Post-depositional evolution over a time scale of 1 million years of eastern Mediterranean organic-rich and organic-poor sediments: new insights on the debromination and layer-silicate markers
Organic matter degradation is the engine behind the biogeochemical evolution of sediments during burial. Previous research has shown that eogenesis is the seat of a complex interplay between organic matter, microbes and the most reactive part of inorganic compounds, such as clay minerals. To explore the variability and stability of bromine and clay minerals as geochemical and mineral tracers, we selected an eastern Mediterranean core that has a high degree of stability in the quality and quantity of organic matter through time at a one-million-year scale and great variability in organic matter content at a 10 ky scale. According to the very low maximal burial depth reached by these sediments (the core length is only 36.5 m), physical parameters, such as temperature and pressure, did not significantly influence the evolution of the studied parameters during the burial history. The bulk clay mineralogy of organic-rich and organic-poor sediments is similar all along the investigated core material; smectite predominates over kaolinite. The only identified authigenic minerals are biogenetic framboidal pyrite and manganese oxides. The X-ray data and the chemical compositions of the smectite are characteristic of a montmorillonite which is representative of a detrital Nile source. At a one-million-year scale, the organic matter content has no significant influence on clay eogenesis, and detrital smectite and kaolinite remain unchanged. Bromine is present in marine organic matter as organobromine compounds. During eogenesis, bromine is released from organic matter as bromide ion, resulting in an increase in the bromide concentration in the pore water with depth. Dissolved bromide can be used as a conservative tracer of the debromination of sedimentary organic matter. For the first time, we established that solid-phase BrOrg is a reliable tracer of debromination rates in marine sediments. The rate of debromination depends on the organic matter content. The rate increases from less than 2.3 × 10−4 μmolBrOrg mol.C−1.y−1 to 6.3 × 10−4 μmolBrOrg mol.C−1.y−1 when TOC varies from 0.17 to 3%. This increase is related to the development of the bacterial population and provides the basis for further investigation of other oceanic basins. For TOC values >4%, the rate of debromination decreases. We propose that the bioavailability of organic matter is another factor of variability in the debromination rate.
(Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. vol. 188, n° 0037-9409, pp. 21, 27/04/2026)
LUSAC, UNICAEN, NU, IC2MP [Poitiers], UP, INC-CNRS, CNRS, EMBS, iSTeP, UPMC, CNRS, ETH Zürich, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, CINaM, AMU, CNRS
Gravity-Driven Deposits in an Active Margin (Ionian Sea) Over the Last 330 000 Years
(Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 27/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, SHOM, LMV, IRD, INSU - CNRS, UJM, UCA [2017-2020], CNRS, LDO, INSU - CNRS, UBO EPE, CNRS
Benthic production, respiration and methane oxidation in Lobelia dortmanna lawns
Isoetid macrophytes such as Lobelia dortmanna and Littorella uniflora are engineering species with an extensive root system and high radial oxygen loss (ROL). Despite several studies on these macrophytes, the effect of their oxygenation on methane dynamics has never been investigated. In this study, we hypothesize that isoetids promote dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) fixation and methane (CH4) oxidation in sandy sediments. Our whole-ecosystem approach study lasted two years (2013-2014) on two oligo-mesotrophic shallow lakes. Benthic chamber incubations confirmed that, as a result of primary production and methanotrophy, isoetid lawns had consistently lower benthic carbon fluxes than bare sediments. On a daily basis, vegetated areas acted as a carbon sink (-0.7 ± 0.4 g C m-2d-1, as DIC + CH4) whereas bare sediments acted as a net source (0.6 ± 0.5 g C m-2d-1, as DIC + CH4). Photosynthetic quotients of < 1 indicated that photosynthetically-produced oxygen was not released into the water column, but accumulated in leaf lacunae or was transferred to the rhizosphere, that contributing to the alteration of net benthic fluxes at the sediment-water interface. This preliminary study highlights the necessity of further investigating the role that isoetids play in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from temperate shallow lakes.
(Hydrobiologia, n° 0018-8158, pp. 21-34, 27/04/2026)
UR EABX, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Mission Baelo Claudia. Rapport d'activités
(27/04/2026)
LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, HALMA, CNRS, MC, IRAA, UL2, AMU, CNRS, HeRMA [Poitiers], UP, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Migratory behavior, metabolism, oxidative stress and mercury concentrations in marine and estuarine European glass eels (Anguilla anguilla)
The relationships between the migratory behavior, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations, oxidative stress response and detoxification processes were investigated in glass eels collected in marine (Molliets) and estuarine (Urt) waters (Adour estuary, South West France) at the end of the fishing season (April). Glass eel migratory behavior was investigated in an experimental flume according to their response to dusk. Fish responding to the decrease in light intensity by ascending in the water column and moving with or against the flow were considered as having a high propensity to migrate (migrant). Glass eels still sheltering at the end of the 24 h catching period were considered as having a low propensity to migrate and were called non-migrant. Our results provide some evidence that estuarine glass eels were bigger, presented a higher propensity to migrate and a lower oxidative stress response than marine glass eels. This might reflect a selection process, some marine glass eels progressively settling or dying before reaching Urt and/or a change in feeding behavior. In April, glass eels restart feeding in the Adour estuary which might decrease the oxidative stress possibly related to starvation, and enhance migration. MeHg concentrations was significantly higher in non-migrant than in migrant glass eels and it is suggested that non-migrant glass eels might present a higher vulnerability to stress (at least contamination and/or starvation), although the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.
(Physiology & behavior. vol. 169, n° 0031-9384, pp. 33--40, 27/04/2026)
ECOBIOP, INRA, UPPA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IPREM, UPPA, INC-CNRS, CNRS
A DEB-IB model to test trophic and ontogenic triggers on the downstream migration of juvenile European sturgeon
Our objective was to integrate the fish physiology within a rigorous conceptual framework to coherently simulate the different biological processes constrained by possible environmental and anthropogenic pressures on individuals.
(pp. 1, 27/04/2026)
UR EABX, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Mission Baelo Claudia, Année 2017, Rapport d’activités
(27/04/2026)
LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, HALMA, CNRS, MC, IRAA, UL2, AMU, CNRS, HeRMA [Poitiers], UP, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Is apparent low productivity of the invasive marine mollusc Crepidula fornicata Linnaeus, 1758 related to biased age determination?
The slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata Linnaeus, 1758 is a major exotic invader of East North Atlantic coasts. Individuals live on top of each other and form stacks with the youngest on the top. Earlier studies reported that one individual typically settles per year. If true, it is a simplified means to provide a “shell length-age” relationship for population dynamics studies, especially Production/Biomass ratio (P/B) assessment. However, estimated P/B ranges between 0.15 and 0.45 yr-1 seem low compared to those of closely-related marine invertebrates and considering the invasiveness of C. fornicata in coastal habitats. In this study, we placed artificial substrates (“tiles”) for one year in the middle of a C. fornicata colony and measured settlement. We sometimes observed more than one individual settling per stack in a year: 4% of stacks were composed by 3 individuals, 27% by 2 individuals and 69% were single specimen. On this basis, we formulated a model to better link the position of each C. fornicata within a stack to its age. In addition, the C. fornicata population was annually sampled for 5 years. Then, population dynamics parameters, density at recruitment, mortality rate, growth performance, production and P/B were estimated. We compared two cases: (i) individual age was defined by its position in stacks; (ii) individual age was corrected by the model. Recalculation moderately increased growth performance expectation (+2 to 8% per year) but greatly enhanced production and P/B (ca. 1.2 to 2.6-fold per year). Recalculated P/B values ranged from 0.55 to 0.72 yr-1. While still low, they were more consistent with published values for similar large marine invertebrates, in particular for invasive species.
(Aquatic Invasions. vol. 12, n° 1798-6540, pp. 459-468, 27/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Toward a phenological mismatch in estuarine pelagic food web?
Alterations of species phenology in response to climate change are now unquestionable. Until now, most studies have reported precocious occurrence of life cycle events as a major phenological response. Desynchronizations of biotic interactions, in particular predator-prey relationships, are however assumed to strongly impact ecosystems' functioning, as formalized by the Match-Mismatch Hypothesis (MMH). Temporal synchronicity between juvenile fish and zooplankton in estuaries is therefore of essential interest since estuaries are major nursery grounds for many commercial fish species. The Gironde estuary (SW France) has suffered significant alterations over the last three decades, including two Abrupt Ecosystem Shifts (AES), and three contrasted intershift periods. The main objective of this study was to depict modifications in fish and zooplankton phenology among inter-shift periods and discuss the potential effects of the resulting mismatches at a community scale. A flexible Bayesian method was used to estimate and compare yearly patterns of species abundance in the estuary among the three pre-defined periods. Results highlighted (1) an earlier peak of zooplankton production and entrance of fish species in the estuary and (2) a decrease in residence time of both groups in the estuary. Such species-specific phenological changes led to changes in temporal overlap between juvenile fish and their zooplanktonic prey. This situation questions the efficiency and potentially the viability of nursery function of the Gironde estuary, with potential implications for coastal marine fisheries of the Bay of Biscay.
(PLoS ONE. vol. 12, n° 1932-6203, pp. e0173752, 27/04/2026)
UR EABX, IRSTEA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Transcriptomic responses of the endangered freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera to trace metal contamination in the Dronne River, France
The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is one of the most threatened freshwater bivalves worldwide. In this study, we aimed (i) to study the processes by which water quality might affect freshwater mussels in situ and (ii) to provide insights into the ecotoxicological significance of water pollution to natural populations in order to provide necessary information to enhance conservation strategies. M. margaritifera specimens were sampled in two close sites located upstream or downstream from an illegal dumping site. The renal transcriptome of these animals was assembled and gene transcription determined by RNA-seq. Correlations between transcription levels of each single transcript and the bioaccumulation of nine trace metals, age (estimated by sclerochronology), and condition index were determined in order to identify genes likely to respond to a specific factor. Amongst the studied metals, Cr, Zn, Cd, and Ni were the main factors correlated with transcription levels, with effects on translation, apoptosis, immune response, response to stimulus, and transport pathways. However, the main factor explaining changes in gene transcription appeared to be the age of individuals with a negative correlation with the transcription of retrotransposon-related genes. To investigate this effect further, mussels were classified into three age classes. In young, middle-aged and old animals, transcription levels were mainly explained by Cu, Zn and age, respectively. This suggests differences in the molecular responses of this species to metals during its lifetime that must be better assessed in future ecotoxicology studies.
(Environmental Science and Pollution Research. vol. 24, n° 0944-1344, pp. 27145-27159, 27/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LEMAR, IRD, IFREMER, UBO EPE, CNRS, GeT-PlaGe, GET, GENOTOUL, UT3, ENVT, INSERM, CNRS, Toulouse INP, INRAE, INRAE, MIAT INRAE, INRAE