title: Impacts of restoration of an uncontrolled phosphogypsum dumpsite on the seasonal distribution of abiotic variables, phytoplankton, copepods, and ciliates in a man-made solar saltern.
abstract: The restoration of an uncontrolled phosphogypsum landfill was investigated for its effects on the seasonal distribution of phytoplankton, ciliates, and copepods. Sampling was carried out monthly from September 2007 to August 2008 at four ponds of increasing salinity (A1, 41 psu; A5, 46 psu; A16, 67 psu; and C31, 77 psu) in the Sfax solar saltern (southeastern Tunisia). Physicochemical and biological analyses were carried out using standard methods. Results showed drastic reduction of phosphate input and greater diversity of phytoplankton, ciliates, and copepods than before restoration. Pennate diatoms and new ciliates, considered bio-indicators of less-stressed marine ecosystems, proliferated in the A1 pond for the first time after restoration. Copepods appeared to feed on a wide range of prey. Economically, removal of the 1.7 million m(3) of phosphate improved the quality of the site's salt production, enabling the salt company to receive the quality ISO 9001 accreditation.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences de la Vie, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Unité de recherche UR/05ES05 Biodiversité et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Route Soukra Km 3,5, B.P. 1171, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Rayda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kobbi-Rebai
authors.forename: Neila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Annabi-Trabelsi
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khemakhem
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayadi
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aleya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000032:analysis*; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000502:physiology*; D033342:Copepoda / Q000502:physiology*; D017377:Diatoms; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000502:physiology*; D054712:Salinity; D012621:Seasons; D014416:Tunisia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C077769:phosphogypsum; D010758:Phosphorus; D002133:Calcium Sulfate