... contaminated sediments: Situation in Spain -51-The problematic of contaminated sediments: A g... more ... contaminated sediments: Situation in Spain -51-The problematic of contaminated sediments: A general view of the situation in Spain MJ Belzunce, J. Franco, R. Castro, A. Borja ... An intensive study is has been done in six estuaries: Nervión, Barbadún, Lea, Oka, Butrón and Artibai ...
The European water framework directive (WFD; Directive 2000/60/EC) develops the concept of ecolog... more The European water framework directive (WFD; Directive 2000/60/EC) develops the concept of ecological quality status (EcoQ) for the assessment of the quality of water masses. The EcoQ is based upon the status of biological, hydromorphological and physicochemical quality elements, with biological elements being especially important; and supported by the others. The physico-chemical elements include general variables (such as dissolved oxygen, nutrients, etc.) and specific pollutants. The former correspond to variables measured directly in the water. However, there is no indication about which matrices are to be sampled, or for which specific pollutants. In order to comprehensively assess the ecological status of aquatic systems, all the significant matrices and elements should be addressed, especially those that would most likely affect the biota of the system and those providing relevant information on impacts to them. Sediments are considered to be important in assessment of anthropogenic impacts to coastal and estuarine environments (Ridgway and Shimmield, 2002; Chapman and Wang, 2001). Similarly, biomonitors have been widely used for assessing the contamination of marine ecosystems (Cantillo, 1998; O'Connor, 1998), providing significant information on specific pollutants over relevant resolution time periods. It is highly significant that 'water' is referred to on 373 occasions throughout the WFD, but other matrices, such as sediment or biota (biomonitors), are mentioned explicitly only 7 and 4 times, respectively. On at least three occasions the latter two terms are used in connection with the derivation of environmental quality 42 standards (EQSs), as was outlined by Crane (2003). 43 Hence, Article 2 ('Definitions') defines an EQS as the 44 concentration of a particular pollutant or group of 45 pollutants in water, sediment or biota that should not be 46 exceeded in order to protect human health and the 47
In summer 1998 a well-developed anticyclone was found over Flemish Cap. Intense mesoscale activit... more In summer 1998 a well-developed anticyclone was found over Flemish Cap. Intense mesoscale activity, in form of cyclonic rings surrounding the Bank’s periphery, was observed. This dynamical configuration seems to be relevant on considering the distribution of photic layer fertilization-related parameters.
Localización: Actas de las I Jornadas Internacionales sobre reservas marinas: Murcia 24 al 26 de ... more Localización: Actas de las I Jornadas Internacionales sobre reservas marinas: Murcia 24 al 26 de marzo de 1999/coord. por Jose Luis González Serrano, Silvia Revenga Martínez de Pazos, 2001, ISBN 84-491-0492-0, págs. 359-371
The impacts of global climate change on the Basque coast and the pelagic systems within the south... more The impacts of global climate change on the Basque coast and the pelagic systems within the southeastern Bay of Biscay are reviewed. Climate projections under greenhouse gas emission scenarios indicate that this area will experience changes in climate throughout the 21st century, including warming of surface air (especially heat wave episodes), intensification of extreme daily rainfall (10%), warming of the upper 100 m of the ocean layer (1.5 to 2.05°C), and sea level rise (SLR; 29 to 49 cm). Observations made in the bay throughout the 20th century for air temperature and mean sea level are in agreement with these projections. Trends in ocean-climatic historical observations within the area, including sea temperature, precipitation, upwelling/downwelling, turbulence and wave climate, are also reviewed. The main impacts on the coast are expected to be from SLR, especially in low-lying areas (mostly urbanised) within estuaries. Sandy beaches are also expected to undergo significant mean shoreline retreats of between 25 and 40% of their width. As the sea level rises, the natural migration of saltmarshes and intertidal seagrasses landward will be constrained, in most cases, by existing anthropogenic fixed boundaries. Empirical relationships between the distribution and dynamics of the long-term biological measures (plankton, primary production, benthos, and fisheries) on the one hand, and ocean-climatic variability on the other, indicate that pelagic and coastal water ecosystems will be affected by ocean warming, increased stratification, shifts in anomaly patterns and streamflow regimes. The largest uncertainties are associated with the lack of downscaled projections within the bay on ocean circulation, ocean-meteorological indices, wave climate and ocean acidification.
Low-salinity waters, within the upper layers of the water column, have been observed in the ocean... more Low-salinity waters, within the upper layers of the water column, have been observed in the oceanic region of the southeastern limit of the Bay of Biscay (in March, 2007). This contribution assesses the potential role of large surface freshwater discharges from the Adour (France), Nervión, Oria, Deba, Urola, Urumea and Bidasoa (Basque Country) rivers, to explain the presence of these
The variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) measured in the soft tissues of Mediter... more The variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) measured in the soft tissues of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are investigated. Samples were collected from estuarine waters within the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay), between 2003 and 2011. PAH bioaccumulation showed some seasonality and significant differences were observed between cold (autumn–winter) and warm (spring–summer) seasons. Sites located within the ports of Bilbao and Pasaia showed the highest PAH concentrations in molluscs, and the highest percentages of samples above the established Environmental Quality Standards and Environmental Assessment Criteria. Probably due to human activities carried out in the area, no clear trends were observed, between 2003 and 2011, for the autumn data. Since the Basque coast is an area with high population density and industrial activity, the congener profiles (which reveal the predominance of tetra-aromatics) and the diagnostic ratios identified urban/industrial combustion processes as the main PAH sources. However, natural and petrogenic sources cannot be disregarded.
Las propuestas de publicación deben ser enviadas al siguiente correo electrónico [email protected]. ... more Las propuestas de publicación deben ser enviadas al siguiente correo electrónico [email protected]. Un comité de selección revisará las propuestas y sugerirá los cambios pertinentes antes de su aceptación definitiva.
To do this, egg abundances and environmental data acquired during the Bay of Biscay DEPM survey s... more To do this, egg abundances and environmental data acquired during the Bay of Biscay DEPM survey series, held in May from 1999 to 2002, have been used. The main spawning grounds for each species were identified and the coincidences and dissimilarities in their spatial distribution were analysed, revealing a spatial segregation of the main spawning grounds and a coexistence in secondary spawning grounds.
According to Water Framework Directive requirements, Member States must identify and analyze effe... more According to Water Framework Directive requirements, Member States must identify and analyze effects derived from human pressures in aquatic systems. As different kind of pressures can impact water bodies at different scales, analyses of spatio-temporal evolution of water bodies becomes essential in order to understand ecosystem responses. In this investigation, an analysis of spatio-temporal evolution of sedimentary metal pollution (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) in 12 Basque estuaries (Bay of Biscay) is presented. Data collected in extensive sampling surveys is the basis for the GIS-based statistical approach used. The implementation of pollution abatement measures is reflected in a long-term decontamination process, mostly evident in estuaries with highest historical sediment pollution levels. Spatial evolution is determined by either naturally occurring or human driven processes. Such spatial processes are more obviously being reflected in estuaries with lower historical sediment pollution levels.
In 1997, GLOBEC's SPACC (Small Pelagic Fish and Climate Change) initiative held a joint meeting w... more In 1997, GLOBEC's SPACC (Small Pelagic Fish and Climate Change) initiative held a joint meeting with SCOR Working Group 98 on worldwide, large-scale fluctuations in sardine (Sardinops sagax) and anchovy (Engraulis spp.) populations (Schwartzlose et al., 1999). It was decided then to continue this "global" undertaking with a series of regional workshops. Previous meetings had focused on the Benguela Current in 2001 (Cury and Shannon, 2004), the Humboldt Current in 2002 (Alheit and Niquen, 2004), and Japanese waters in 2003. During the 2005 annual meeting of the former ICES Study Group on Regional Ecology of Small Pelagics (SGRESP)-subsequently ICES/GLOBEC Working Group on Life Cycle and Ecology of Small Pelagic Fish (WGLESP)-it was recommended that this series of workshops be continued with a meeting focusing on the waters surrounding the Iberian Peninsula, including the western Mediterranean Sea. A synthesis of the hydrography, oceanography, and biology of southwestern European waters is presented. The goals of the workshop were to (i) provide a survey of large-scale, long-term changes throughout the ecosystems surrounding the Iberian Peninsula (are there signals of regime shifts in the region?), (ii) identify apparent synchronies (teleconnection patterns) with other regions of the North Atlantic or northern hemisphere, and (iii) gain insight into the causes and mechanisms underlying the major ecosystem changes, e.g. identify possible links of those changes in the ecosystems to climate variability. Testing materials were climatic and oceanographic variables, ecosystem indices (zooplankton and phytoplankton indices), and population indices of small pelagic (catches and recruitment series) in addition to climate-forcing indices at local and worldwide scales. The time-series compiled during the workshop were as broad as possible. In all, 73 data time-series were compiled and classified by type: global climatic and biological indices. With the objective of identifying and analysing oscillations at multi-annual scale in the variability of the time-series, it was decided to work on three case studies: Case study 1 − global region, Atlantic Iberian Peninsula; Case study 2 − local region, Portugal; Case study 3 − local region, Bay of Biscay.
... contaminated sediments: Situation in Spain -51-The problematic of contaminated sediments: A g... more ... contaminated sediments: Situation in Spain -51-The problematic of contaminated sediments: A general view of the situation in Spain MJ Belzunce, J. Franco, R. Castro, A. Borja ... An intensive study is has been done in six estuaries: Nervión, Barbadún, Lea, Oka, Butrón and Artibai ...
The European water framework directive (WFD; Directive 2000/60/EC) develops the concept of ecolog... more The European water framework directive (WFD; Directive 2000/60/EC) develops the concept of ecological quality status (EcoQ) for the assessment of the quality of water masses. The EcoQ is based upon the status of biological, hydromorphological and physicochemical quality elements, with biological elements being especially important; and supported by the others. The physico-chemical elements include general variables (such as dissolved oxygen, nutrients, etc.) and specific pollutants. The former correspond to variables measured directly in the water. However, there is no indication about which matrices are to be sampled, or for which specific pollutants. In order to comprehensively assess the ecological status of aquatic systems, all the significant matrices and elements should be addressed, especially those that would most likely affect the biota of the system and those providing relevant information on impacts to them. Sediments are considered to be important in assessment of anthropogenic impacts to coastal and estuarine environments (Ridgway and Shimmield, 2002; Chapman and Wang, 2001). Similarly, biomonitors have been widely used for assessing the contamination of marine ecosystems (Cantillo, 1998; O'Connor, 1998), providing significant information on specific pollutants over relevant resolution time periods. It is highly significant that 'water' is referred to on 373 occasions throughout the WFD, but other matrices, such as sediment or biota (biomonitors), are mentioned explicitly only 7 and 4 times, respectively. On at least three occasions the latter two terms are used in connection with the derivation of environmental quality 42 standards (EQSs), as was outlined by Crane (2003). 43 Hence, Article 2 ('Definitions') defines an EQS as the 44 concentration of a particular pollutant or group of 45 pollutants in water, sediment or biota that should not be 46 exceeded in order to protect human health and the 47
In summer 1998 a well-developed anticyclone was found over Flemish Cap. Intense mesoscale activit... more In summer 1998 a well-developed anticyclone was found over Flemish Cap. Intense mesoscale activity, in form of cyclonic rings surrounding the Bank’s periphery, was observed. This dynamical configuration seems to be relevant on considering the distribution of photic layer fertilization-related parameters.
Localización: Actas de las I Jornadas Internacionales sobre reservas marinas: Murcia 24 al 26 de ... more Localización: Actas de las I Jornadas Internacionales sobre reservas marinas: Murcia 24 al 26 de marzo de 1999/coord. por Jose Luis González Serrano, Silvia Revenga Martínez de Pazos, 2001, ISBN 84-491-0492-0, págs. 359-371
The impacts of global climate change on the Basque coast and the pelagic systems within the south... more The impacts of global climate change on the Basque coast and the pelagic systems within the southeastern Bay of Biscay are reviewed. Climate projections under greenhouse gas emission scenarios indicate that this area will experience changes in climate throughout the 21st century, including warming of surface air (especially heat wave episodes), intensification of extreme daily rainfall (10%), warming of the upper 100 m of the ocean layer (1.5 to 2.05°C), and sea level rise (SLR; 29 to 49 cm). Observations made in the bay throughout the 20th century for air temperature and mean sea level are in agreement with these projections. Trends in ocean-climatic historical observations within the area, including sea temperature, precipitation, upwelling/downwelling, turbulence and wave climate, are also reviewed. The main impacts on the coast are expected to be from SLR, especially in low-lying areas (mostly urbanised) within estuaries. Sandy beaches are also expected to undergo significant mean shoreline retreats of between 25 and 40% of their width. As the sea level rises, the natural migration of saltmarshes and intertidal seagrasses landward will be constrained, in most cases, by existing anthropogenic fixed boundaries. Empirical relationships between the distribution and dynamics of the long-term biological measures (plankton, primary production, benthos, and fisheries) on the one hand, and ocean-climatic variability on the other, indicate that pelagic and coastal water ecosystems will be affected by ocean warming, increased stratification, shifts in anomaly patterns and streamflow regimes. The largest uncertainties are associated with the lack of downscaled projections within the bay on ocean circulation, ocean-meteorological indices, wave climate and ocean acidification.
Low-salinity waters, within the upper layers of the water column, have been observed in the ocean... more Low-salinity waters, within the upper layers of the water column, have been observed in the oceanic region of the southeastern limit of the Bay of Biscay (in March, 2007). This contribution assesses the potential role of large surface freshwater discharges from the Adour (France), Nervión, Oria, Deba, Urola, Urumea and Bidasoa (Basque Country) rivers, to explain the presence of these
The variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) measured in the soft tissues of Mediter... more The variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) measured in the soft tissues of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are investigated. Samples were collected from estuarine waters within the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay), between 2003 and 2011. PAH bioaccumulation showed some seasonality and significant differences were observed between cold (autumn–winter) and warm (spring–summer) seasons. Sites located within the ports of Bilbao and Pasaia showed the highest PAH concentrations in molluscs, and the highest percentages of samples above the established Environmental Quality Standards and Environmental Assessment Criteria. Probably due to human activities carried out in the area, no clear trends were observed, between 2003 and 2011, for the autumn data. Since the Basque coast is an area with high population density and industrial activity, the congener profiles (which reveal the predominance of tetra-aromatics) and the diagnostic ratios identified urban/industrial combustion processes as the main PAH sources. However, natural and petrogenic sources cannot be disregarded.
Las propuestas de publicación deben ser enviadas al siguiente correo electrónico [email protected]. ... more Las propuestas de publicación deben ser enviadas al siguiente correo electrónico [email protected]. Un comité de selección revisará las propuestas y sugerirá los cambios pertinentes antes de su aceptación definitiva.
To do this, egg abundances and environmental data acquired during the Bay of Biscay DEPM survey s... more To do this, egg abundances and environmental data acquired during the Bay of Biscay DEPM survey series, held in May from 1999 to 2002, have been used. The main spawning grounds for each species were identified and the coincidences and dissimilarities in their spatial distribution were analysed, revealing a spatial segregation of the main spawning grounds and a coexistence in secondary spawning grounds.
According to Water Framework Directive requirements, Member States must identify and analyze effe... more According to Water Framework Directive requirements, Member States must identify and analyze effects derived from human pressures in aquatic systems. As different kind of pressures can impact water bodies at different scales, analyses of spatio-temporal evolution of water bodies becomes essential in order to understand ecosystem responses. In this investigation, an analysis of spatio-temporal evolution of sedimentary metal pollution (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) in 12 Basque estuaries (Bay of Biscay) is presented. Data collected in extensive sampling surveys is the basis for the GIS-based statistical approach used. The implementation of pollution abatement measures is reflected in a long-term decontamination process, mostly evident in estuaries with highest historical sediment pollution levels. Spatial evolution is determined by either naturally occurring or human driven processes. Such spatial processes are more obviously being reflected in estuaries with lower historical sediment pollution levels.
In 1997, GLOBEC's SPACC (Small Pelagic Fish and Climate Change) initiative held a joint meeting w... more In 1997, GLOBEC's SPACC (Small Pelagic Fish and Climate Change) initiative held a joint meeting with SCOR Working Group 98 on worldwide, large-scale fluctuations in sardine (Sardinops sagax) and anchovy (Engraulis spp.) populations (Schwartzlose et al., 1999). It was decided then to continue this "global" undertaking with a series of regional workshops. Previous meetings had focused on the Benguela Current in 2001 (Cury and Shannon, 2004), the Humboldt Current in 2002 (Alheit and Niquen, 2004), and Japanese waters in 2003. During the 2005 annual meeting of the former ICES Study Group on Regional Ecology of Small Pelagics (SGRESP)-subsequently ICES/GLOBEC Working Group on Life Cycle and Ecology of Small Pelagic Fish (WGLESP)-it was recommended that this series of workshops be continued with a meeting focusing on the waters surrounding the Iberian Peninsula, including the western Mediterranean Sea. A synthesis of the hydrography, oceanography, and biology of southwestern European waters is presented. The goals of the workshop were to (i) provide a survey of large-scale, long-term changes throughout the ecosystems surrounding the Iberian Peninsula (are there signals of regime shifts in the region?), (ii) identify apparent synchronies (teleconnection patterns) with other regions of the North Atlantic or northern hemisphere, and (iii) gain insight into the causes and mechanisms underlying the major ecosystem changes, e.g. identify possible links of those changes in the ecosystems to climate variability. Testing materials were climatic and oceanographic variables, ecosystem indices (zooplankton and phytoplankton indices), and population indices of small pelagic (catches and recruitment series) in addition to climate-forcing indices at local and worldwide scales. The time-series compiled during the workshop were as broad as possible. In all, 73 data time-series were compiled and classified by type: global climatic and biological indices. With the objective of identifying and analysing oscillations at multi-annual scale in the variability of the time-series, it was decided to work on three case studies: Case study 1 − global region, Atlantic Iberian Peninsula; Case study 2 − local region, Portugal; Case study 3 − local region, Bay of Biscay.
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