Organic matter quantity and quality, metals availability and foraminiferal assemblages as environmental proxy applied to the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

Martins, Maria Virgínia Alves; Helali, Mohamed Amine; Zaaboub, Noureddine; Boukef-BenOmrane, Imen; Frontalini, Fabrizio; Reis, Darlly Erika Silva dos; Portela, Helena; Clemente, Iara; Nogueira, Leandro; Pereira, Egberto; Miranda, Paulo; Bour, Monia El; Aleya, Lotfi

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.02.032

Cited by 54 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…This work is based on the study of sediments collected in March 2013 in 10 sampling stations georeferenced with a GPS, in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia, Fig. 1), the same stations studied by Martins et al (2015aMartins et al ( , 2016. This work reanalyzes some selected data obtained by these authors and new geochemical data, namely lithogenic and biogenic chemical elements.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both analyses were performed in the fine fraction. The detailed description of the procedures applied in the sediment analyses is found in Martins et al (2015aMartins et al ( , 2016. Total organic matter (TOC) content was determined with a Leco equipment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several works on productivity have been carried out in the Bizerte Lagoon such as Martins et al (2015aMartins et al ( , 2016, Zaaboub et al (2015), among others that have suggested that the natural biological productivity within the lagoon is particularly high (e.g. Hamdi et al, 2002;Sakka Hlaili et al, 2006, 2007.…”

Section: General Characteristics Of Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geochemical and Mineralogical Fingerprints of the Sediments Supply and Early Diagenetic Processes in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

et al. 2016

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The Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) functions as a sedimentation environment characterized by receiving allochthonous sediments mainly transported by the Ben Hassine, Rharek and Guenich streams, as well as marine sediments from the Mediterranean Sea. It is subjected to significant environmental changes due to the natural and anthropic influences altering the natural patterns of circulation, extraction and/or deposition of mineralogical materials. The aim of this investigation is to analyze the sediments supply and early diagenetic processes in Bizerte Lagoon. The physicochemical parameter of the sediment pore water, as well as their texture, mineralogical composition (X-Ray diffraction technique -XRD), magnetic susceptibility and their geochemical composition (namely lithogenic and biogenic chemical elements analyzed by ICP-MS) were analyzed in 10 sampling stations.The water temperature with an average of 15.2°C was stable in the study area. The sediments were generally characterized by fine granulometry, mainly mud and sandy mud, poorly to very poorly sorted, and constituted by two or more granulometric particle modes. The mineralogical results revealed the presence of phyllosilicates, quartz, pyrite, calcite, anatase and K-feldspar, and other minerals in smaller proportions. The fine sediment and high phyllosilicates and Al contents indicate the presence of weak currents in most part of the studied area. The results of sorting, skewness and kurtosis suggest that the currents are more active in the northern region of the lagoon, near the channel of communication with the Mediterranean Sea. They also evidence a coarser particle contribution of the Ben Hassine stream to the lagoon. The other streams seem to introduce mostly fine-grained sediments in the lagoon. The currents Journal of Sedimentary EnvironmentsPublished by Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro 1(4): 432-448, circulation, the water residence time and the biological productivity influence the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the bottom sediments. The industrial activity is also an important factor, since it results in the accumulation of high levels of some metals, such as Fe. Metals are mostly retained in the sediment in areas with active biogeochemical activity due to high organic matter accumulation. Mineralogical and geochemical patterns indicate contributions from different rocks sources, diverse processes of transport and deposition of sediments and varied processes of production of autochthonous materials.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geochemical and Mineralogical Fingerprints of the Sediments Supply and Early Diagenetic Processes in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

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“…Other highly contributing species of Cluster A and B are B. elegantissima and B. striatula, two stress-tolerant species able to survive in polluted environmental conditions and under oxygen depletion (e.g., Murray, 2006; al., 2019, and references therein). Martins et al (2016a) documented the preference of B. striatula for high quality organic matter enriched in proteins, carbohydrates and chlorophyll -a. In general, taxa which are tolerant to such conditions are typically associated with muddy substrates that can accumulate high amounts of organic matter (e.g., Van der Zwaan et al, 1999 and reference therein).…”

Section: Living Foraminifera Assemblages and Their Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As these two studies use total assemblages they cannot be considered as representative of the current ecological and environmental conditions. An additional study on living benthic foraminifera in Tunisia from Martins et al (2015) and Martins et al (2016a) concerns the Bizerta lagoon, a site with a very limited access to the open Mediterranean, located in northern Tunisia, far from the influence of the Gabes industries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living (stained) foraminifera in the Lesser Syrtis (Tunisia): influence of pollution and substratum

Kateb

Beccari

Stainbank

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Foraminifera are protozoans with biomineralized tests that can be successfully used as a low cost monitoring tool to assess the health status of marine environments. Living benthic foraminiferal assemblages can provide essential information on natural and/or anthropogenic stresses and provide baseline conditions for studies on fossil material. Several studies have highlighted the negative impact of phosphate treatment industries along the Gulf of Gabes (Lesser Syrtis, Tunisia) on the marine environment. However, only a few studies, based on living (stained) benthic foraminifera, are presently available to assess environmental and/or ecological conditions in this Gulf. Thirty-eight surface sediment samples were quantitatively investigated to identify the dominant living benthic foraminiferal species and potential pollution-sensitive and stress-tolerant species. One-hundred and sixty-one species were identified, and grouped into seven clusters representing different environments within the Gulf. These groups represent polluted settings (Cluster A and B), polluted environments characterized by physicochemical variability (Cluster C), seagrass meadows and “pristine” sites (Cluster D and E) and the region subjected to major industrial impact (Cluster F). The final outlier Cluster, identified the foraminifera barren and all shallow coastal stations. A SIMPER analysis helped identify species with clear and fast responses to environmental perturbations (Ammonia tepida, Amphistegina lessonii, Brizalina striatula, Bulimina marginata, Buliminella elegantissima, Eggereloides scaber, Peneroplis perutusus, Rosalina macropora, Rosalina villardeboana, Trochammina inflata). A comparison with the measured geochemical parameters (TOC, phosphorus in the sediments and heavy metal concentrations in the seawater) has shown that the benthic foraminiferal assemblages are mainly linked to phosphorus, TOC, As and Cd pollution. We also provide here the first compilation of the identified living species in the Lesser Syrtis, their synonyms and digital images of important species.

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The Amphistegina Invasion in the Monastir Bay, Tunisia

Damak

Ismail

Fourati

et al. 2021

Recent Advances in Environmental Science From the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions (2nd Edition)

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Organic matter quantity and quality, metals availability and foraminiferal assemblages as environmental proxy applied to the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

Cited by 54 publications

References 49 publications

Geochemical and Mineralogical Fingerprints of the Sediments Supply and Early Diagenetic Processes in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

Geochemical and Mineralogical Fingerprints of the Sediments Supply and Early Diagenetic Processes in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

Living (stained) foraminifera in the Lesser Syrtis (Tunisia): influence of pollution and substratum

The Amphistegina Invasion in the Monastir Bay, Tunisia

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