TY - JOUR
T1 - Natural oligotrophy vs. pollution-induced eutrophy on the SE Mediterranean shallow shelf (Israel)
T2 - Environmental parameters and benthic foraminifera
AU - Hyams-Kaphzan, Orit
AU - Almogi-Labin, Ahuva
AU - Benjamini, Chaim
AU - Herut, Barak
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was funded by the Israel Science Foundation (Grant No. 145/02-13.0). At IOLR, the captain and crew of the R/V Shikmona are thanked for their expertise in the oceanographic sampling program. Z. Rosentraub, N. Kress and E. Shoam-Frider, with the technical assistance of E. Shefer, Y. Gertner, Y. Suari, L. Israelov and G. Feinstein of the Marine Chemistry department of IOLR, Haifa, performed sampling and laboratory chemical analysis. Y. Yacobi, IOLR Kinneret, introduced the Chl a measurement techniques. B. Schilman, with technicians M. Kitin, Y. Nahamias and Y. Lacatush of the GSI, assisted in the marine sampling program and in the laboratory procedures. Editor G. Sheppard and reviewer F. Frontalini are thanked for suggestions resulting in a significantly improved manuscript.
PY - 2009/8/10
Y1 - 2009/8/10
N2 - The eastern Mediterranean is naturally highly oligotrophic, but urbanization along the Levant coast has led to raised organic and nutrient loads. This study tracks living foraminiferal assemblages at two sites near an activated sewage sludge outfall from 11/2003 to 5/2004. Oligotrophic site PL29 shows seasonal variations in O2, chlorophyll a, and organic carbon, and has an abundant, diverse benthic foraminiferal assemblage living at various in-sediment depths. At eutrophic site PL3, ∼16 years of sludge injection favor a depleted assemblage primarily of opportunist foraminifera. This site shows less seasonality, is subjected to organic matter overload, O2-stress, and periodic anoxia, foraminifera are less abundant and diverse, and live at shallower depths. The assemblages at both sites represent a common pool of species, with Ammonia tepida highly dominant. Benthic foraminifera were therefore found to be sensitive to trophic trajectories, respond on sub-seasonal time-scales, and track injection and dispersal of organic loads on the shelf.
AB - The eastern Mediterranean is naturally highly oligotrophic, but urbanization along the Levant coast has led to raised organic and nutrient loads. This study tracks living foraminiferal assemblages at two sites near an activated sewage sludge outfall from 11/2003 to 5/2004. Oligotrophic site PL29 shows seasonal variations in O2, chlorophyll a, and organic carbon, and has an abundant, diverse benthic foraminiferal assemblage living at various in-sediment depths. At eutrophic site PL3, ∼16 years of sludge injection favor a depleted assemblage primarily of opportunist foraminifera. This site shows less seasonality, is subjected to organic matter overload, O2-stress, and periodic anoxia, foraminifera are less abundant and diverse, and live at shallower depths. The assemblages at both sites represent a common pool of species, with Ammonia tepida highly dominant. Benthic foraminifera were therefore found to be sensitive to trophic trajectories, respond on sub-seasonal time-scales, and track injection and dispersal of organic loads on the shelf.
KW - Activated sludge
KW - Eastern Mediterranean
KW - Eutrophy
KW - Living benthic foraminifera
KW - Oligotrophy
KW - Organic carbon
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=71849107485&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.010
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:71849107485
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 58
SP - 1888
EP - 1902
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
IS - 12
ER -