%0 Journal Article %J ICES Journal of Marine Science %D 2018 %T Marine sublittoral benthos fails to track temperature in response to climate change in a biogeographical transition zone %A François Gaudin %A Nicolas Desroy %A Stanislas Dubois %A Caroline Broudin %A Louis Cabioch %A Jérôme Fournier %A Franck Gentil %A Jacques Grall %A Céline Houbin %A Patrick Le Mao %A Eric Thiébaut %X
Species ranges are shifting globally to track temperature changes in response to climate warming, with substantial variability among taxa. In
the English Channel, a biogeographical transition zone between the cold temperate and warm temperate provinces of the North-East Atlantic, distribution shifts have been relatively well documented for plankton, fish and intertidal benthic organisms, but little information is available on sublittoral benthos. Following a description of the magnitude of the sea bottom temperature (SBT) rise, the changes in the distribution and occupancy of 65 benthic invertebrate species were analysed by comparing data collected throughout the English Channel at more
than 200 stations sampled during a cool period in the 1960s–1970s and at present in 2012–2014. A non-uniform rise in SBT for the last three
decades was observed at the regional scale, varying from 0.07 to 0.54C per decade. This rise differs from that reported for sea surface temperature
(SST) in stratified areas suggesting that SBT should be used rather than SST to analyse responses of subtidal organisms to climate change. Despite shifts in both minimum and maximum sea bottom isotherms (2.5 and 3.2 km.year1, respectively), the distribution centroid shift of most species remained <1.0 km.year1, regardless of the average temperatures they usually experience. Conversely, decreases were observed in the occurrence of most cold-water species and increases were found in the occurrence of most warm-water species. These results suggest that ongoing climate change could lead to a decrease in benthic biodiversity at range limits, especially where connection routes are lacking for new migrants.
The relationship between foraging shorebirds, macrobenthos and sedimentary parameters has been widely studied across Western Europe. Megatidal areas have large zones uncovered when the water retreats. Consequently, in such cases, the tide also influences foraging activities. This paper examines the use of an intertidal space by waders to define how macrobenthic resource concentrates foraging activity of birds in a large megatidal sandflat. This approach combines accurate spatial distribution of waders (Oystercatcher, Eurasian curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit and Redknot) according to their activity with ecological/biological parameters. A differential exploitation of the flat is clearly shown, with macrobenthic biomass appearing as one of the main explanatory factor for the four species considered on the western part of the bay and altitude (shore elevation) in the eastern part. The novelty of this study relates to the large area, also presumed to be a functional unit, while considering at the same time the singularities of the different parts of the flat. This multi-scale approach identifies important factors influencing the differential distribution patterns observed. The different selected parameters present an important variability in their contribution, underlining the complexity of explaining the distribution of foraging birds. Consequently, the study of such complex phenomena needs to consider additional variables to improve the relevance of explanatory models.
%B Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science %G eng %R 10.1016/j.ecss.2016.05.023 %0 Journal Article %J Revue d'Ecologie (Terre et Vie) %D 2016 %T Morpho-sedimentology of coastal natural sites colonized by Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) %A Jérôme Fournier %A Alexandre Corbeau %A Patrick Le Mao %XMorpho-sedimentology of coastal natural sites colonized by Sand Martin (Riparia riparia). — The Sand Martin or Bank Swallow Riparia riparia returns annually to a same site to establish a colony. These sites are natural or anthropogenic origin but are still subject to permanent changes. The species is characterized by its ability to dig tunnels in which it carries out its reproductive cycle. Several authors have attempted to identify the criteria used by the swallows to choose a favourable site to the installation of a colony. Among the many parameters that can help explain the location of colonies, morpho-sedimentary settings have been poorly documented. Among abiotic factors, the composition of the soil particles seems to play an important role in the depth of the tunnels which is directly proportional to the reproductive success. The aim of this article is to contribute to explore the morpho-sedimentary parameters of two colonies localized in coastal area. We investigated the supposed effect of morpho-sedimentary parameters on the presence and layout of tunnels, their depth and if the colonized sites have different characteristics from nearby favourable but not colonized sites. We took into consideration several morphological parameters of the colonies and sampled sediments, which were analysed and compared using statistical tests and linear regression. We show that, in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel, Bank Swallows do not choose their nesting site depending on the nature of the sediment unlike what was proposed in a previous study on a continental site. For each site, we were only able to find tenuous differences between colonized and no colonized sites. The swallows have all chosen the same sedimentary strata regardless of the site. The choice of this stratum is linked mainly to the limitation of the risk of flooding but also to the fact that the uppermost stratum that supports vegetation is more difficult to be excavated due to the presence of roots and rhizomes. The characteristics of sedimentary material are however structuring in the depth of the tunnels.
%B Revue d'Ecologie (Terre et Vie) %V 71 %G eng %N 1 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Sea Research %D 2015 %T Exploitation of intertidal feeding ressources by the red knot Calidris canutus under megatidal conditions (Bay of Saint-Brieuc, France) %A Anthony Sturbois %A Alain Ponsero %A Nicolas Desroy %A Patrick Le Mao %A Jérôme Fournier %B Journal of Sea Research %V 96 %P 23-30 %G eng %0 Book Section %B Atlas Permanent de la mer et du littoral %D 2015 %T Invertébrés marins introduits dans le Golfe Normand-Breton depuis 1920 %A Laurent Godet %A Patrick Le Mao %A Eric Thiébaut %A Christian Retière %A Louis Cabioc'h %A Franck Gentil %A Nicolas Desroy %A Jérôme Fournier %B Atlas Permanent de la mer et du littoral %I Université de Nantes %C Nantes %V 7 %G eng %0 Book Section %B Atlas des mammifères de Bretagne %D 2015 %T Milieux de vie des mammifères de Bretagne %A Jérôme Fournier %A Patrick Le Mao %A Franck Simmonet %B Atlas des mammifères de Bretagne %7 GMB %I Locus Solus %C Loperec %P 16-29 %G eng