1st Edition

Environmental Assessment of Estuarine Ecosystems A Case Study

Edited By Claude Amiard-Triquet, Philip S. Rainbow Copyright 2009
    368 Pages 80 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    368 Pages 80 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Estuaries in every country exemplify the same paradox — they are among the most productive ecosystems and also among the most impacted by anthropogenic activities. And although estuarine biodiversity is key to the ecological and economic health of coastal regions, estuaries are exposed to toxic effluents transported by rivers from remote and nearby conurbations and industrial and agricultural concerns, putting them at risk. Increased attention to environmental issues highlights the fragility and importance of estuaries and brings to the forefront the need for an up-to-date assessment of techniques.

    Environmental Assessment of Estuarine Ecosystems: A Case Study describes a comparative, multidisciplinary ecotoxicological study of two contrasting estuaries in France. Based on the results of this study, the book presents generalizations about how different techniques might be applied and interpreted in future, similar studies assessing the ecotoxicological status of these vital coastal systems. With contributions from international experts, this reference covers all aspects of estuaries from the physiological to the economical. It introduces the state-of-the-art science required to investigate ecotoxicological problems in many estuaries all over the world.

    Although carefully focused on a specific region, this book covers a broad range of environmental issues and solutions, demonstrating how various pieces of information can be integrated into a sound assessment. Understanding the observations about this region and the techniques used for its assessment provide a benchmark for assessing, remediating, and applying new developments to other estuaries.

    Introduction, Claude Amiard-Triquet and Jean-Claude Dauvin

    Sedimentary Processes on Estuarine Mudflats: Examples of the Seine and Authie Estuaries, Julien Deloffre and Robert Lafite

    Quantification of Contaminants, Jean-Claude Amiard, Laurent Bodineau, Virginie Bragigand, Christophe Minier, and Hélène Budzinski

    Biomarkers Based upon Biochemical Responses, Michèle Roméo, Laurence Poirier, and Brigitte Berthet

    Biogeochemistry of Metals in Sediments: Development of Microscale Analytical Tools and Use of Indicators of Biological Activities, Baghdad Ouddane, Laurent Quillet, Olivier Clarisse, Gabriel Billon, Jean-Claude Fischer, and Fabienne Petit

    Organic Contaminants in Coastal and Estuarine Food Webs, Alain Abarnou

    Tolerance in Organisms Chronically Exposed to Estuarine Pollution, Claude Amiard-Triquet, Thierry Berthe, Anne Créach, Françoise Denis, Cyril Durou, François Gévaert, Catherine Mouneyrac, Jean-Baptiste Ramond, and Fabienne Petit

    Linking Energy Metabolism, Reproduction, Abundance, and Structure of Nereis diversicolor Populations, Catherine Mouneyrac, Cyril Durou, Patrick Gillet, Herman Hummel, and Claude Amiard-Triquet

    Historical Records of the Nereis diversicolor Population in the Seine Estuary, Christophe Bessineton

    Ecological Status and Health of the Planktonic Copepod Eurytemora affinis in the Seine Estuary, Joëlle Forget-Leray, Sami Souissi, David Devreker, Kevin Cailleaud, and Hélène Budzinski

    From Pollution to Altered Physiological Performance: The Case of Flatfish in the Seine Estuary, Christophe Minier and Rachid Amara

    Diatoms: Modern Diatom Distribution in the Seine and Authie Estuaries, Florence Sylvestre

    Foraminifera, Jean-Pierre Debenay

    Patterns of Abundance, Diversity, and Genus Assemblage Structure of Meiofaunal Nematodes in the Seine (Pont de Normandie) and Authie (Authie Port) Estuaries, Timothy J. Ferrero

    Dynamic Diagenetic Modelling and Impacts of Biota, Lionel Denis, Dominique Boust, Bénedicte Thouvenin, Pierre Le Hir, Julien Deloffre, Jean-Louis Gonzalez, and Patrick Gillet

    Conclusions, Claude Amiard-Triquet and Philip S. Rainbow

    Index

    Biography

    Claude Amiard-Triquet, Philip S. Rainbow