Sources and transfers of particulate organic matter in a tropical reservoir (Petit Saut, French Guiana): a multi-tracers analysis using d13C, C/N ratio and pigments
Carbon cycling and organic matter transfers in the tropical Sinnamary river system (French Guiana), including a mid-stream reservoir (Petit Saut) and its estuary on the Atlantic coast, were studied during the dry season by analyzing the organic carbon isotopic ratios (d13C-OC), C/N ratios and pigments contents of suspended matter, sediments, sediments traps and epiphytic and epilithic biofilms. In the River upstream as well as in surface sediments at the entrance of the reservoir and at the littoral zone of the reservoir, particulate organic matter (POM) was in majority of terrestrial origin, with a d13C-C/N signature close to the one of soil and litter collected in the surrounding forest and with high OC/total pigments ratios. High concentrations of Pheopigments a and b in these surface sediments showed that this terrestrial POM, either carried by the river and eolian transport or present in the soil before flooding, undergoes intense degradation. Deeper in the sediment, the d13C profile showed a decreasing trend with depth typical of what is found in soils, showing that the flooded soil still remains present at the reservoir bottom 10 years after flooding. At the center of the reservoir, POM in the water column, in sediment traps and in surface sediments was in majority of aquatic origin with low C/N and OC/total pigments ratios. In the oxic epilimnion at 3 m depth, Chl a, Chl b and Lutein showed the predominance of Chlorophyceae to the phytoplankton community. At this depth, a C/N ratio of 21 suggests a large contribution of transparent exopolymeric particles to the bulk POM, which, in addition, was 13C-depleted due to a significant contribution of methanotrophic bacteria. At 7 m depth, below the oxicline, high concentrations of BChl d and occasionally BChl c revealed the presence of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria, namely Chlorobiaceae. In the sediment traps, Chl a, Chl b, Lutein and BChl c and BChl d confirmed the contribution of plankton to the sedimentary POM. This material was undergoing intense degradation as revealed by high concentration of pheopigments and by an increase in C/N ratio and an increase in d13C-OC with trap depth. Scytonemin was found in a biofilm developed on tree trunks at the reservoir surface and in all sediment traps. Other tracers showed however that the contribution of the biofilm to the sedimentary POM was minor compared to the planktonic source. In the Sinnamary downstream of the dam, POM became more 13C-depleted showing a larger contribution of methanotrophic bacteria. Chl b, Lutein and BChl c + BChl d originating from the reservoir progressively decreased downstream as the result of mineralization. At the estuarine mouth, fucoxanthin showed the presence of diatoms and the d13C-C/N signature matched the one of POM carried by the Amazonian coastal mobile mud belt.
(Biogeosciences Discussions. vol. 2, n° 1810-6277, pp. 1159-1196, 30/08/2005)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Contamination by heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Hg) of eigth fish species in the Gironde estuary (France)
(Estuaries. vol. 28, n° 0160-8347, pp. 581-591, 01/08/2005)
LMBA, UBS, UBO EPE, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Heinrich events: hydrological impact
The hydrological impact of the massive iceberg discharges during Heinrich events has been quantified for Heinrich 4 about 37 kyr ago. This event took place in a context of relatively stable orbital forcing and global ice volume. In this article, we propose to quantify the hydrological impact of the Heinrich event 1 which occurred at about 16 kyr BP. This time period is particularly interesting because orbital forcing was strong and it marks the onset of the last deglaciation. The results obtained here show that Heinrich event 1 has a larger isotopic amplitude than Heinrich event 4 when considering the cores located near the melting source. Concerning surface circulation, the northward progression of the North Atlantic Drift is affected only by Heinrich event 4, possibly because of the latitudinal extension of the melting area during this event. To cite this article: E. Cortijo et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005). 2005 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved. Résumé Les événements de Heinrich : impact hydrologique. L'impact hydrologique des décharges massives d'icebergs liées aux événements de Heinrich a été quantifié pour l'événement de Heinrich 4, datant d'environ 37 ka BP, dans un contexte de relative stabilité des paramètres orbitaux et du volume global de glace. Dans cette note, nous proposons de quantifier l'impact hydrologique de l'événement de Heinrich 1, il y a 16 ka BP, qui s'est déroulé au début de la dernière déglaciation, sous des conditions de forçage orbital très différent. Les résultats montrent que l'amplitude isotopique de l'événement de Heinrich 1 est plus grande que celle de l'événement de Heinrich 4, lorsqu'on se place à proximité des sources de fonte. En revanche, la dérive nord-atlantique n'est affectée que pendant l'événement de Heinrich 4, vraisemblablement à cause de la disposition latitudinale de la langue de fonte pendant cet événement. Pour citer cet article : E. Cortijo et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).
(Comptes Rendus. Géoscience. vol. 337, n° 1631-0713, pp. 897-907, 01/08/2005)
LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, PALEOCEAN, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, CLIM, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA
Architecture and depositional pattern of the Rhône Neofan and recent gravity activity in the Gulf of Lions (western Mediterranean)
The Rhône Deep Sea Fan is the largest sedimentary body in the western Mediterranean Sea. We present here the results of a detailed geophysical and sedimentological analysis of the most recent gravity deposits situated on the western flank of this large sedimentary body. These results are based on the interpretation of seismic profiles as well as acoustic and coring data acquired during the MARION cruise conducted in 2000 onboard R/V Le Suroît and Images V cruise on board of the R/V Marion Dufresne (1999). We found that (1) a new channel-levee unit developed during the last stage of the Rhône Neofan evolution and (2) the last phase of up-building of this channel/levee system dates back to 15.1 ka BP (14C). This implies that the last lobe of the Rhône deep-sea fan was built during the last low sea-level and the ensuing sea-level rise. We also identified (3) 10 recent sandy deposits, previously interpreted as related to the Neofan activity. In fact, their origin is probably linked to the Sète canyon that collect sandy shelf-edge deposits remobilised at the head of the Pyreneo-Languedocian canyons. We also characterised (4) the morphology and discuss the origin of the scours previously identified in the study area. These results contrast with previous interpretation which assigned a much younger age to the Neofan (Méar and Gensous, 1993 and Torres et al., 1997).
(Marine and Petroleum Geology. vol. 22 (6-7)gust 2005, Pages, n° 0264-8172, pp. 827-843, 01/08/2005)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LDO, INSU - CNRS, UBO EPE, CNRS
Challenges to identify phytoplankton species in coastal waters by remote sensing
During spring and summer 2004, intensive field campaigns were conducted in the Eastern English Channel. This region is characterized by relatively intense phytoplankton blooms, low bathymetry, strong tide ranges and great river inputs. The sampling period accounts for episodic blooms of prymnesiophyceae Phaeocystis globosa and diatoms. Hyperspectral radiometric measurements (TRIOS; 350-950 nm, with a 3 nm spectral resolution) were concurrently performed with water sampling for biogeochemical and optical characterization. The remote sensing reflectance, Rrs, is analyzed in conjunction with variation of the water composition. We particularly focus on the capability to identify some phytoplankton species from Rrs in this very variable environment. Different methods, based on multispectral and hyperspectral data are tested and compared for that purpose. We show that no Rrs ratio allows to discriminate between diatoms and Phaeocystis. In contrast, the derivative analysis applied to hyperspectral data stresses large differences in some part of the Rrs spectra collected in diatoms or Phaeocystis dominated waters.
(. vol. 58885, 31/07/2005)
UC San Diego, UC, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, ELICO, ULCO, CNRS, ULCO, LOV, OOVM, UPMC, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UPMC, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Effect of intermediate host size (Cerastoderma edule) on infectivity of cercariae of Himasthla quissetensis (Echinostomatidae: Trematoda)
The edible cockle (Cerastoderma edule), a common marine bivalve in semi-sheltered sandflats, is a natural host for many parasite species of the genus Himasthla (Echinostomatidae: Trematoda). In a previous paper, Wegeberg et al. (1999) showed segregation of cockle infection by three Himasthla species (H. interrupta, H. continua, H. elongata) in relation to host tissue (foot, mantle, siphon) and host size (1·5 to 14 mm shell length). Following the same experimental procedure, a fourth species, H. quissetensis, an introduced dominant parasite of cockles in Arcachon Bay (south-west France) was investigated. The infection pattern was very similar to the patterns shown by H. elongata and H. continua. Cercariae (the free-living stage shed from prosobranch snails and encysting as metacercariae in bivalves) were most successful in the shell-length range of 6–14 mm, where 74% of the added cercariae were recovered as metacercariae. The comparison with the other Himasthla species supports the previous conclusion that the efficiency of cercariae to infect cockles depends on host size.
(Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. vol. 85, n° 0025-3154, pp. 809-812, 27/06/2005)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Submarine fault scarps in the Sea of Marmara pull-apart (North Anatolian Fault): Implications for seismic hazard in Istanbul
Earthquake scarps associated with recent historical events have been found on the floor of the Sea of Marmara, along the North Anatolian Fault (NAF). The MARMARASCARPS cruise using an unmanned submersible (ROV) provides direct observations to study the fine-scale morphology and geology of those scarps, their distribution, and geometry. The observations are consistent with the diversity of fault mechanisms and the fault segmentation within the north Marmara extensional step-over, between the strike-slip Ganos and Izmit faults. Smaller strike-slip segments and pull-apart basins alternate within the main step-over, commonly combining strike-slip and extension. Rapid sedimentation rates of 1?3 mm/yr appear to compete with normal faulting components of up to 6 mm/yr at the pull-apart margins. In spite of the fast sedimentation rates the submarine scarps are preserved and accumulate relief. Sets of youthful earthquake scarps extend offshore from the Ganos and Izmit faults on land into the Sea of Marmara. Our observations suggest that they correspond to the submarine ruptures of the 1999 Izmit (Mw 7.4) and the 1912 Ganos (Ms 7.4) earthquakes. While the 1999 rupture ends at the immediate eastern entrance of the extensional Cinarcik Basin, the 1912 rupture appears to have crossed the Ganos restraining bend into the Sea of Marmara floor for 60 km with a right-lateral slip of 5 m, ending in the Central Basin step-over. From the Gulf of Saros to Marmara the total 1912 rupture length is probably about 140 km, not 50 km as previously thought. The direct observations of submarine scarps in Marmara are critical to defining barriers that have arrested past earthquakes as well as defining a possible segmentation of the contemporary state of loading. Incorporating the submarine scarp evidence modifies substantially our understanding of the current state of loading along the NAF next to Istanbul. Coulomb stress modeling shows a zone of maximum loading with at least 4?5 m of slip deficit encompassing the strike-slip segment 70 km long between the Cinarcik and Central Basins. That segment alone would be capable of generating a large-magnitude earthquake (Mw 7.2). Other segments in Marmara appear less loaded.
(Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. vol. 6, pp. Q06009, 24/06/2005)
LTML (UMR_7578), UPD7, IPG Paris, CNRS, GEOAZUR 6526, IRD, UPMC, UNS, INSU - CNRS, UniCA, CNRS, LDL, UM2, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LDO, INSU - CNRS, UBO EPE, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LGCA, OSUG, UJF, Grenoble INP, INSU - CNRS, IRSTEA, USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry], CNRS, CNRS, ITU, ITÜ, TUNITAK-MAM, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, GEDI, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, LDEO, ISMAR, ISMAR, CNR, LOB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, MTA
Speciation of Zn Associated with Diatoms Using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
The long- and short-term interactions between zinc, an essential but also toxic element, and freshwater and marine diatoms are not well understood partly because of a lack of information on Zn speciation on the surface and inside the cells. In this work, interactions of aqueous Zn super(2+) with marine (Skeletonema costatum) and freshwater (Achnanthidium minutissimum, Navicula minima, and Melosira varians) diatoms were studied using conventional macroscopic techniques, while the local atomic structure of metal ions adsorbed on their surface or incorporated into the cells was characterized by in-situ Zn K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy on both intact and liophylized samples. At the cell surface for all diatom species studied, Zn was tetrahedrally coordinated with oxygen at similar to 2.00 plus or minus 0.02 Ae and monodentately bonded to one or two carboxylate groups; these results are consistent with the surface speciation model developed from macroscopic adsorption experiments. The atomic environment of Zn incorporated into freshwater diatoms during long-term growth in normal nutrient media was distinctly different from that of adsorbed Zn: it was dominated by O (and/or N) neighbors in a tetrahedral arrangement at 1.97 plus or minus 0.02 Ae in the first atomic shell, with the presence of 1 phosphorus and 2 carbons in the Zn second shell. Contrasting speciation of intracellular zinc was revealed for the marine species Skeletonema costatum in which Zn was coordinated to 2 O/N atoms and 2 sulfur groups in the form of cysteine-histidine complexes and/or zinc thiolate clusters. These new structural data strongly suggest: (i) the predominant >R-COO super(-) ligand binding of Zn at the diatom surface; (ii) the nonspecific storage of Zn in the form of carboxylate/phosphate groups inside the cell of freshwater species; and (iii) the highly specific thiol- ligand coordination of intracellular zinc for marine S. costatum species.
(Environmental Science and Technology. vol. 39, n° 0013-936X, pp. 4490-4498, 15/06/2005)
LMTG, UT3, Comue de Toulouse, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Comparative Effects of Dietary Methylmercury on Gene Expression in Liver, Skeletal Muscle, and Brain of the Zebrafish ( Danio rerio )
Effects of dietary methylmercury (MeHg) on gene expression were examined in three organs (liver, skeletal muscle, and brain) of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Adult male fish were fed over 7, 21, and 63 days on three different diets: one control diet (C0: 0.08 microg of Hg g(-1), dry wt) and two diets (C1 and C2) contaminated by MeHg at 5 and 13.5 microg of Hg g(-1), dry wt. Total Hg and MeHg concentrations were determined in the three organs after each exposure duration, and a demethylation process was evidenced only in the liver. Thirteen genes known to be involved in antioxidant defenses, metal chelation, active efflux of organic compounds, mitochondrial metabolism, DNA repair, and apoptosis were investigated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and normalized according to actin gene expression. Surprisingly, no change in the expression levels of these genes was observed in contaminated brain samples, although this organ accumulated the highest mercury concentration (63.5 +/- 4.4 microg g(-1), dry wt after 63 days). This lack of genetic response could explain the high neurotoxicity of MeHg. coxI and cytoplasmic and mitochondrial sod gene expressions were induced early in skeletal muscle and later in liver, indicating an impact on the mitochondrial metabolism and production of reactive oxygen species. Results demonstrated that skeletal muscle was not only an important storage reservoir but was also affected by MeHg contamination. The expression of the metallothionein mt2 and the DNA repair rad51 genes was up-regulated in liver between 21 and 63 days, whereas in skeletal muscle, mt2 remained uninduced, and gadd and rad51 were found to be repressed.
(Environmental Science and Technology. vol. 39, n° 0013-936X, pp. 3972-3980, 01/06/2005)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Interaction between N-species and Mn-oxides in rapid deposited sediment layers : Field observations and experiments.
(01/06/2005)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS