Long-term changes in microphytobenthos in a Brittany estuary after the 'Amoco Cadiz' oil spill

Abstract

After the 'Amoco Cadiz' oil spill (Mar 1978), a 4 yr survey of the microphytobenthos (cell numbers and chlorophyll a content) was carried out on a mud flat polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons.There was an obvious peak of microphytic biomass 7 mo after the spill, a decrease during 1979-1980, and a slow increase again in 1981. Moreover an annual pattern in biomass variations, involving early spring and autumn maxima, was noticed for 1979-80-81. whereas this seasonal cycle did not appear in 1978. During the unexpected increase in chlorophyll a content in autumn and winter 1978, a bloom of Euglenophyta and small epipelic diatoms was observed. Results suggest that the hydrocarbons affected the long-term trend of the biocenosis.

Impact of a simulated oil spill on benthic phototrophs and nitrogen‐fixing bacteria in mudflat mesocosms

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that diverse and active coastal microphytobenthic communities can tolerate and develop in response to oil pollution (Riaux-Gobin, 1985;Abed et al, 2002;Cohen, 2002;Piehler et al, 2003;van Bleijswijk and Muyzer, 2004;Chaillan et al, 2006). Indeed, net photosynthesis has been shown to recover (Piehler et al, 2003) or increase in phototrophic mats after an oil spill (Benthien et al, 2004).…”

Seasonal and interannual patterns of intertidal microphytobenthos in combination with laboratory and areal production estimates

“…horizontal and vertical), in combination with an evaluation of seasonal ) of microphytobenthos in the study area and interannual patterns (Cadée & Hegeman 1974, Riaux-Gobin 1985, Peletier 1996. Our monitoring survey was carried out regularly on a monthly basis over an extended (interannual) period and at a controlled spring low tide of every month, in order to allow us to interpret the results in a coherent and consistent way.…”

“…More recently, simulation models have been used to calculate the annual primary production of intertidal microphytobenthos based on either monthly (Cammen 1991, Pinkney & Zingmark 1993 or shorter (fortnightly and daily, Serôdio & Catarino 2000) timescale measurements. However, field observations on a longer (interannual) scale are very limited (Cadée & Hegeman 1974, Riaux-Gobin 1985, Peletier 1996. Little information is thus available on the extent of seasonal and interannual fluctuations of intertidal microphytobenthos biomass and primary production in these highly variable ecosystems.…”

Benthic microalgae: comparisons of chlorophyll a in mesocosms and field sites

“…Microalgal production and standing stock may be good indicators of impacts because they have been shown to increase in response to nutrient and oil pollution (Graneli & Sundback, 1985 ;Riaux-Gobin, 1985) .…”