贵州省草海表层水体和沉积物间隙水中汞的含量和形态分布初步研究

运用金汞齐-冷原子荧光光谱法(CVAFS)和气相色谱技术(GC),对贵州省草海不同水文季节(枯水期和丰水期)表层水中汞的各种赋存形态,包括总汞(HgT)、溶解态汞(HgD)、活性汞(HgR)、颗粒态汞(HgP)、总甲基汞(MeHgT)、溶解态甲基汞(MeHgD)和颗粒态甲基汞(MeHgP)以及沉积物间隙水剖面中的溶解态总汞和甲基汞含量进行了测定.结果显示:草海表层水体总汞浓度为1.7-9.0ng/L,活性汞浓度为0.06-1.4ng/L,总甲基汞浓度为0.11-0.67ng/L.沉积物间隙水中溶解态汞浓度为8.6-39.6ng/L,溶解态甲基汞浓度为0.11-4.9ng/L.实验数据表明,草海湖水以溶解态汞为主,其占总汞的比例为枯水期87%,丰水期51%,溶解态汞与总汞呈显著相关(丰水期P<0.01;枯水期P<0.05),颗粒态汞与总汞也呈显著相关(丰水期P<0.01;枯水期P<0.05).溶解态甲基汞与总甲基汞呈显著相关(丰水期P<0.01;枯水期P<0.05),表明溶解态甲基汞控制总甲基汞的分布.沉积物间隙水溶解态汞与溶解态甲基汞浓度明显高于上覆水体,表明沉积物为草海湖水中汞的一个重要来源.     

三峡水库上游长寿湖浮游藻类的季节变化特征及关键环境影响因子

基于2013年3月-2014年2月的长寿湖浮游藻类以及水质的监测结果,分析浮游藻类物种组成、密度以及多样性指数的季节动态,利用非度量多维尺度和相似性分析检验不同季节浮游藻类群落差异,同时利用典范对应分析法确定影响不同季节浮游藻类群落结构的关键环境因子.结果表明:泽丝藻(Limnothrix sp.)、小尖头藻(Raphidiopsis sp.)、汉斯冠盘藻(Stephanodiscus hantzschii)、具尾逗隐藻(Komma caudata)、鞘丝藻(Lyngbya sp.)和马索隐藻(Cryptomonas marssonii)为长寿湖优势种群,不同季节间浮游藻类群落组成结构存在较大差异.浮游藻类群落结构以春季最为简单,夏季次之,秋、冬季最为复杂.不同季节影响浮游藻类群落结构的环境因子差异较大,水温和营养盐是影响浮游藻类群落结构最重要的环境因子,光照强度、高锰酸盐指数、氧化还原电位、溶解有机碳在秋、冬季节同样成为影响浮游藻类群落结构的关键环境因子.     

2005-2017年北部太湖水体叶绿素a和营养盐变化及影响因素

利用国家生态观测网络太湖湖泊生态系统研究站对北部太湖14个监测点2005-2017年的营养盐和叶绿素a浓度逐月监测数据,分析了北部太湖2005年以来水体营养盐和叶绿素a变化特征,探讨了叶绿素变化的影响因素.结果表明,2015年以来,北部太湖水体叶绿素a浓度呈现显著增高特征,特别是5-7月的蓝藻水华灾害关键期,水体叶绿素a浓度增幅更加明显;营养盐方面,氮、磷对治理的响应完全不同：水体总氮、溶解性总氮、氨氮的降幅很明显,甚至在春末夏初的蓝藻生长旺盛期出现了供给不足的征兆;但水体总磷降幅却不明显,加之蓝藻水华的磷"泵吸作用",近3 a来水体总磷浓度反而有升高趋势,溶解性总磷浓度也无明显下降趋势.不同湖区的营养盐变化也不相同：西北湖区溶解性总氮、溶解性总磷浓度显著高于梅梁湾、贡湖湾和湖心区,而且后3个湖区的水质呈现均一化趋势.统计分析表明,北部太湖水体叶绿素a浓度与颗粒氮、颗粒磷、总磷、高锰酸盐指数均呈显著正相关,与溶解态氮呈负相关;5-7月水华关键期北部太湖水体叶绿素a浓度与上半年（1-6月）逐日水温积温、总降雨量、年平均水位均呈显著正相关关系.从研究结果可以看出,近年来北部太湖水体叶绿素a浓度的波动很大程度上受水文气象因子的影响;2007年以来太湖流域一系列生态修复工程的实施,虽然明显降低了湖泊氮浓度,但由于流域和湖体的氮磷本底较高,磷的缓冲能力大,致使水体营养盐水平仍未降到能显著抑制蓝藻生长的水平,年际之间的水文气象条件差异成为蓝藻水华暴发强度差异的主控因素.为此,仍需加大对太湖流域氮、磷负荷的削减,使湖体氮、磷浓度降低到能显著影响蓝藻生长的水平,才能摆脱水文气象条件对蓝藻水华情势的决定作用.     

Laboratory and field studies of the accumulation of inorganic mercury by the mussel Mytilus edulis (L.)

Laboratory and field experiments have been used to indicate the relative importance of mercury in dissolved and particulate phases as sources of mercury to mussels in a contaminated estuary. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that mussels can accumulate inorganic mercury from sea-water, phytoplankton, and suspended sediment. Following exposure, concentrations were normally higher in the gills, digestive gland, and kidneys than in the adductor muscle, mantle, and foot, and the distribution of mercury between organs varied according to source. The relative bioavailabilities of inorganic mercury in water, phytoplankton, and sediment are estimated to be in the ratios 10:5:1. Mussels exposed for four weeks in a mercury-contaminated estuary accumulated primarily inorganic mercury from suspended sediment at the seaward end of the estuary, but further upstream uptake from solution and of methylmercury compounds were more important.     

西藏拉鲁湿地浮游植物群落时空分布特征及其驱动因子

为了解西藏拉鲁湿地浮游植物群落时空分布特征及其驱动因子,于2021年7月、10月和2022年5月在拉鲁湿地主要水系进行定性和定量样品采集,共采集浮游植物水样126个,从不同季节和不同生境浮游植物种类组成、多样性等方面入手,探讨拉鲁湿地浮游植物群落时空分布特征及其驱动因子,为研究拉鲁湿地生态系统和稳定发展提供基础资料。结果表明:1)拉鲁湿地共鉴定出浮游植物532种(含变种和变型),隶属于8门13纲36目74科130属,物种组成表现为硅藻-绿藻-蓝藻型。2)拉鲁湿地浮游植物群落特征参数在不同季节和不同生境之间存在差异。夏季浮游植物群落的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数显著高于秋季和春季,Simpson优势度指数显著高于秋季。秋季浮游植物群落的Pielou均匀度指数显著低于夏季和春季。春季浮游植物群落的Margalef丰富度指数显著低于夏季和秋季。沼泽生境的浮游植物群落的Margalef丰富度指数显著高于湿草甸生境。3)季节是浮游植物群落组成差异的关键因素,生境对浮游植物群落组成的影响较弱,夏季的距离衰减模式比秋季和春季更强。4)拉鲁湿地不同的浮游植物群落参数与不同环境因子之间存在显著的关联。5)空间因素在解释浮游植物群落变异方面具有显著贡献,而快速变化的水质变量在决定浮游植物的季节变化中起着重要作用。季节和缓慢变化水质因子的解释能力相对较弱,但仍对浮游植物群落的变异有一定影响。     

Species diversity and distribution for phytoplankton of the Pearl River estuary during rainy and dry seasons

Based on data collected at 31 stations and 1 continuous station in the Pearl River estuary during cruises of July 1999 (rainy season) and January 2001 (dry season), this study examined taxonomic composition, abundance, and spatial distribution of phytoplankton. Results indicated 130 species of phytoplankton in the samples from the rainy season, and 132 species in the dry season. Among them, in the rainy season, 82 species of diatom, 39 fresh-water and half-fresh-water species and 41 species of red tide organisms were found. Within these, there were 54 tropical and sub-tropical species, 47 cosmopolitan species and 17 temperate species. The abundance of phytoplankton in the rainy season was higher than that of the dry season, with an average of 6.3 x 10(5) cells x L(-1) and 1.4 x 10(5) cells x L(-1), respectively. Diversity index (H') and evenness (J) were 2.47 and 0.57 in the rainy season, and 2.01 and 0.54 in the dry season. The dominant phytoplankton species in the rainy season was Skeletonema costatum with an average of 2.8 x 10(5) cells x L(-1) and 45.0% of the total phytoplankton abundance. In the dry season, Eucampia zoodiacus became the key dominant species (5.9 x 10(4) cells x L(-1)) when it was 43.47% of the total phytoplankton abundance. Distribution of the dominant species varied with salinity of sea-water, and their amounts correlated negatively with nutrients and zooplankton.     

Depth profiles of lithogenic and anthropogenic mercury in the sediments from Thane Creek,Mumbai, India

Mercury（Hg） is well known as one of the most toxic elements to man.The coastal environments adjacent to industrial areas are reported to often be contaminated with mercury.Mercury becomes more toxic in the form of methylmercury（Me-Hg） which is converted from inorganic mercury in aqueous systems by microbial activity and can bio-magnify through the food chain.A simple method for the determination of total mercury and methylmercury in sediments was optimized by slightly modifying an old method using the direct mercury analyzer technique.Core sediment samples from Thane Creek,Mumbai,India were collected and analysed for total mercury and methylmercury.The Hg concentration in the creek varied between 0.54 to 16.03 μg g~（-1） while Me-Hg concentrations ranged between0.04 to 1.07 μg g~（-1）.In surface sediment,mercury concentrations ranged from 4.33 μg g~（-1） to 12.16μg g~（-1）.Total organic carbon content was found to be around 2 percent in different layers of the sediments.The enrichment factors,which indicate the extent of pollution in sediments,were estimated to range from 26 to 50 at different locations in the creek.Lithogenic and anthropogenic concentrations of mercury in the creek were also determined to compare the impact of anthropogenic and natural sources.Anthropogenic inventories were about 5-70 times more in concentration than the lithogenic in the different core sediments.     

Evidence of methylmercury production and modification of the microbial community structure in estuary sediments contaminated with wastewater treatment plant effluents

The Seine’s estuary (France) waters are the receptacle of effluents originating from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this estuary, mudflats are deposition zones for sediments and their associated contaminants, and play an essential role in the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle mainly due to indigenous microorganisms. Microcosms were used to assess the impact of WWTP-effluents on mercury methylation by monitoring Hg species (total dissolved Hg in porewater, methylmercury and total mercury) and on microbial communities in sediments. After effluent amendment, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations increased in relation with the total Hg and organic matter content of the WWTP-effluents. A correlation was observed between MeHg and acid-volatile-sulfides concentrations. Quantification of sulfate-reducing microorganisms involved in Hg methylation showed no increase of their abundance but their activity was probably enhanced by the organic matter supplied with the effluents. WWTP-effluent spiking modified the bacterial community fingerprint, mainly influenced by Hg contamination and the organic matter amendment.     

贵州高原水库冬季浮游植物中汞及甲基汞分布特征

为了解贵州高原水库浮游植物中汞和甲基汞的分布特征及浮游植物对汞及甲基汞的富集特点,于2012年12月对贵州省的5座高原水库中浮游植物和汞形态进行采样调查.研究结果表明:冬季贵州高原水库浮游植物群落主要是由硅藻组成,5座水库浮游植物丰度有明显差异.百花湖大坝处浮游植物丰度最高,为29.05×104cells/L;三板溪水库浮游植物丰度最低,仅为0.49×104cells/L.浮游植物中总汞和甲基汞的浓度分别在29.29~277.07 ng/g和1.12~10.93 ng/g之间,总汞含量以百花湖岩脚寨最高,甲基汞含量以百花湖大坝最高.总汞和甲基汞在浮游植物中的生物富集系数分别在1.42×104~9.78×104和3.10×104~4.43×105之间.在浮游植物富集无机汞及甲基汞的系数中,百花湖中浮游植物对无机汞生物富集系数最高,而红枫湖中浮游植物对甲基汞的生物富集系数最高.浮游植物种类组成不同对汞及甲基汞的生物富集有影响.浮游植物中的总汞与水体中的总汞、甲基汞和溶解态甲基汞都存在显著的相关关系,浮游植物中的甲基汞与水体中的总汞及甲基汞不存在显著相关性.甲基汞在浮游植物中富集不是简单的吸收,存在着影响甲基汞在浮游植物中富集的其它因素.浮游植物中的甲基汞与水体富营养化环境因子(透明度、总氮、硝氮)均呈负相关关系,表明水体富营养化的程度不同对浮游植物中的甲基汞浓度有影响.     

Spatiotemporal variability of hypoxia and eutrophication in Manila Bay,Philippines during the northeast and southwest monsoons

Hypoxia in Manila Bay, Philippines was previously reported during the northeast monsoon (dry season) in February 2010. In this study, four more field surveys of the same 31 stations were conducted in July 2010, August 2011 and 2012 (wet season, southwest monsoon), and February 2011 (dry season, northeast monsoon). During the wet season, bottom hypoxia spread northward towards the coast with dissolved oxygen (DO) ranging from 0.12 to 9.22 mg/L and the bay-wide average reaching 2.10 mg/L. Nutrient levels were elevated, especially near the bottom where dissolved inorganic nitrogen reached 22.3 μM (July 2010) and phosphorus reached 5.61 μM (August 2011). High nutrient concentrations often coincided with low near-bottom DO content. Our work builds on the preliminary assessment of hypoxia in Manila Bay, the importance of repeated temporal studies, and shows hypoxia to prevail significantly during the southwest monsoon (wet season) when increased freshwater discharge caused strong water column stratification.     

贵州百花湖麦西河河口浮游植物群落结构及与环境因子关系

2009年7月至2010年6月,以每月一次的频率对百花湖(水库)麦西河河口浮游植物群落结构和环境因子进行调查.监测到浮游植物66种(属),浮游植物主要由绿藻、硅藻和蓝藻组成,夏秋季湖泊假鱼腥藻(Pseudanabaena limnetica)为优势浮游植物,而冬春季梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghinia...     

Fate and tidal transport of butyltin and mercury compounds in the waters of the tropical Bach Dang Estuary (Haiphong, Vietnam)

In this work, two field campaigns were performed in July 2008 (wet season) and March 2009 (dry season) to produce original data on the concentration, partition and distribution of mercury and butyltin compounds along the tropical Bach Dang Estuary located in North Vietnam (Haiphong, Red River Delta). The results demonstrate that mercury and butyltin speciation in the surface waters of this type of tropical estuary is greatly affected by the drastic changes in the seasonal conditions. During high river discharge in the wet season, there was a large estuarine input of total Hg and tributyltin, while the longer residence time of the waters during the dry season promotes increasing MMHg formation and TBT degradation. Although most of the Hg and TBT is transported into the estuary from upstream sources, tidal cycle measurements demonstrate that this estuary is a significant source of TBT and MMHg during the wet (～3kgTBT/day) and dry (～3gMMHg/day) seasons.     

Indicators of sediment and biotic mercury contamination in a southern New England estuary

Total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were analyzed in near surface sediments (0-2 cm) and biota (zooplankton, macro-invertebrates, finfish) collected from Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island/Massachusetts, USA) and adjacent embayments and tidal rivers. Spatial patterns in sediment contamination were governed by the high affinity of Hg for total organic carbon (TOC). Sediment MeHg and percent MeHg were also inversely related to summer bottom water dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, presumably due to the increased activity of methylating bacteria. For biota, Hg accumulation was influenced by inter-specific habitat preferences and trophic structure, and sediments with high TOC and percent silt-clay composition limited mercury bioavailability. Moreover, hypoxic bottom water limited Hg bioaccumulation, which is possibly mediated by a reduction in biotic foraging, and thus, dietary uptake of mercury. Finally, most biota demonstrated a significant positive relationship between tissue and TOC-normalized sediment Hg, but relationships were much weaker or absent for sediment MeHg. These results have important implications for the utility of estuarine biota as subjects for mercury monitoring programs.     

Spatio-temporal variability of phytoplankton assemblages in the Pearl River estuary, with special reference to the influence of turbidity and temperature

The Pearl River Estuary is among the largest estuaries in the subtropical areas of the world. Along the salinity and turbidity gradient between the freshwater reach of the Pearl River and the marine water of the South China Sea, the spatial and temporal composition and abundance of phytoplankton was examined in relation to physic-chemical variables during the dry and wet seasons of 2009. Water samples for phytoplankton and environmental parameters were collected from 18 stations during two seasons along a transect from upper estuary to estuarine and marine sectors. A total of 162 species belonging to 7 phyla were identified, with diatoms dominated in both seasons while dinoflagellates proliferated in autumn. Two main clusters and three sub-clades under each main cluster corresponding to seasons and water sectors were defined with multivariate analysis (cluster and nMDS). Based on the species composition and abundance of phytoplankton, both seasonal and spatial variability were observed at a significant level (ANOSIM: season effect, R=0.896, P<0.01; station effect, R=0.463, P<0.01). The correlation analysis between biotic and abiotic variables indicated that instead of the “proverbial” anthropogenic nutrients loading and salinity gradient, the best 2-variable combination (temperature and turbidity) showed a significant effect on the pattern of phytoplankton assemblages (ρ_w=0.49, BIOENV analysis) between wet and dry seasons in the Pearl River Estuary. This result suggests that physical disturbance either natural or manmade is a more important factor in regulating the phytoplankton community structure within the hydrologically distinct zone of estuaries.     

Phytoplankton distributions and their relationship with the environment in the Changjiang Estuary, China

This study was carried out in the Changjiang Estuary from 19 to 26 May 2003. Based on the data collected from 29 stations, including two anchor stations, phytoplankton taxonomic composition, abundance, diurnal variability and spatial distribution were examined. Eighty-seven species, including 54 species of diatoms and 16 red tide causative species, were identified. Average diversity index (H') and evenness (J) values were 1.04 and 0.40, respectively. A bloom in abundance of certain phytoplankton species, especially Prorocentrum dentatum and Skeletonema costatum, was thought to be the cause of the low diversity index and evenness values. Total phytoplankton abundance averaged 6.75 x 10(5)cells l(-1), and was much higher than previous investigation carried out in the same month in 1986. Abundance increased seaward showing a distinct spatial difference, and the dominant species varied with salinity. Correlation between phosphorus and abundance further supported the former conclusion that phosphorus is the controlling factor in phytoplankton growth in the Changjiang Estuary where light is not limiting. Based on the relationship between DO, pH and abundance, it is likely that the bloom was caused by rapid in situ growth of phytoplankton with high nutrients and sufficient light. The data also indicated that the duration of the bloom was not long and 相似文献   

Phytoplankton abundance, biomass and diversity within and between Pantanal wetland habitats

During the high water season, the flooding reduces environmental heterogeneity in aquatic ecosystems of the Pantanal wetland. When the water level recedes, lakes and channels are formed as individual systems. Therefore, we expected the spatial heterogeneity during the low water phase resulting in changes on biological communities leading to high phytoplankton abundance, biomass and diversity within and between habitats. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed eight freshwater systems (five oxbow lakes, two channels, and the river) during the low water period. Phytoplankton biomass, abundance, diversity (alpha, beta, gamma) and diversity metrics as richness (species per sample), Shannon diversity (H′) and evenness were measured in all systems along with nutrient concentrations, zooplankton and bacteria abundances. We found 97 species as gamma diversity. The alpha diversity was unexpectedly low in comparison to most other South American floodplain systems (38 species in river, 24 in channels and 29 in lakes). Also, the systems are relatively similar in composition (beta diversity, 28%). Connectivity differences between systems highlighted differences in phytoplankton abundance and biomass (fresh weight) ranging from 1428 ind mL⁻¹ (river) to 3710 ind mL⁻¹ (lakes) and from 0.71 mg L⁻¹ (river) to 2.9 mg L⁻¹ (lakes), respectively. However, our results did not indicate significant differences in phytoplankton species richness between the systems during the low water. Our main conclusions are that local factors may be responsible for changes on phytoplankton community and the time of isolation during the low water phase was not sufficient to promote changes in phytoplankton diversity between the habitats.     

Temporal and spatial distributions of nutrients under the influence of human activities in Sishili Bay,northern Yellow Sea of China

The temporal and spatial distributions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and dissolved reactive silica (DRSi) together with chlorophyll-a, temperature and salinity were analyzed monthly from December 2008 to March 2010 at four zones in Sishili Bay located in the northern Yellow Sea. The nutrient distribution was impacted by seasonal factors (biotic factors, temperature and wet deposition), physical factors (water exchange) and anthropogenic loadings. The seasonal variations of nutrients were mainly determined by the seasonal factors and the spatial distribution of nutrients was mainly related to water exchange. Anthropogenic loadings for DIN, SRP and DRSi were mainly from point sources, but for DON, non-point sources were also important. Nutrient limitation has changed from DIN in 1997 to SRP and DRSi in 2010, and this has resulted in changes in the dominant red tide species from diatom to dinoflagellates.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton composition and biomass in 15 subtropical, urban shallow lakes in Wuhan, China

This study aims at investigating the composition and biomass of the phytoplankton community in 15 urban shallow eutrophic lakes as well as the effects of main environmental factors, including nutrient concentrations and the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus, temperature, COD, BOD, water depth, etc. on the phytoplankton community structure. Lake water samples were taken and analyzed on a bimonthly basis during the period from March 2004 to March 2006. The redundancy analysis (RDA) and regression analysis (RA) were performed to identify the effects of nutrients on the phytoplankton community and biomass in these typical urban lakes. The results indicate that most of these urban lakes were hypertrophic due to high concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN), with mean levels of 490 and 5380 mg m⁻³, respectively. The phytoplankton community was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and Euglena caudate in summer and Cryptomonas ovata and Cyclotella meneghiniana in winter. The mean biomass of the phytoplankton reached 456.87 mg L⁻¹ in summer months and the annual level was 189.24 mg L⁻¹. Temperature and TP content were found to be the principal limiting factors for phytoplankton growth on an annual basis. On the other hand, the results of RDA and RA demonstrate that the dominant phytoplankton species were not nutrient-limited during summer months. Low TN:TP ratios (<10) were detected accompanied with fewer occurrences of N-fixing cyanobacteria and other filamentous algae in most lakes in summer, which implies that low N:P ratio does not always shifts the dominance of phytoplankton community to the N-fixing cyanobacteria. Moreover, TP always had higher correlation with chlorophyll a (Chl-a) than TN, even when the TN:TP ratios of most samples were lower than 10. Therefore, it is concluded that the TN:TP ratio is not always a suitable index to determine whether nitrogen or phosphorus limits the phytoplankton biomass in urban shallow eutrophic lakes.     

Variations of phytoplankton productivity and biomass over an annual cycle in Saanich Inlet,a British Columbia fjord

Saanich Inlet is a highly productive temperate fjord with the capability to record inter-annual patterns of water-column primary production in undisturbed laminated sediments. We investigated spatial and temporal variations in primary productivity, total and size-fractionated phytoplankton chl a, dissolved nutrients, temperature and salinity at the head and mouth of Saanich Inlet from May 2005 to November 2006. New primary productivity was also measured from May to October 2006. During the growing season (spring, summer and fall), primary productivity was 1.5 times higher at the mouth than at the head of Saanich Inlet and, averaged across stations, total productivity was 460 g C m⁻² y⁻¹. Average new productivity was 53% and 58% of total primary productivity at the head and mouth of the inlet, respectively, and during the growing season micro-phytoplankton (>20 μm; mainly diatoms) was the most abundant size-class of phytoplankton. These rates of primary production are as high as or higher than those measured in other fjords, possibly because of a tidally-driven fortnightly gravity exchange that supplies nutrients to surface waters that enhance biological production when nutrients would otherwise be limiting. This exchange delivers nutrients at least as far inland as the head station, while nutrients associated with an eddy near the mouth may be the cause of even higher productivity there. We discuss the impact of these nutrient sources to Saanich Inlet on the records of paleoproduction generated from two Ocean Drilling Program cores extracted from this fjord, and suggest that the fortnightly exchange buffers variations in nutrient supply occurring on sub-decadal or decadal scales.     

Impacts of an uncontrolled phosphogypsum dumpsite on summer distribution of phytoplankton, copepods and ciliates in relation to abiotic variables along the near-shore of the southwestern Mediterranean coast

In connection with the Taparura Project, studies of spatial distribution of the crustacean zooplankton community, nutrients, phytoplankton and ciliates were conducted in July 2007 at 45 stations spread over fifteen transects along the coast north of Sfax. The results showed that the N/P ratio was lower than the Redfield ratio, suggesting potential N limitation. Phytoplankton was characterised by the proliferation of several diatoms, while ciliates were largely dominated by spirotrichs. Copepods were the most abundant zooplankton present during the entire study period, comprising 61% of the total zooplankton community. Twelve copepod families were identified at every station, with a high percentage of Oithonidae (77% of copepods) dominated by Oithona nana. The abundance of this species was correlated with that of diatoms, Cocoolithophorideae and ciliated Colpodea, suggesting that O. nana may feed on a wide range of prey. Despite human pressure and industrial activities, the coastal waters north of Sfax showed a wide diversity of phytoplankton, ciliates and zooplankton.