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International audience; A trophic web is a network of complex interactions and energy links between species. These interactions can be simplified into trophodynamic models, such as Ecopath (EP) and EcoTroph (ET), important tools providing the holistic view needed for the ecosystem approach to fisheries. We described food web structure and trophic interactions by developing an EP model for the Santa Cruz Channel (SCC), a large tropical estuarine system in northeastern Brazil, surrounded by mangroves and highly subject to the impacts of domestic pollution, industry, artisanal fisheries, and aquaculture. In addition, considering ecological and fisheries perspectives, we developed ET models in three neighboring Brazilian estuaries (SCC; Sirinhaém – SIR and Mamanguape – MAM) to explore levels of exploitation that affect their trophic functioning. Our EP and ET models consisted of 32 compartments (three primary producers, six invertebrates, 22 fish, and detritus). Keystone Index and Mixed Trophic Impact analysis pointed that several groups of commercial relevance are also ecologically relevant and lack fishing regulations, such as Snooks (Centropomus spp.), Jacks (Caranx spp.) and Barracudas (Sphyraena spp). Fishery impacts across the trophic level spectrum differ between ecosystems, which causes top-down effects depending on the exploitation dynamics of each system. The fishing pressure affects mainly the low and intermediate Trophic Level (TLs) in MAM and SCC and high TLs in the SIR estuary. Consequently, a decrease of biomass for low and high TL was found with the increasing of fishing effort, respectively. These findings are an important contribution to the trophic modelling of tropical estuaries, indicating that both EP and ET approaches can be effective tools to improve the understanding of the trophic functioning and fishery effect on estuarine ecosystems. Additionally, increasing the knowledge of key ecosystem processes in estuarine systems may help to enhance conservation initiatives for sustainable use of the ecosystem, such as protected areas, temporal control of fishing, and the catch size limit.

International audience; Microchemical analyses were carried out in order to estimate the Strontium:Calcium (Sr:Ca) ratio in the otolith of the white mullet, Mugil curema, in the Pernambuco (at the Santa Cruz channel, Brazil) in order to determine its connectivity between the estuary and ocean. Variation in the otolith Sr:Ca ratio was directly related to salinity, with greater salinity denoting a higher otolith Sr:Ca value. Data on the otolith Sr:Ca ratio demonstrates that the individuals analyzed are born in areas of salinity that are characteristic of the estuary, where they develop until approximately one year of age, at which point they migrate to areas of greater salinity until reaching sexual maturity (3 years of age) in the sea. Spawning occurs in the ocean, after which M. curema individuals may either remain or return to the estuary until the next spawning. Differences in estuarine salinity were found for young of-year individuals and may be related to the season when spawning took place, since M. curema females are found spawning throughout the year. The hypothesis is that higher salinity in the dry season leads to a greater otolith Sr.Ca signature among individuals spawned in this season from birth until one year of life. On the other hand, the lower salinity in the rainy season leads to a lower otolith Sr:Ca signature among individuals spawned in this season. These information are important for the adequate management of the white mullet stock in northeastern Brazil.

International audience; The ecosystem model Atlantis was used to investigate the key dynamics and processes that structure the Eastern English Channel ecosystem, with a particular focus on two commercial flatfish species, sole (Solea solea) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). This complex model was parameterized with data collected from diverse sources (a literature review, survey data, as well as landings and stock assessment information) and tuned so both simulated biomass and catch fit 2002–2011 observations. Here, the outputs are mainly presented for the two focus species and for some other vertebrates found to be important in the trophic network. The calibration process revealed the importance of coastal areas in the Eastern English Channel and of nutrient inputs from estuaries: a lack of river nutrients decreases the productivity of nursery grounds and adversely affects the production of sole and plaice. The role of discards in the trophic network is also highlighted. While sole and plaice did not have a strong influence on the trophic network of vertebrates, they are important predators for benthic invertebrates and compete for food with crustaceans, whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and other demersal fish. We also found that two key species, cod (Gadus morhua) and whiting, thoroughly structured the Eastern English Channel trophic network.

Special issue: Vectors of change in the marine environment.-- 11 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, For a successful implementation of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) management, it is necessary that all stakeholders involved in fisheries management are aware of the implications of fishing impacts on ecosystems and agree with the adopted measures to mitigate these impacts. In this context, there is a need for tools to share knowledge on the ecosystem effects of fisheries among these stakeholders. When managing bottom trawl fisheries under an EAF framework, one of the main concerns is the direct and indirect consequences of trawling impacts on benthic ecosystems. We developed a platform using the ExtendSim® software with a user-friendly interface that combines a simulation model based on existing knowledge, data collection and representation of predicted trawling impacts on the seabed. The platform aims to be a deliberation support tool for fisheries’ stakeholders and, simultaneously, raise public awareness of the need for good benthic community knowledge to appropriately inform EAF management plans. The simulation procedure assumes that trawling affects benthic communities with an intensity that depends on the level of fishing effort exerted on benthic communities and on the habitat characteristics (i.e. sediment grain size). Data to build the simulation comes from epifaunal samples from 18 study sites located in Mediterranean continental shelves subjected to different levels of fishing effort. In this work, we present the simulation outputs of a 50% fishing effort increase (and decrease) in four of the study sites which cover different habitats and different levels of fishing effort. We discuss the platform strengths and weaknesses and potential future developments, This work was funded by the research project COMSOM (CTM2008-04617/MAR),the project MEDAS (CTM2007-29845-E/MAR), the EU project RESPONSE (Q5RS-2002-00787) and by the EU Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration (FP7/2007–2013) within the Ocean of Tomorrow call under Grant Agreement No.266445-VECTORS. The crew of the RV Garcia del Cid is thanked for their help during the “8 Veda” cruises of RESPONSE, and the cruise (CTM2008-04206-E/MAR). Alba Muntadas was supported by a CSIC JAE_predoc grant (JAEPre 2010 01572) cofounded by the FSE (European Social Funds)

International audience; In coastal waters subjected to strong tidal forcing, phytoplankton populations are exposed to highly variable light regimes. To grow under such fluctuating light environments, phytoplankton adjust their physiological properties. Here, we investigated nitrogen (N) uptake patterns in the western English Channel to determine whether phytoplankton modify their physiological processes involved in N uptake in response to changing irradiance conditions induced by spring-neap tidal cycles. Nitrate (NO3 -) and ammonium (NH4 +) uptake kinetics as a function of irradiance (VN-E curves) were assessed using 15N tracer techniques on two size fractions ( 10μm) of phytoplankton collected at 50% and 1% of surface irradiance during two spring-neap tidal cycles. Overall, the results showed that both small and large phytoplankton, whatever their vertical position in the water column, increased their maximum uptake capacity and their light utilization efficiency for the two N substrates following the decrease in vertical mixing intensity. Moreover, the improvement of irradiance conditions at neap tides was of greater benefit for the larger cells than for the smaller ones and was more favorable for NO3 - uptake than for NH4 + uptake. These findings show that the light regime fluctuation resulting from the relaxation of tidal mixing during spring-neap tidal cycle leads to profound physiological adjustments of N uptake processes in phytoplankton communities. They suggest that the changes in NO3 - uptake by large phytoplankton associated with the fortnightly spring-neap tidal cycle can account for most of the deviation in background productivity in the western English Channel which is based on NH4 + and is dominated by small cells. The dynamic light regime inherent to macrotidal coastal ecosystems could therefore determine, to a large extent, the importance of new vs. regenerated production as well as the size structure of the phytoplankton community.

International audience; A methodology to classify rocky shores along the North East Atlantic (NEA) region was developed. Previously, biotypes and the variability of environmental conditions within these were recognized based on abiotic data. A biological validation was required in order to support the ecological meaning of the physical typologies obtained. A database of intertidal macroalgae species occurring in the coastal area between Norway and the South Iberian Peninsula was generated. Semi-quantitative abundance data of the most representative macroalgal taxa were collected in three levels: common, rare or absent. Ordination and classification multivariate analyses revealed a clear latitudinal gradient in the distribution of macroalgae species resulting in two distinct groups: one northern and one southern group, separated at the coast of Brittany (France). In general, the results based on biological data coincided with the results based on physical characteristics. The ecological meaning of the coastal waters classification at a broad scale shown in this work demonstrates that it can be valuable as a practical tool for conservation and management purposes

International audience; A quality index Ics (= index of community structure) has been developed as a single numeric descriptor to assess the structural state of macroalgal communities and to evaluate their relative development on rocky shores. Coverage of seaweed species were sampled on the field and treated by taxonomic groups, size classes and structural - functional groups (SFG), giving sub-indices It (= taxonomic index), Is (= stratification index) and Io (= organization index), respectively. Six macroalgal communities corresponding to canopies (belts) distributed vertically on the shore have been investigated for several years in 14 sites of Brittany (France). Communities developing at high topographic levels could be distinguished from those occurring at mid-tide to low levels by la values. Communities were globally stable over the sampling period, with few geographical discrepancies. Seasonal or sub-community variations could be tracked by sub-index values. The value of Ics to demonstrate the potential evolution of seaweed communities is discussed by comparison to other quality indices and in the perspective of ecological perturbations.

In coastal estuarine embayments, retention of water masses due to coastal topography may result in an increased contribution of continental organic matter in food webs. However, in megatidal embayments, the effect of topography can be counterbalanced by the process of tidal mixing. Large amounts of continental organic matter are exported each year by rivers to the oceans. The fate of terrestrial organic matter in food webs of coastal areas and on neighboring coastal benthic communities was therefore evaluated, at multi-trophic levels, from primary producers to primary consumers and predators. Two coastal areas of the French Atlantic coast, differing in the contributions from their watershed, tidal range and aperture degree, were compared using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (delta C-13 and delta N-15) during two contrasted periods. The Bay of Vilaine receives large inputs of freshwater from the Vilaine River, displaying N-15 enriched and C-13 depleted benthic communities, emphasizing the important role played by allochtonous inputs and anthropogenic impact on terrestrial organic matter in the food web. In contrast, the Bay of Brest which is largely affected by tidal mixing, showed a lack of agreement between isotopic gradients displayed by suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) and suspension-feeders. Discrepancy between SPOM and suspension-feeders is not surprising due to differences in isotopes integration times. We suggest further that such a discrepancy may result from water replenishment due to coastal inputs, nutrient depletion by phytoplankton production, as well as efficient selection of highly nutritive phytoplanktonic particles by primary consumers. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

International audience; Today, hydroacoustic technologies are able to monitor fish populations and assess fish biomass by providing data of a high spatio-temporal resolution, and without damaging the environment. Such techniques are widely used in lakes and marine environments, but they remain much less tested in shallow waters - especially in estuarine habitats. Our study was carried out using a strictly methodological approach. This was necessary in order to take into account the highly changeable nature of the ecosystem in question. Hydroacoustic surveys were conducted in the mesohaline part of the Gironde estuary using SIMRAD EK60 split-beam echosounders, operating simultaneously at two frequencies (70 kHz and 120 kHz). Different mobile hydroacoustic surveys were tested in different seasons, with vertical acquisition, in order to compare variability of results due to the sampling strategy, and to validate the relevance of our design by repeating the surveys. The results obtained on survey design choices gave similar outcomes when sampling was carried out with or against the current and between two mobile designs. The comparison between flood and ebb tides gave different results from one day to another but we observed the same evolution for each flood tide or for each ebb tide on several successive days. This acoustic study in the Gironde estuary was used to validate a reliable sampling mobile design. It is the first step in the process of gaining a better understanding of estuarine ecosystems, an understanding that will be enhanced by combining our data with data from a variety of other sources.

International audience; In shallow coastal areas the amplitude and range of benthic silicic acid fluxes can have a significant influence on benthic–pelagic coupling and the functioning of the pelagic system. To explore the oscillation in fluxes over the diurnal cycle and in particular the influence of microphytobenthos (MPB), an experiment was carried out in a shallow subtidal site in the Bay of Brest (France). Benthic chambers were employed over a 48 h period to measure the variability in silicic acid and oxygen fluxes; MPB migration was investigated using a diving Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer and uptake rhythms of silicic acid by natural MPB populations were measured using the 32Si isotope. It was discovered that silicic acid fluxes fluctuated greatly throughout the diurnal period resulting in an oscillation in the availability of this nutrient for phytoplankton communities. The uptake of silicic acid by the MPB was quantified for the first time and highlighted a 2-fold increase in the demand from night to afternoon periods. The combined silicic acid uptake and the concentration of cells at the sediment–water interface, forming a dense biofilm of MPB, were postulated to be the main processes reducing effluxes at midday. Our work highlighted the many processes which influence silicic acid effluxes in shallow coastal areas and the possible interaction between uptake and dissolution processes. The variations in benthic fluxes over the diurnal period were comparable to observations reported at the seasonal scale. Therefore, up-scaling hourly flux observations to daily and annual estimates should be undertaken with caution. Further we suggest that the main processes influencing flux oscillations over the diurnal period should be considered when planning sampling strategies and extrapolating to larger time scales.

International audience; Thirty-five years after the first description of the benthic community and sediments of the North Bay of Biscay continental shelf (80-200 m depth in the "Grande Vasière" region) by Glémarec (personal communication), the sampling stations were revisited to provide a new reference on the status of the macrozoobenthic communities to help our understanding and management of fisheries that are highly developed in this area. Results showed that large modifications occurred in the communities and sediments of the central part of the "Grande Vasière", while these modifications remained moderate in the surroundings on the outer continental shelf. Revisited, macrobenthic communities differed greatly from those recorded in the 1960s, and were less numerous and more homogeneous. The dominant species which characterized the communities and sub-communities had also changed. The main factor that can explain these differences is the granulometry of the sediments which has shown large changes: a strong decrease in the mud fraction and increase in the fine sand fraction. These sedimentary changes should be linked with human activities: increase in bottom trawling effort that induces the resuspension of fine mud particles and the homogenization of sediments over large areas, and decrease in terrigenous particulate fluxes due to anthropic activities on the shoreline and in coastal waters. Effects of global climatic change on the observed evolution remain low, even if some species common in the south of the Bay of Biscay in the 1960s but rare or absent in the north, had increased in density and spread to the north. Trawling activities are probably the main force driving benthic community evolution in the North Bay of Biscay both through direct action on the fauna (inhibition and facilitation processes) and indirect action by modifying sediment characteristics.

International audience; Competitive interactions between silicate and phosphate at ligand exchange sites in the sediment surface layer may increase the release of phosphorus (P) from the sediment into the water column. In this study, the role of silicon (Si) in the release of P from the sediment surface layer was studied in a marine estuarine environment, the Bay of Brest, with the aid of a sequential sediment fractionation procedure developed for P, and the addition of inorganic or diatom-bound Si to surface sediment samples in vitro. The potentially mobile pools of P in the surface sediment (loosely bound P + Fe/Al-bound-P) amounted to 5.0 μmol g−1 dry sed., 42% of the total extractable and 33% of the total amount of P in the sediment, while the similarly extracted pools of Si were bigger (ca. 20 μmol g−1 dry sed., 50% of the total extractable Si). Additions of inorganic Si increased the concentration of dissolved P in the sediment interstitial water in a bottle experiment, and the addition of both inorganic Si and cultivated diatoms to intact sediment cores increased the outward flux of dissolved P. Model calculations based on the regression equation from the bottle experiment and Si and P water column data showed that the sedimentation of spring diatoms could cause Si pulses to the sediment which would produce a P flux to the water column of ca. 44 μmol m−2 d−1. Field data from the bay show that in spring, decreases in P and Si and an increase in chl a due to diatom production are often followed by a small separate P peak which may be caused by Si-induced P fluxes from the sediment surface.

International audience; Over this one-year study, we examined the variations of lead along the salinity gradient of the Penzé estuary (Brittany, Western Channel, France). Concentrations of total dissolved and total particulate lead ranged from 0.04 to 0.62 nM and from 29 to 61 μg g−1, respectively. These values, though being higher than contamination-free systems, remain lower than those found in heavily industrialised systems indicating a limited effect of agricultural practices. Our field data showed, for most seasons (i.e. spring, summer and autumn), a metal removal in the salinity range 0–10, effected mainly by co-precipitation with iron and manganese oxides. On the other hand, after a strong winter ascending flood, an addition of dissolved lead occurred in the estuary following resuspension of particles and desorption mechanisms. This metal addition along with the high water discharge were responsible for the particularly high Pb output flux reported for winter (67 g day−1) compared to the ones estimated for other seasons (1–18 g day−1).

International audience; In situ benthic chamber experiments were conducted in the Thau Lagoon that allowed the simultaneous determination of the benthic exchanges of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb and U) and mercury species (iHg and MMHg). Fluxes of organotin compounds (MBT, DBT and TBT) were also investigated for the first time. The benthic incubations were performed during two campaigns at four stations that presented different macrobenthic and macrophytic species distribution and abundance (see [Thouzeau, G., Grall, J., Clavier, J., Chauvaud, L., Jean, F., Leynaert, A., Longpuirt, S., Amice, E., Amouroux, D., 2007. Spatial and temporal variability of benthic biogeochemical fluxes associated with macrophytic and macrofaunal distributions in the Thau lagoon (France). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 72 (3), 432–446.]). The results indicate that most of the flux intensity as well as the temporal and spatial variability can be explained by the combined influence of microscale and macroscale processes. Microscale changes were identified using Mn flux as a good indicator of the redox conditions at the sediment–water interface, and by extension, as an accurate proxy of benthic fluxes for most trace metals and mercury species. We also observed that the redox gradient at the interface is promoted by both microbial and macrobenthic species activity that governs O2 budgets. Macroscale processes have been investigated considering macrobenthic organisms activity (macrofauna and macroalgal cover). The density of such macroorganisms is able to explain most of the spatial and temporal variability of the benthic metal fluxes within a specific site. A tentative estimation of the flux of metals and organometals associated with deposit feeder and suspension feeder activity was found to be in the range of the flux determined within the chambers for most considered elements. Furthermore, a light/dark incubation investigating a dense macroalgal cover present at the sediment surface illustrates the role of photosynthetic activity in controlling benthic exchanges. Significant changes in benthic flux intensity and/or direction were reported for all redox sensitive elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, U, and iHg). For MMHg and organotin species, other complimentary processes such as photodegradation/uptake and hydrophobic absorption/desorption need to be considered. This work demonstrates that the processes governing benthic exchanges are complex and that benthic organisms play a major role in the significant seasonal, diurnal and spatial variability of trace metals and organometals benthic fluxes in the lagoon.

Benthic oxygen profiles were acquired using microsensors over two seasonal cycles (December 2001, April and August 2002, January and May 2003) at two stations differently affected by shellfish farming activity in the Thau lagoon (French Mediterranean coast). This study was part of the Microbent-PNEC Program on the study of biogeochemical processes at the sedimentewater interface in an eutrophicated environment. We explored seasonal and spatial heterogeneity as well as the biogeochemical drivers of oxygen uptake, such as in situ temperature, bottom water oxygenation and organic matter deposition. O2 consumption rates were determined by using a transport-reaction model. Maximum rates were reached in August and May and minimum rates in December, April or January. The effect of oyster farming on oxygen fluxes was clearly identified with higher diffusive oxygen uptake in the station inside the oyster parks (C5; 36.8 18.5e87.7 40.8 mmol m2 d1), compared with the station lying outside the oyster parks (C4; 8.6 2.1e30.7 8.3 mmol m2 d1). At C5, the large spatial heterogeneity was statistically concealing temporal variation, whereas a clear statistical difference between cold and warm periods appeared at C4. In these lagoon sediments, the seasonal dynamics of diffusive oxygen demand and consumption rates were mainly driven by seasonal temperature variation at both stations, as well as by seasonal organic matter delivery to the sediment at the station located outside the oyster parks. In the station located below the oyster parks, seasonal variation of organic matter deposition was dampened by oyster filtering activity. Seasonal temperature variation thus appeared as the major driver of oxygen dynamics in this station. Measurements of total O2 uptake rates indicated a significant fraction of microbial recycling and diffusive transport in oxygen uptake at the station located close to the oyster parks. In the open water site, fauna-mediated O2 transport prevailed in April 2002 (cold conditions), whereas the microbial recycling seemed to dominate in May 2003 (warm conditions). 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

International audience; This one-year survey conducted in the macrotidal estuary of Penzé (Brittany, Western part of the Channel, France) was aimed at examining the variations of the various dissolved and particulate copper species. Ten field stations along the whole freshwater–seawater mixing zone were sampled each month. Different biogeochemical parameters (SPM, chl-a, pH and DOC) were also measured. The levels in total dissolved and total particulate copper ranged from 1.8 to 9.5 nM and from 5 to 98 μg g−1, respectively; such amounts are indicative of a pollution-free system. Extractable C18 copper (non-polar hydrophobic organic copper species), in winter and spring, accounted for 30–40% of the total dissolved copper. In summer, this contribution rapidly rose to 60% in the salinity range 20–30; over the same period of time, total particulate copper decreased. The change in dissolved copper speciation and the lowering of particulate copper concentrations were attributed to the release of strong organic ligands by phytoplankton. Our field data evidenced a highly variable behaviour for the various copper species over the seasonal cycle, and then led us to identify the following mechanisms: (i) metal desorption from organic river-flown particles (winter and spring), (ii) metal desorption from resuspended sediment in the upstream section (summer), (iii) competition between particles, non-extractable C18 organic ligands and phytoplankton-released extractable C18 organic ligands to complex copper in the downstream section (summer), and (iv) removal of non-extractable C18 organic copper by adsorption (autumn). Dissolved copper species fluxes were assessed: most of metal inputs to the estuary (60–74%) corresponded to non-extractable C18 organic copper. Winter and spring metal output fluxes were mainly constituted of non-extractable C18 organic complexes; on the other hand, extractable C18 organic complexes were predominant in summer and autumn output fluxes.

WOS:000653046900006; International audience; Jacks are highly prized tropical marine fish. Most of them complete their whole life cycle at sea but some use estuaries at the juvenile stage before moving back to coastal waters and joining the adult exploited stocks. Little is known about jacks & rsquo; trophic ecology in estuaries, although their juveniles & rsquo; ability to successfully exploit available resources in these productive environments may strongly affect stock recruitment success in the species concerned. In this study, stomach content and stable isotope analyses were combined to investigate diet and food niche overlap of juveniles from two sympatric species of jacks (Caranx latus and C. hippos) in three contrasted estuaries (Suape, Sirinhae & acute;m and Santa Cruz) spread along the northeastern Brazilian coast. Overall, although the juveniles of C. latus exhibited a more piscivorous diet than those of C. hippos, the two species had very similar isotopic niches, with mean delta 13C and delta 15N values of -19.35 +/- 2.10%o and 11.03 +/- 1.11%o and of -19.10 +/- 1.82%o and 10.21 +/- 1.21%o, for C. hippos and C. latus respectively. In all the estuaries sampled, both species mostly ate fish (Ni = 20.1 & ndash;46.2%, Wi = 60.1 & ndash;75.1%, essentially Gobiidae and Clupeidae) and crustaceans (Ni = 26.0 & ndash;65.9%, Wi = 23.3 & ndash;38.2%, mainly Penaeidae shrimps). As a result, the overlap between their global estuarine isotopic niches was \textgreater68%. However, diet composition for the two species varied among estuaries, indicating that their juveniles partly adapt their food preferences to local prey availability. Notably, prey preferences differed significantly between the two species only in the Santa Cruz estuary, where delta 15N values were the highest for both species. Conversely, interspecific differences in delta 13C ratios were greater in the Suape and the Sirinhae & acute;m estuaries, likely reflecting a wider diversity in the carbon sources sustaining local food webs. Thus, combined differences in juvenile diet and food web structure at each location resulted in much-reduced local isotopic niche overlaps between the two species (from 27% in Suape to 57% in Santa Cruz). These results have important implications for resource and ecosystem management in northeastern Brazil and call for systematic cross-site comparisons when evaluating fish ecology and resource partitioning within estuarine systems.