Abstract
Among the 90 fishspecies censused in the Mont Saint-Michel Bay (France), 23 colonise and forage in the salt marshes during flood. Therefore, this environment may play an important trophic and nursery role for these species. This community is largely dominated by mullets (81% of the biomass), Liza ramada and secondarily L. aurata. But gobies (mainly Pomatoschistus minutus and P. lozanoĂŻ) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) are also present; they represent respectively 11% and 4% of the biomass. During the tide cycles, mullets export from salt marshes about % of their body weight (FW) containing a mixture of sediment (43%), organic matter (24%) and water (33%). Gobies and sea bass mainly feed on dwelling macro-invertebrates, and they export respectively 4.5% and 10% of their body weight during a tide cycle. Thus, we estimated that 50 tonnes year-1 of particulate organic matter (dry weight POM) are exported from the 4000 ha of salt marshes to the marine coastal waters. These fish communities appear to be POM transporters and could play a significant role in the global energy budgets of coastal environments such as Mont Saint-Michel Bay. According to the seasons and the years, the energy exported by fish communities is assumed to range between 0 and 10% of the total POM output.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albertini-Berhault, J., 1973. Biologie des stades juvéniles de téleostéens mugilidae Mugil aurata Risso, 1810, Mugil Capito Cuvier, 1829 et Mugil Saliens Risso, 1810. 1. Régime alimentaire. Aquaculture 2: 251–266.
Albertini-Berhault, J., 1980. Biologie des stades juvéniles de Mugilidae dans la région marseillaise. Thesis, University of Aix-Marseille 2, 156 pp.
Almeida, P. R., F. Moreira, J. L. Costa, A. Assis & M. J. Costa, 1993. The feeding strategies of Liza ramada (Risso, 1826) in fresh and brackish water in the river Tagus, Portugal. J. Fish Biol. 42: 95–107.
Beillois, R., D. Desaunay, D. Dorel & M. Lemoine, 1979. Nurseries littorales en Baie du Mont Saint-Michel et du Cotentin Est. Rapport I.S.T.P.M., 115 pp.
Bildstein, K. L., E. Blood & P. Frederick, 1992. The relative importance of biotic and abiotic vectors in nutrient transport. Estuaries 15: 147–157.
Blaber, S. J. M. & A. K. Whitfield, 1977. The feeding ecology of juvenile mullet (Mugilidae) in south-east African estuaries. Biol. J. linn. Soc. 9: 277–284.
Blanchard, G., M. J. Chretiennot-Linet, A. Dinet & J.-M. Robert, 1988. Méthode simplifiée pour l'extraction du microphytobenthos des sédiments marins par le gel de silice Ludox. C.R. Acad. Sci. Bio. Mar. Paris 307: 569–576.
Boesch, D. F. & R. E. Turner, 1984. Dependence of fishery species on salt marshes: the role of food and refuge. Estuaries 7: 460–468.
Bouchard, V., 1996. Production et devenir de la matière organique des halophytes dans un marais salé européen en système microtidal (Baie du Mont Saint-Michel). Thesis, University of Rennes 1: 218 pp.
Brosse, S., P. Laffaille, B. Le Rouzic & G. Pinay, 1996. Intersystem exchanges, role of epipelic algae in the retention and transfer of matter between a salt marsh and coastal sea water. International Congress of Limnology-Oceanography 'Ocean, rivers and lakes: energy and substance transfers at interfaces', Nantes (France), 7–9 October 1996.
Brusle, L., 1981. Food and feeding in grey mullet. In Orens O. H. (ed.), Aquaculture of the Grey Mullet. Cambridge University Press: 185–217.
Cassifour, P., 1975. Contribution à l'étude des Mugilidés des réservoirs à poissons du bassin d'Arcachon. Thesis, University of Bordeaux 1: 122 pp.
Chambers, R. M., J. W. Harvey & W. E. Odum, 1992. Ammonium and phosphate dynamics in a Virginia salt marsh. Estuaries 15: 349–359.
Costa, M. J., 1988. The Tagus and Mira estuaries (Portugal) and their role as spawning and nursery areas. J. Fish Biol. 33A: 249–250.
Creach, V., 1995. Origines et transferts de la matière organique dans un marais littoral: utilisation des compositions isotopiques naturelles du carbone et de l'azote. Thesis, University of Rennes 1: 134 pp.
Dame, R. F., T. Chrzanovski, K. Bildstein, B. Djerfue, H. Mc Kellar, D. Nelson, J. Spurrier, S. Stancyk, H. Stevenson, J. Vernberg & R. Zingmark, 1986. The outwelling hypothesis and North Inlet Estuary, South Carolina. Mar. Ecol., Prog. Ser. 33: 217–229.
Dame, N. & J. C. Lefeuvre, 1994. Tidal exchanges: import-export of nutrients and organic matter in New and old World salt marshes: conclusions. In Mitsch W. J. (ed.), Global Wetlands old World and New, Amsterdam: 181–201.
De Silva, S. S. & M. J. S. Witeryaratne, 1977. Studies on the biology of young grey mullet, Mugil cephalus L. Aquaculture 12: 157–167.
Elie, P., E. Feunteun & C. Rigaud, 1990. The inshore brackish water domain of the French Atlantic coast: ecological functions for the exploited species-impact of physical development. Bull. Ecol. 21: 33–38.
Fagade, S. O. & C. I. O. Olaniyan, 1973. The food and feeding interrelationship of the fishes in the Lagos lagoon. J. Fish Biol. 5: 205–225.
Farrugio, H., 1975. Les muges (Poissons Téléostéens) de Tunisie. Répartition et pêche. Contribution à leur étude systèmatique et biologique. Thesis, University of Montpellier, 201 pp.
Farrugio, H., 1977. Clés commentées pour la détermination des adultes et des alevins de Mugilidae de Tunisie. Cybium 3: 57–73.
Feunteun, E., 1994. Le peuplement piscicole du marais littoral endigué de Bourgneuf-Machecoul (France, Loire-Atlantique). Approche méthodologique pour une analyse quantitative de la distribution spatiale du peuplement piscicole et de la dynamique de certaines de ses populations. Thesis, University of Rennes 1: 240 pp.
Feunteun, E. & L. Marion, 1994. Assessment of Grey Heron predation on fish communities: the case of the largest European colony. Hydrobiologia 279/280: 327–344.
Feunteun, E. & P. Laffaille, 1997. Les peuplements piscicoles de la Baie du Mont Saint-Michel. Penn Ar Bed. 164: 50–56.
Fouillet, P., 1986. Evolution des peuplements d'Arthropodes des schorres de la Baie du Mont Saint-Michel. Thesis, University of Rennes 1, 330 pp.
Germain, H., 1981. Flore des diatomées. Diatomophycées. Eaux douces et eaux saumâtres du Massif Armoricain et des contrées voisines d'europe occidentale. Boubée (ed.), Paris, 444 pp.
Hamerlynck, O. & A. Cattrijsse, 1994. The food of Pomatoschistus minutus (Pisces, Gobiidae) in Belgian coastal waters, and a comparison with the food of its potential competitor P. lozanoi. J. Fish Biol. 44: 753–771.
Hendey, N. I., 1964. An introductory account of the smaller algae of British coastal waters. Part 5: Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms). Fisheries Invest. London ser. 4, 298 pp.
Hermond, H. F. & J. L. Fifield, 1981. Subsurface flow in salt marsh peat: a model and field study. Limnol. Oceanogr. 26: 795–800.
Hickling, C. F., 1970. A contribution a natural history of the English grey mullets (Pisces, Mugilidae). J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 50: 609–633.
Hureau, J., 1970. Biologie comparée de quelques poissons antarctiques (Nototheneiidae). Bull. Institute Oceanogr. Monaco 68: 1–244.
Hustedt, F., 1927–1933, 1937 & 1959. Die Kieselagen Deutschlands, Österreichs und der Schweiz mit Berücksichtigung der übrigen Länder Europas sowie der angrenzenden Meeresgebiete. In Rabenhorst Kryptogamen Flora. 7, Leitzig: 920 pp., 845 pp. & 816 pp.
Jacot, A. P., 1920. Age, growth and scale characters of Mugil cephalus and Mugil curena. Trans. am. Micros. Soc. 39: 199–230.
Lefeuvre, J. C., G. Bertru, F. Burel, L. Brient, V. Creach, Y. Guené, J. Levasseur, A. Mariotti, A. Radureau, C. Retière, B. Savouré & O. Troccaz, 1994. Comparative studies on salt marsh processes: Mont Saint-Michel Bay, a multi-disciplinary study. In Mitsh W. J. (ed.), GlobalWetlands: Old World and New, Amsterdam: 215–234.
Lefeuvre, J. C. & R. F. Dame, 1994. Comparative studies of salt marsh processes in the New and the Old Worlds: an introduction. In Mitsh W. J. (ed.), Global Wetlands: Old World and New, Amsterdam: 169–179.
Legendre, C., 1984. La pêche artisanale sur le domaine intertidal de la Baie du Mont Saint-Michel. Rapport CEE Env. et Min. Env. Laboratoire d'Evolution des Systèmes Naturels et Modifiés, University of Rennes 1, 122 pp.
Levasseur, J., M. Ameline, L. Gresillon-Legea, M. C. Guenegou, M. J. Le Garrec, J. Le Rhun & G. Perez, 1995. Etude de la production primaire. In Lefeuvre J. C. (ed.), Transferts entre systèmes écologiques terrestre et marin en Baie du Mont Saint-Michel: rôle des marais salés. Laboratoire d'Evolution des Systèmes Naturels et Modifiés, University of Rennes 1: 7–44.
Marion, L., P. Clergeau, L. Brient & G. Bertru, 1994. The importance of avian-contributed nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to Lake Grand-Lieu, France. Hydrobiologia 279/280: 133–147.
Nixon, S. W., 1980. Beetwen coastal marshes and coastal waters: A review of 20 y of speculation and research on the role of salt marshes in estuarine productivity and water chemistry. In Hamilton, P. & K. B. Mac Donald (eds), Estuarine and Wetland Processes. Plenum Publishing Co., New York: 437–525.
Odum, E. P., 1968. Energy flow in ecosystems: a historical review. Am. Zool. 8: 11–18.
Odum, W. E., 1970. Utilisation of the direct grazing and plant detritus food chains by the stripped mullet Mugil cephalus. In Steel J. H. (ed.), Marine Food Chain. Olivier & Boyd, Edimbourgh: 22–240.
Patrick, R. & C. W. Relmer, 1966. The diatoms of the United States. Vol. 1. Monographs of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 687 pp.
Peragallo, H. & M. Peragallo, 1897. Diatomées marines de France et des districts maritimes voisins. M. J. Tempére (ed.), Grez-sur-Loing, Vol. 1: 540 pp.; Vol. 2: 137 pl.
Pomeroy, L. R. & R. G. Wiegert, 1981. The Ecology of a SaltMarsh. Ecological Studies 38, Springer-Verlag, New York, 271 pp.
Reay, P. J. & V. Cornell, 1988. Identification of grey mullets (Teleosteï, Mugilidae) juveniles from British waters. J. Fish Biol. 32: 95–99.
Ricard, M., 1987. Atlas du phytoplancton marin. Vol. 2. Les Diatomophycées. CNRS (ed.): 292 pp.
Russel, F. S., 1976. The Eggs and Planktonic Stages of British Marine Fishes. Academic Press, London, 524 pp.
Schricke, V., 1983. Distribution spatio-temporelle des populations d'Anatidés en transit et en hivernage en Baie du Mont Saint-Michel en relation avec les activité humaines. Thesis, University of Rennes 1, 299 pp.
Serventi, M., I. J. Harrison, P. Torricelli & G. Gandolfi, 1996. The use of pigmentation and morphological characters to identify Italian mullet fry. J. Fish Biol. 49: 1163–1173.
Teal, J. M., 1962. Energy flow in the salt march ecosystem of Georgia. Ecology 43: 614–634.
Troccaz, O., 1996. Evolution de la dynamique d'un marais salé: processus fonctinnels internes et relations avec le milieu côtier (la Baie du Mont Saint-Michel). Diplôme Doctoral de Recherches, University of Rennes 1, 105 pp.
Troccaz, O., F. Giraud, G. Bertru & J. C. Lefeuvre, 1994. Methodology for studying exchanges between salt marshes and coastal marine waters. Wetlands Ecol. Mgmt 3: 37–48.
Troccaz, O. & F. Giraud, 1996. A nutrient budget methodology in the Mont Saint-Michel Bay salt marsh, France. In INRA (ed.), Hydrologie dans les pays celtiques, Les Colloques no 79, Paris: 369–376.
Valiela, I. & J. M. Teal, 1979. The nitrogen budget of a salt marsh ecosystem. Nature 280: 652–656.
Wheeler, A., 1969. The fish of the British Isles and North West Europe. Macmillan, London, 613 pp.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laffaille, P., Brosse, S., Feunteun, E. et al. Role of fish communities in particulate organic matter fluxes between salt marshes and coastal marine waters in the Mont Saint-Michel Bay. Hydrobiologia 373, 121–133 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017079823670
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017079823670