Natural oligotrophy vs. pollution-induced eutrophy on the SE Mediterranean shallow shelf (Israel): Environmental parameters and benthic foraminifera

Orit Hyams-Kaphzan; Ahuva Almogi-Labin; Chaim Benjamini; Barak Herut

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.010

Natural oligotrophy vs. pollution-induced eutrophy on the SE Mediterranean shallow shelf (Israel): Environmental parameters and benthic foraminifera

Orit Hyams-Kaphzan, Ahuva Almogi-Labin, Chaim Benjamini, Barak Herut

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

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 O_2, 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1888-1902
Number of pages	15
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	58
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.010
State	Published - 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

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.

Keywords

Activated sludge
Eastern Mediterranean
Eutrophy
Living benthic foraminifera
Oligotrophy
Organic carbon

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.010

Cite this

@article{a76a33097d084e558dac33260e34f582,

title = "Natural oligotrophy vs. pollution-induced eutrophy on the SE Mediterranean shallow shelf (Israel): Environmental parameters and benthic foraminifera",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Activated sludge, Eastern Mediterranean, Eutrophy, Living benthic foraminifera, Oligotrophy, Organic carbon",

author = "Orit Hyams-Kaphzan and Ahuva Almogi-Labin and Chaim Benjamini and Barak Herut",

note = "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. ",

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doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.010",

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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

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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.

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KW - Living benthic foraminifera

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KW - Organic carbon

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SN - 0025-326X

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JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

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ER -

Natural oligotrophy vs. pollution-induced eutrophy on the SE Mediterranean shallow shelf (Israel): Environmental parameters and benthic foraminifera

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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