ENVIRONMENTAL STATE OF AN INTERTIDAL COMPLEX

AND ANTHROPIZATION IN ITS CATCHMENT AREA

M. Romn-Geada, J. Zamborain-Mason, E. Fernndez, G. Mndez-Martnez

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to quantitatively describe the intensity of
the anthropogenic pressure on the estuarine ecosystem of the
Ramallosa intertidal complex, by adopting an integrated
approach. Socioeconomic data, land use changes in the
catchment area, temporal variability of sedimentary properties
(size structure, organic C, C and N stable isotopic composition and
metals concentration) together with changes in the spatial
coverage of estuarine vegetation were evaluated.

EVOLUTION OF HUMAN POPULATION

AND BUILDINGS
60000

total population

2,5

total houses

number of houses per person

1,5

40000
1
20000

0,5

0
1960

0
1980
Year

2000

Temporal evolution of the population and

number of buildings.

Houses/person

Population and houses

80000

The
catchment
area experienced
sharp increases in
human population
(78 %) and 12-fold
increase in number
of buildings in the
1960-2012 period.
The ratio number
of buildings per
inhabitant increased from 0.27 in
1960 to 1.95 by
2012.

Study area in
the NW of the
Iberian
Peninsula.

Catchment area of the Ramallosa

estuarine complex

The Ramallosa intertidal complex and location where

the sediment core was sampled.

LAND USE CHANGES

Land use
Artificial land
Shrub
Natural
grassland
Complex
cultivation
patterns
Mixed forest

Change (1990-2006)
Ha
%
264.96
377.48
160.09
66.51
-8.11

-0.75

-124.11

-4.32

-293.64

-5.65

Present land use patterns and changes

over the 1990-2006 period as estimated
from Corine Land Cover data.

Maps of the the basin and types of land use

in 1990 (A) and 2006 (B).

200.6574 ha were transformed in the catchment from natural to artificial areas in the 1990-2006
period. The larger relative variations were observed in the industrial or commercial units (304 %),
discontinuous urban fabric (72 %) and shrub lands (66 %).

HEAVY METALS

SEDIMENT ANALYSIS: PROFILE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIC CHANGES

Muds

Sand
Gravels

Sediment grain size of Depth profiles of sediment

core.
organic matter and C/N ratio.

Area covered by Z. noltii

in the study zone in 1989
and 2011.

Ha

SPATIAL COVERAGE OF
ZOSTERA NOLTII 10
8
6
4
2
0

Depth profiles of sediment 13C and

15N isotopic signatures.

5.93

1989

0
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Cu
Zn
BC
Cu BC
Pb

Pb
BC Zn

Depth profiles of copper, lead and zinc

concentrations

Surface concentrations of lead, copper and

zinc exceeded the background concentrations
(BCs) for contaminants established in the Oslo
and Paris Commision (2005).

CONCLUSIONS

9.71

2011

The area of the salt marsh covered by Z. noltii was

calculated by GIS analysis of aerial photograph and
further validated in the field. It expanded in 3.8 ha
(64%) between 1989 and 2011. This could be
explained by the interaction of these causes: organic
matter enrichment due to nutrient discharges,
accretion of the marsh and decrease of human impact
caused by the closing as shellfish extraction site.

mg/kg (dw)

Depth (cm)

Clays

Grain size was finer at the

upper, more recent, sections
of the core. The contribution
of organic matter decreased
with depth when gravels
appeared. A decreasing trend
of the C/N ratio towards the
surface was observed. 13C
values varied from -25.5 in
sand to -24.1, increasing to
the surface, suggesting a
mixture of marine and
terrestrial matter. 15N values
varied from 4.6 at deeper,
older sediments to 5.7 to
shallower, more recent ones,
with an increasing trend in
recent layers, that may reflect
regional effects of human
activities
(Mc-Clelland
&
Valiela, 1998).

Spatial coverage of Z. noltii in

1989 and 2011.

Only in 2011

The anthropogenic transformation pattern observed

in the Ramallosa estuarine complex is consistent with
global transformation trend: increased in human
population, number of buildings and artificial land in
the catchment area.
The upward increasing trend of 15N at the sediment
core suggests a temporal nutrient enrichment pattern
of the estuarine complex.
Heavy metals concentrations denote an impact
caused by human activities.
Z. noltii increased its spatial coverage, following an
In both years opposite pattern to the reported worldwide decline.

Only in 1989

REFERENCES:

McClelland, J.W. and Valiela, I. (1998). Linking nitrogen in estuarine producers to land-derived sources. Limnology and Oceanography 43:577585.

Oslo and Paris Commision (2005). Agreement on Background Concentrations for Contaminants in Seawater, Biota and Sediment (OSPAR Agreement 2005-6). Replaces OSPAR Agreement 1997-14. OSPAR Commission, London.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Cynthia Silvina Fernndez Daz
Aida Ovejero Campos