Chantal Salen-Picard

Trophodynamic linkage between river runoff and coastal fishery yield elucidated by stable isotope data in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean)

The link between climate-driven river runoff and sole fishery yields observed in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean) was analysed using carbon- and nitrogen stable isotopes along the flatfish food webs. Off the Rhone River, the main terrestrial (river POM) and marine (seawater POM) sources of carbon differed in δ13C (–26.11‰ and −22.36‰, respectively). Surface sediment and suspended POM in plume water exhibited low δ13C (–24.38‰ and −24.70‰, respectively) that differed more from the seawater POM than from river POM, demonstrating the dominance of terrestrial material in those carbon pools. Benthic invertebrates showed a wide range in δ15N (mean 4.30‰ to 9.77‰) and δ13C (mean −23.81‰ to −18.47‰), suggesting different trophic levels, diets and organic sources. Among the macroinvertebrates, the surface (mean δ13C −23.71‰) and subsurface (mean δ13C −23.81‰) deposit-feeding polychaetes were particularly 13C depleted, indicating that their carbon was mainly derived from terrestrial material. In flatfish, δ15N (mean 9.42 to 10.93‰) and δ13C (mean −19.95‰ to −17.69‰) varied among species, indicating differences in food source and terrestrial POM use. A significant negative correlation was observed between the percentage by weight of polychaetes in the diet and the δ13C of flatfish white muscle. Solea solea (the main polychaete feeder) had the lowest mean δ13C, Arnoglossus laterna and Buglossidium luteum (crustacean, mollusc and polychaete feeders) had intermediate values, and Solea impar (mollusc feeder) and Citharus linguatula (crustacean and fish feeder) exhibited the highest δ13C. Two different benthic food webs were thus identified off the Rhone River, one based on marine planktonic carbon and the other on the terrestrial POM carried by the river. Deposit-feeding polychaetes were responsible for the main transfer of terrestrial POM to upper trophic levels, linking sole population dynamics to river runoff fluctuations.

Food partitioning among flatfish (Pisces: Pleuronectiforms) juveniles in a Mediterranean coastal shallow sandy area

Diets of the four main flatfish species, Arnoglossus laterna, Bothus podas (Bothidae), Buglossidium luteum and Solea solea (Soleidae), inhabiting shallow sandy bottoms near the Gulf of Fos (north-west Mediterranean) were analysed to elucidate food partitioning between their juveniles (1 + group) in nursery areas. The two Soleidae were principally active during the night, and the two Bothidae during the day. The four species all mainly fed on the three most abundant categories of prey in the area (polychaetes, molluscs and crustaceans) but showed different food preferences. Arnoglossus laterna and B . luteum mainly preyed on crustaceans and molluscs (gastropods and bivalves) whereas Bothus podas and S. solea preyed principally on polychaetes and bivalve molluscs. Food niche width was clearly higher in A. laterna and Buglossidium luteum (13·3 and 14·2 respectively) than in Bothus podas and S. solea (3·2 and 3·6 respectively). Overall food niche overlaps ( T ) obtained for each pair of fish ranged from 0·33 to 0·58. Overlap was higher between species of the same family but did not reach a significant level. Food niche overlap differed according to the period of the day but did not show any important seasonal variation. Differences in feeding rhythms, food preferences and body sizes, reduced the direct food competition between the juveniles of the four flatfish species, allowing their coexistence within the same nursery zone, despite close periods of settlement.

Long-term Changes in a Mediterranean Benthic Community: Relationships Between the Polychaete Assemblages and Hydrological Variations of the RhOne River

Long-term changes in a macrobenthic, muddy community of the French Mediterranean coast, near the mouth of the Rhône River, were studied using 14 samples collected between 1963 and 1996 at 70-m depth. No drastic change in the community was observed over this time period. A factor correspondence analysis (FCA) performed with the most frequent polychaete species revealed that 3 sample groups were related to trends in the Rhône River discharge. Between 1965 and 1976, the effects of dumping events close to the study site acted in synergy with river drought leading to a drop in the abundance of the most common species of the community (e.g.,Sternaspis scutata). Floods were observed to be the main factor structuring the polychaete assemblages. These floods were subsequently followed, over a period of several years, by peaks of opportunistic species (Heteromastus filiformis, Prionospio cirrifera) and, with a time lag of 1 or 2 yr, by peaks ofS. scutata. Autumn and early winter floods were mainly the result of heavy rainfalls on the Mediterranean part of the drainage basin. They transported large amounts of mineral and particulate organic matter that increased the surface and subsurface deposit feeders assemblages. Late winter and spring floods originated from the north of the basin. They proportionally brought more dissolved material and were followed by developments of suspension and surface deposit feeders. Eutrophication of the area due to increased nitrate concentrations in the river is suggested to be responsible for the abundance, since the 1980s, of small-sized deposit feeders. There is a good parallel between the cumulative mean deviations of the river discharge and the quantity of soles caught in the area with a time lag of 4 yr between these two curves. These results may be of value to the management of the regional resources.

Responses of a Mediterranean soft bottom community to short-term (1993-1996) hydrological changes in the Rhone river.

The polychaete fauna of muddy bottoms off the Rhone delta (NW Mediterranean) was seasonally sampled at two sites at 70 m depth, from 1993 to 1996. During this period, five severe flood events occurred. A clustering analysis (distance coefficient of Whittaker) and three way fixed factor ANOVAs (site x season x year) showed strong year-to-year changes in species density and community structure, changes that masked seasonal variations. Total density increased by a factor of 3 and density of most species significantly increased following the first flooding event. Changes in the community structure were due to the successive dominance of a few species. The opportunistic species, such as Cossura sp., Mediomastus sp. and Polycirrus sp., exhibited peaks in density 1-3 months after the flood. These peaks were followed by a drastic decline. For species with a long life span, such as Sternaspis scutata, a slower but continuous increase in density was observed which was maintained for several months. The density fluctuations of these species exhibited a good correlation with river flow with time lags of 1-2 years. The successional dynamics observed are explained according to the geographical origin of the floods and the biology and feeding ecology of species.

Production, respiration and ammonia excretion of two polychaete species in a north Norfolk saltmarsh

The secondary production of Nereis diversicolor and Scoloplos armiger (Annelida, Polychaeta) was studied at Stiffkey saltmarshes (north Norfolk coast). Production estimation on the basis of monthly sampling (August 1992-July 1993) gives 17.91 C m -2 y -1 for N. diversicolor, 3.37 g C m -2 y -1 for S. armiger. Oxygen consumption of individuals was studied using a respirometer at four temperatures (5, 10, 15 and 20°C). At 15 °C, the relationships between O 2 consumption (mg h -1 ) and body dry weight (mg) is Y=0.003X 0.695 for S. armiger and Y=0.003X 0.498 for N. diversicolor. Ammonia excretion of S. armiger tends to increase with decreasing temperature whereas it increases from 5 to 15°C for N. diversicolor. Carbon loss through respiration for the sampling period is estimated at 32 g C m -2 y -1 for S. armiger, and 31.7 g C m -2 y -1 for N. diversicolor. About 20% of the potential supply of phytobenthic carbon in the marsh would be converted by the populations of both species. Estimations of carbon and nitrogen budgets of S. armiger are discussed.