Sediment records of past anthropogenic environmental changes in a barrier reef lagoon (Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia)

Metal(loid)s in superficial sediments from coral reefs of French Polynesia

“…In Tahiti, the highest levels of contamination were observed in the sediments collected in Papeete (T-FAR , Table S1), the capital of French Polynesia. This site was the only one monitored in a previous study (Fichez et al, 2005), and we observed moderate increases in the levels of all the elements that examined in both this previous study and the current study. High levels of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were observed at 5 sites in Tahiti, with Ni levels exceeding the ERM and constituting a potential threat to marine organisms if bioavailable (Gissi et al, 2016).…”

“…Indeed, metal(loid) contamination can be influenced by the structure and composition of the sediment itself, as well as by the geological characteristics of the island (Hédouin et al, 2009b). For instance, and in contrast with Rangiroa (Chevalier, 1973), high levels of Fe and Mn are expected in basaltic-rich volcanic islands with high terrestrial inputs such as Mo'orea and Tahiti (Fichez et al, 2005). The overall higher levels of metal(loid)s in the sediments from Tahiti and Mo'orea vs. Rangiroa could therefore be related to their river network and higher land surface areas (ORSTOM, 1993).…”

“…Rangiroa, Tuamotu archipelago) (ORSTOM, 1993). Metal(loid) levels in the sediment were only investigated through two single cores performed at two sites in Tahiti, within the harbor of Papeete (Fichez et al, 2005). Moreover, while organic and metal(loid) contamination have also been examined in coral reef organisms at Mo'orea (Fey et al, 2019;Roche et al, 2011), data related to the sediment are actually limited to the sedimentary organic matter at a single site (Fey et al, 2019).…”

Environmental Evolution of the Caravelas Estuary (Northeastern Brazilian Coast, 17° S, 39° W) Based on Multiple Proxies in a Sedimentary Record of the Last Century

“…However, it is difficult to obtain conclusive information on anthropogenic impacts by only comparing modern coastal ecosystems, since the majority of coastal areas are impacted in some way by human activities (Debenay and Fernandez, 2009). The use of sedimentary records, where sediments have been continuously deposited since at least preindustrial periods, has proved to be a successful method for assessing anthropogenic impacts throughout the last century, contributing to an understanding of the history of metal inputs (Cearreta et al, 2011;Debenay and Fernandez, 2009;Fichez et al, 2005) and nutrient enrichment (Tsujimoto et al, 2008), among other pollutant sources.…”

Origine, transport et devenir des apports naturels et anthropiques dans le lagon sud-ouest de Nouvelle-Calédonie

“…Cs) et l'étude conjointe de traceurs anthropiques tels que des métaux, des hydrocarbures ou le phosphore permettent de reconstituer l'évolution des conditions d'environnement à l'échelle du dernier siècle. Cette approche peut, sous certaines conditions, être appliquée aux systèmes lagonaires (Harris et al, 2001 ;Fichez et al, 2005b). L'analyse de carottes sédimentaires prélevées en 1997 et 1998 dans le lagon de Nouvelle-Calédonie a permis de reconstituer l'évolution du taux de sédimentation et des apports en métaux (Fernandez et al, 2002) (nickel, chrome, cobalt, manganèse, en particulier).…”