only stagnant water points in many European landscapes, few ecological researches on their plant assemblages have been done. The main goal of this study was to give first results of the environmental factors responsible for the vegetation composition, richness and rarity in the closed depressions of the Lorraine biogeographical district (Belgium, France and grand-duche de Luxembourg). We surveyed for plant presence 85 forest and 77 grassland closed depressions. For each site, wetland area, local environmental factors and regional connectivities registered. For each species, the Ellenberg values were compiled. To investigate the main source of variation in species composition and in species richness (including richness in rare species), Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling analyses and Generalized Linear Models were respectively used. Species pools in forest (forest and preforest species) and in grassland (bog plants, pioneers, helophytes) were quite different. In both landscapes, a gradient from plants typical of basic high-productive soils to plants typical of acid low-productive soils reflects a shared successional gradient. The accumulation of organic matter allowed the establishment of Sphagnum spp., which slowly acidified the soil and thus acted as ecosystem engineers for the arrival of bog plants. Moreover, the species composition was additionally driven by the plant light tolerance in forests and by the plant water requirements in grasslands. Mechanisms of species accumulation (increase in species richness) were different in forests and in grasslands: respectively related to the plant light tolerance and to the wetland area. At the regional level, the averaged soil productivity was negatively related to the richness in rare species. Indeed, perennial highly-competitive plants such as Glyceria spp., Iris pseudacorus or Urtica dioica impeded the establishment of smaller and rarer species. At the habitat level, isolated closed depressions (due to either low connectivity or low grazing pressure) have more habitat rare species, giving evidences of dispersal limitation in plant assemblages of closed depressions.
ISSN: 0960-3115

hal-01032125
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032125
DOI : 10.1007/s10531-007-9227-x

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : The accumulation of nine heavy metals in fine-grained sediments from the mangrove fringed coast of French Guiana is evaluated. The dynamic features of the South American tropical coastline, from the Amazon to the Orinoco Rivers, result in mangrove sediments being alternately submitted to phases of erosion and net sedimentation a few tens of years long. This process influences the distribution of the heavy metals associated with these frequently re-mobilized deposits. Sedimentary cores and mangrove plant samples were collected, at different seasons, in various swamps characterized by different properties (content of sedimentary organic matter, distance from sea water and fresh water). The ranges of measured concentrations expressed in mu mol g(-1) were the following: Cu (0.06 to 0.61), Co (0.12 to 0.68), Pb (0.08 to 0.18), Ni (0.32 to 0.76), Cr (0.61 to 1.40), Zn (1.25 to 5.94), Mn (4.36 to 45.4) and Fe (441 to 1128). No differences were found between sediments from mangroves developing upstream and downstream of urban areas, i.e. Cayenne and Kourou. This suggests that the content of mangrove sediments in heavy metals along the coastline of French Guiana is essentially the result of the continuous alternation of accumulation and transport phases occurring upstream after departing from the Amazon watershed. The sources of this heavy metals content are thus difficult to identify. However it is well known that the alluvium produced by the natural erosion of the Amazonian soils is naturally enriched in mercury. Also, the run-off from gold mining activities is known to contribute to mercury pollution. Ranges in total Hg were between 0.15 and 2.57 nmol g(-1), with mean values close to 0.41 nmol g(-1), and were clearly correlated with total organic carbon except for some outstanding high values, which may be a result of rapid geochemical changes. Heavy metal concentrations showed variations with depth. The redox conditions and the decay processes affecting the organic matter control the cycling of iron and manganese, which in turn control the concentrations and associations of heavy metals. These preliminary results suggest that the variations in heavy metal content with depth or between mangrove areas result largely from diagenetic processes rather than changes in metal input resulting from local human activities. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Marine Chemistry (0304-4203) (Elsevier), 2006 , Vol. 98 , N. 1 , P. 1-17

Droits : 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-1041.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.marchem.2005.06.001
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1041/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Proceedings GeoMod 2016
Montpellier, France

insu-01397058
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01397058

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
GeoMod Conference 2016
Montpellier, France

insu-01397037
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01397037

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Proceedings GeoMod 2016
Montpellier, France

insu-01397036
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01397036

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé :  
A closed depression is defined as a geomorphologic element where a sediment depository is encircled by hillslopes. Despite the fact that closed depressions are often the only stagnant water points in many European landscapes, few ecological researches on their plant assemblages have been done. The main goal of this study was to give first results of the environmental factors responsible for the vegetation composition, richness and rarity in the closed depressions of the Lorraine biogeographical district (Belgium, France and grand-duche de Luxembourg). We surveyed for plant presence 85 forest and 77 grassland closed depressions. For each site, wetland area, local environmental factors and regional connectivities registered. For each species, the Ellenberg values were compiled. To investigate the main source of variation in species composition and in species richness (including richness in rare species), Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling analyses and Generalized Linear Models were respectively used. Species pools in forest (forest and preforest species) and in grassland (bog plants, pioneers, helophytes) were quite different. In both landscapes, a gradient from plants typical of basic high-productive soils to plants typical of acid low-productive soils reflects a shared successional gradient. The accumulation of organic matter allowed the establishment of Sphagnum spp., which slowly acidified the soil and thus acted as ecosystem engineers for the arrival of bog plants. Moreover, the species composition was additionally driven by the plant light tolerance in forests and by the plant water requirements in grasslands. Mechanisms of species accumulation (increase in species richness) were different in forests and in grasslands: respectively related to the plant light tolerance and to the wetland area. At the regional level, the averaged soil productivity was negatively related to the richness in rare species. Indeed, perennial highly-competitive plants such as Glyceria spp., Iris pseudacorus or Urtica dioica impeded the establishment of smaller and rarer species. At the habitat level, isolated closed depressions (due to either low connectivity or low grazing pressure) have more habitat rare species, giving evidences of dispersal limitation in plant assemblages of closed depressions.
7th INTECOL International Wetland Conference
Utrecht, Netherlands

hal-01032381
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032381

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : Cyprideis torosa (Crustacea, Ostracoda), which is well known for its ability to live in a wide range of salinity and for the variability of its ornamentation, was sampled in the paralic environment. in the Camargue (France) and in the area of Santa-Pola (south-east Spain), in ambient waters whose salinity varies from 1 to 120 g/l. The collected valves. which are smooth, punctuated, reticulated or have nodes on their surface, were analyzed by means of spark-source mass spectrometry. We detected twenty-six chemical elements, and found a clear relationship between the chemical composition, the ornamentation of the valves and the environmental parameters. In the oligohaline environment, the carapaces are thick, reticulated or node-bearing ; they are enriched in Si, Al, Fe, Mn and Ba which are terrigenous elements introduced by fresh water. In an open hypersaline environment, the carapaces are reticulated or punctuated ; they are chemically characterized by P, Sr and Li, typical for concentrated seawater. Finally, in a closed hypersaline environment. the collected individuals are smooth, and their carapaces are very thin ; their content S is related to the abundant organic matter provided by the development of algal and cyanobacterial mats. Salinity and confinement, which are the main parameters characteristic of the studied ecosystems, are also the two factors that control the ornamentation of the valves. The chemical analysis and the field observations reveal that the granulometric characteristics of the microhabitats must be considered because they control the exchanges at the water-sediment interface. The anthropic influences on the chemical composition of the carapace must be emphasized: it is possible to detect industrial and domestic wastes. But the ornamentation of the carapace is not related to these pollutants - chiefly heavy metals (Pb, Ni Sn) - and depends mainly on the open or closed character of the ambient environment. The present method highlights, on the basis of the chemical composition, a relationship between ornamentation and environmental parameters. It is particularly efficient in the interpretation of the morphology of the valves in relation to the palaeoenvironment.
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1991 , Vol. 14 , N. 5 , P. 505-514

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00103/21378/18978.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00103/21378/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : Shrimp farming is a small but growing industry in New Caledonia. Since 1993, "Syndrome 93" has been affecting New Caledonian shrimp farming industry every cold season, causing severe epizootic mortalities in grow-out ponds and significant losses. Highly pathogenic strains of Vibrio penaeicida are considered the etiological agent of the disease in Litopenaeus stylirostris. On one hand, studies demonstrated that healthy shrimp may carry V penaeicida for weeks with a high overall prevalence, regardless of any seasonal pattern or temperature conditions. On the other hand, larvae are free of V penaeicida and are also resistant to experimental infection. V penaeicida is frequently detected in incoming water pumped from the bays, which was shown, by a molecular typing study, to be the infectious source. This particular epidemiological pattern highlights the major role of the factors that trigger and aggravate the disease in grow-out ponds, where shrimp populations carry the pathogen all year round. In order to gain a better understanding of "Syndrome 93" epidemiology, quantification of V penaeicida both in shrimp and the shrimp farm ecosystem is necessary. This article describes the steps in the successful development of a real-time PCR quantification assay of V penaeicida in shrimp haemolymph, seawater (from ponds or bays) and sediment pore water, including the choice of an accurate extraction technique. The entire detection method; including sample processing, DNA extraction and real-time PCR amplification, can be completed within 4 h. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.
Journal of Microbiological Methods (0167-7012) (Elsevier), 2006-10 , Vol. 67 , N. 1 , P. 27-35

Droits : 2006 Elsevier
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-1903.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.mimet.2006.02.013
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1903/

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : Concerning the basic functioning of mangrove ecosystems, three groups of key factors are examined and explained. Several parameters external to these ecosystems have a strong influence; i.e. - the regular and abundant input from fresh water sources; - provision of nutrients; - the stabiity of the substrata. Each of these groups of factors is related to a number of parameters which do not lend themselves to in situ studies. For example, the stability of the substrata depends on the sedimentation load which itself is linked to the geological nature of the basin, land utilization, local climate, etc. The principal cause of the decline in mangroves is analyzed.
Oceanologica Acta, Special issue (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1982

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00246/35749/34257.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00246/35749/

Éditeur(s) : Nature Publishing Group
Résumé : Submarine mud volcanoes are important sources of methane to the water column. However, the temporal variability of their mud and methane emissions is unknown. Methane emissions were previously proposed to result from a dynamic equilibrium between upward migration and consumption at the seabed by methane-consuming microbes. Here we show non-steady-state situations of vigorous mud movement that are revealed through variations in fluid flow, seabed temperature and seafloor bathymetry. Time series data for pressure, temperature, pH and seafloor photography were collected over 431 days using a benthic observatory at the active Hakon Mosby Mud Volcano. We documented 25 pulses of hot subsurface fluids, accompanied by eruptions that changed the landscape of the mud volcano. Four major events triggered rapid sediment uplift of more than a metre in height, substantial lateral flow of muds at average velocities of 0.4m per day, and significant emissions of methane and CO2 from the seafloor.
Nature Communications (2041-1723) (Nature Publishing Group), 2014-11-11 , Vol. 5 , P. 1-8

Droits : 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35601/34137.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35601/34138.pdf
DOI:10.1038/ncomms6385
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35601/

Éditeur(s) : Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : We report rare earth element (REE) and neodymium (Nd) isotope data for the organic fraction of sediments collected from various depositional environments, i.e. rivers (n=25), estuaries (n=18), open-ocean settings (n=15), and cold seeps (n=12). Sedimentary Organic Matter (SOM) was extracted using a mixed hydrogen peroxide/nitric acid solution (20%-H2O2 – 0.02M-HNO3), after removal of carbonate and oxy-hydroxide phases with dilute hydrochloric acid (0.25M-HCl). A series of experimental tests indicate that extraction of sedimentary organic compounds using H202 may be complicated occasionally by partial dissolution of sulphide minerals and residual carbonates. However, this contamination is expected to be minor for REE because measured concentrations in H2O2 leachates are about two-orders of magnitude higher than in the above mentioned phases. The mean REE concentrations determined in the H2O2 leachates for samples from rivers, estuaries, coastal seas and open-ocean settings yield relatively similar levels, with ΣREE = 109 ± 86 ppm (mean ± s; n=58). The organic fractions leached from cold seep sediments display even higher concentration levels (285 ± 150 ppm; mean ± s; n=12). The H2O2 leachates for most sediments exhibit remarkably similar shale-normalized REE patterns, all characterized by a mid-REE enrichment compared to the other REE. This suggests that the distribution of REE in leached sedimentary organic phases is controlled primarily by biogeochemical processes, rather than by the composition of the source from which they derive (e.g. pore, river or sea- water). The Nd isotopic compositions for organic phases leached from river sediments are very similar to those for the corresponding detrital fractions. In contrast, the SOM extracted from marine sediments display εNd values that typically range between the εNd signatures for terrestrial organic matter (inferred from the analysis of the sedimentary detrital fractions) and marine organic matter (inferred from the analysis of local surface seawater). A notable exception is the case of organic matter (OM) fractions leached from cold seep sediment samples, which sometimes exhibit εNd values markedly different from both terrigenous and surface seawater signatures. This suggests that a significant fraction of organic compounds in these sediments may be derived from chemosynthetic processes, recycling pore water REE characterized by a distinct isotopic composition. Overall, our results confirm that organic matter probably plays an important role in the oceanic REE budget, through direct scavenging and remineralization within the water column. Both the high REE abundances and the shape of shale-normalized patterns for leached SOM also suggest that OM degradation in sub-surface marine sediments during early diagenesis could control, to a large extent, the distribution of REE in pore waters. Benthic fluxes of organic-bound REE could hence substantially contribute to the exchange processes between particulates and seawater that take place at ocean margins. Neodymium isotopes could provide useful information for tracing the origin (terrestrial versus marine) and geographical provenance of organic matter, with potential applications in paleoceanography. In particular, future studies should further investigate the potential of Nd isotopes in organic compounds preserved in sedimentary records for reconstructing past variations of surface ocean circulation.
Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta (0016-7037) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2014-09 , Vol. 140 , P. 177-198

Droits : 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00191/30250/28682.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.gca.2014.05.016
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00191/30250/

Éditeur(s) : Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : The high heterogeneity of silica cycling in coastal margins and the lack of silica data (compared to nitrogen and phosphorus) prevent the estimation of global silica retention in estuaries. In this study, the spatial and temporal variability of porewater silicic acid (Si(OH)4) profiles e that integrate benthic transport and reaction processes e was investigated at different spatial (metre, longitudinal and crosssection, intra-estuary) and temporal (tidal, seasonal) scales in two macrotidal estuaries, very close geographically but essentially differing in their shape. Studying the spatial and temporal variability of Si(OH)4 concentrations in porewaters provided evidence for the importance of transport processes, e.g. bio-irrigation, tidal pumping, resuspension and any combination of these processes, in affecting Si(OH)4 concentrations and fluxes and therefore temporary or permanent retention along the landeocean continuum. We confirm that aSiO2 (amorphous silicate) transported by rivers and estuaries clearly needs to be better characterized as it provides an important source of reactive aSiO2 to sediments. This study allows us to: (1) interrogate spatial and temporal scales, although both are most often in complete interaction; (2) design the most appropriate sampling schemes to be representative of any given system and to extrapolate at the scale of the whole estuary; (3) quantify uncertainty associated to the estimations of Si(OH)4 stocks and fluxes in this type of ecosystem, essential for budget calculations. We showed that two adjacent small macrotidal estuaries, may exhibit different behaviours regarding Si retention. Temporary retention has been observed in the meanders of the Aulne Estuary and not along the more linear Elorn Estuary, demonstrating the importance of the morphology and hydrodynamic components of the estuarine filter. Research is needed in other systems and climatic zones, but our study suggests that the typology should not only account for the different types of landeocean continuum (fjord, delta, mangrove.), but also incorporate the physical or biological attributes of the estuarine filter.
Estuarine Coastal And Shelf Science (0272-7714) (Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd), 2013-03 , Vol. 119 , P. 31-43

Droits : 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00124/23529/22370.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.ecss.2012.12.008
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00124/23529/

Résumé : Kepone contamination of French West Indies marine environments is scarcely known. Contaminated soils particles are carried by rivers from terrestrial zones to the coastal marine sediments where they settle. Thus coastal sediments potential function as a sink for them, but also as a source of contamination for the marine biota. Therefore, they can be of major importance both in relation with the origin of the catchment area contamination and with the potential impact of this contamination on the benthic ecosystems. The objectives of this study are to characterize the marine deposits in order to define the spatial extent of the contamination and to determine the temporal stages of this contamination in the superficial sedimentary column (about one half-meter deep). Two neighbouring bays were chosen along the south-atlantic coasts of the Martinique Island, the Robert Bay, where different previous studies have been already performed, and the Galion Bay, which also present important environmental concerns. The results (i) confirm the general low rate of kepone contamination in the Robert Bay superficial sediments, while the influence of the river is more pronounced in the Galion Bay for which sediment samples from the proximity of the river outfall are more contaminated, (ii) relativize the role of organic matter associated to the finer particle in the little contaminated marine sediments (iii) and at last, differentiate strongly the contamination of the two bays due to specific characteristic parameters. So, it apparears that the sedimentary dynamics and mineralogical cohorts undoubtedly should explain the discrepancies in the contamination of the sediments between the two bays, also characterized by very different humus-clayed compounds in the soils of each catchment basin.
La connaissance de la contamination des milieux marins antillais par la chlordécone est fragmentaire. Or, la fonction potentielle de ‘puits’, mais également de ‘source’, qu’assurent les sédiments littoraux suite au transfert de la molécule des sols terrestres jusqu’aux fonds marins devrait leur confèrer un rôle majeur dans leur relation avec les écosystèmes benthiques comme dans leur connexion avec les bassins versants correspondants. Du fait de la méconnaissance sédimentologique de ces milieux, le double objectif de la présente étude était de caractériser ces fonds afin de cerner l’extension spatiale de la contamination en chlordécone et de déterminer les phases temporelles de cette dernière dans la colonne sédimentaire superficielle (environ quarante premiers centimètres). Les zones d’étude choisies sont deux baies sud-atlantiques martiniquaises adjacentes, le havre du Robert, déjà retenu comme zone-atelier pour des études antérieures sur la dynamique du bassin versant, et la baie du Galion faisant l’objet de préoccupations environnementales et de travaux scientifiques prévus sur le bassin versant attenant. Les résultats obtenus conduisent à : (i) confirmer le faible taux de contamination générale des sédiments du havre du Robert, alors que l’influence de la rivière à débit significatif de la baie du Galion marque en ce sens les sédiments proches de son exutoire ; (ii) relativiser le rôle de la matière organique liée aux particules les plus fines dans cette faible contamination marine des sédiments et enfin (iii) différencier fortement la contamination des deux baies à partir de paramètres caractéristiques. Les dynamiques sédimentaires et les cortèges minéralogiques constituent sans aucun doute des pistes explicatives aux différences de contamination des sédiments entre les deux baies dont les bassins versants sont également caractérisés par des sols présentant des composés argilo-humiques très différents.

Droits : 2012 Ifremer
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00071/18247/15810.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00071/18247/