Laboratory of Recent and Fossil Bio-Indicators, CNRS UMR 6122 LPGN, University of Angers, 2 Boulevard Lavoisier, 49045 Angers Cedex, France.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2012 Sep;64(9):1895-910. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.06.016. Epub 2012 Jul 15.
Benthic foraminiferal assemblages were investigated from two sites along the axis of the Cassidaigne Canyon (NW Mediterranean Sea). Both areas are contaminated by bauxite red mud enriched in iron, titanium, vanadium and chromium. These elemental enrichments are related to bauxite-derived minerals and various amorphous phases. At the shallowest station located very close to the pipe outlet, the benthic living foraminiferal community is characterised by a very low diversity and by an unusual dominance of Gyroidina umbonata and Bulimina marginata. The mechanical stress related to downslope transport of red mud is a likely source of hydro-sedimentary pollution precluding the settlement of diverse fauna. The living and dead foraminiferal faunas from the deepest site are typical of oligo-mesotrophic conditions prevailing in natural environments. There, bauxite residues have obviously no environmental impact on foraminiferal faunas. The bioavailability of trace metals is likely low as elemental enrichments were not observed in foraminiferal test chemistry.
对卡西迪涅峡谷轴线上的两个地点的底栖有孔虫组合进行了调查（西北地中海）。这两个地区都受到富含铁、钛、钒和铬的铝土矿红泥的污染。这些元素的富集与铝土矿衍生的矿物和各种无定形相有关。在最浅的站点，位于非常靠近管道出口的地方，底栖有孔虫生物群落的多样性非常低，并且 Gyroidina umbonata 和 Bulimina marginata 的异常优势。与红泥向下坡运输相关的机械应力是水-沉积物污染的一个可能来源，排除了多种动物群的定居。最深站点的活体和死体有孔虫动物群是寡营养条件的典型代表，在自然环境中普遍存在。在那里，铝土矿残渣显然对有孔虫动物群没有环境影响。痕量金属的生物利用度可能较低，因为在有孔虫测试化学中没有观察到元素富集。
