Foraminiferal Distribution in Two Estuarine Intertidal Mudflats of the French Atlantic Coast: Testing the Marine Influence Index

Abstract

This study focuses on the foraminiferal distribution on intertidal mudflats of two contrasted estuaries (Auray and Vie) along the French Atlantic coast. In both estuaries, the foraminiferal communities are dominated by Haynesina germanica and the Ammonia tepida group. Stations located near the outlets show a high diversity and abundance of species of the genus Elphidium. Stations in the inner estuary show a higher proportion of agglutinated species (Ammotium salsum, Ammobaculites agglutinans). Multivariate statistical analysis suggests that the distance to the sea and the percentage of fine sediment (<63 µm) are the two main parameters explaining the foraminiferal distribution. Chemical analyses of the sediment show that the two studied estuaries are not affected by major anthropogenic pollution, so that the faunas should mainly reflect the natural controlling parameters. Three indices of environmental quality commonly used in coastal areas show counter-intuitive differences between stations, suggesting that these indices may be less reliable for use in intertidal estuarine mudflats. The newly developed Marine Influence Index (MII) integrates three major ecological factors: the position of the sampling point on the salinity gradient, the emergence time at low tide and the relative importance of fresh water discharge. In our dataset, MII shows significant correlations with the controlling environmental parameters (distance to the sea, percentage grains <63 µm), as well as with the foraminiferal patterns (PCA axis 1, species richness, percentage of Elphidium spp. and Quinqueloculina spp.). These results suggest that the MII explains a substantial part of the faunal variability on estuarine intertidal mudflats, and can be used to detect deviations from the natural distribution patterns in response to anthropogenic pollution.

Unlocking foraminiferal genetic diversity on estuarine mudflats with eDNA metabarcoding

“…Sediment grain size, trace metal concentrations and organic matter content were assessed to obtain sediment properties. Protocols for these methods are detailed in Fouet et al, (2022). In brief, the sediment grain size was analyzed (non-decarbonated) with a Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size analyser (Malvern Pananalytical Ltd, Malvern, UK).…”

“…Enrichment Factors (EF) were calculated by comparison with an unpolluted reference sample (M. P. A. Fouet et al, 2022;Larrose et al, 2010) (Table A.1). Elemental carbon (%Corg) and nitrogen (%N) contents were measured on decarbonated freeze-dried sediment with a CHONS Elemental Analyser (EA Vario PYRO cube; Elementar®, Langenselbold, Germany) (Table A.1).…”

“…This strongly biases the results of environmental quality indices created in fully marine habitats, systematically leading to negative scores in estuaries (M. P. A. Fouet et al, 2022). This apparent contradiction (low environmental quality values in apparently natural ecosystems) is known as the "estuarine quality paradox" (Dauvin, 2007;Elliott & Quintino, 2007).…”

“…To integrate these different parameters in a single index, we have recently developed and tested the "Marine Influence Index" (MII) which aims to provide an integrated assessment of the natural environmental conditions of estuarine sites (M. P. A. Fouet et al, 2022;Jorissen et al, 2022).…”

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“…(Figure 6.1a) is an infaunal foraminifer that is predominantly an intertidal dweller and can be found in normal marine salinity, sheltered tidal flats and brackish estuaries (e.g., Saad and Wade, 2016;Ruiz et al, 2005;Ghosh et al, 2009;. It is recognised as an euryhaline species and is generally tolerant to a wide range of grain size distribution and pollutants and is therefore widespread in brackish environments (e.g., Debenay et al, 1998;Pérez-Asensio et al, 2020;Fouet et al, 2022).…”