Ecological Studies in the Coastal Waters of Mauritania

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Hydrology and underwater climate of the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania: a review

   • J. Sevrin-Reyssac

   Pages 1-8

3. Wind, surface water temperature, surface salinity and pollution in the area of the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania

   • Sidina ould Dedah

   Pages 9-19

4. Hydrographical observations west of the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, in May 1988

   • Y. Loktionov

   Pages 21-32

5. Remote sensing of sea surface and coastal features in the area of the Golfe d’Arguin, Mauritania

   • F. Cuq

   Pages 33-40

6. Heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) in sediment, Zooplankton and epibenthic invertebrates from the area of the continental slope of the Banc d’Arguin (Mauritania)

   • J. M. Everaarts, R. Heesters, C. V. Fischer

   Pages 41-58

7. Leaf dynamics and standing stocks of intertidal Zostera noltii Hornem. and Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson on the Banc d’Arguin (Mauritania)

   • J. E. Vermaat, J. A. J. Beijer, R. Gijlstra, M. J. M. Hootsmans, C. J. M. Philippart, N. W. van den Brink et al.

   Pages 59-72

8. Periphyton density and shading in relation to tidal depth and fiddler crab activity in intertidal seagrass beds of the Banc d’Arguin (Mauritania)

   • M. J. M. Hootsmans, J. E. Vermaat, J. A. J. Beijer

   Pages 73-80

9. Primary production and distribution of phytopigments in the water column and sediments on the upwelling shelf off the Mauritanian coast (Northwest Africa)

   • E. M. Berghuis, G. C. A. Duineveld, J. Hegeman

   Pages 81-93

10. Distribution of sponges on the Mauritanian continental shelf

    • R. W. M. van Soest

    Pages 95-106

11. The benthic infauna and benthic respiration off the Banc d’Arguin (Mauritania, Northwest Africa)

    • G. C. A. Duineveld, P. A. W. J. de Wilde, E. M. Berghuis, A. Kok

    Pages 107-117

12. Patterns in pelagic and benthic nanoflagellate densities in the coastal upwelling system along the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania

    • R. P. M. Bak, G. Nieuwland

    Pages 119-131

13. Zooplankton distribution in the coastal upwelling system along the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania

    • B. R. Kuipers, H. J. Witte, S. R. Gonzalez

    Pages 133-149

14. Biomass of macrobenthic tidal flat fauna of the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania

    • W. J. Wolff, A. G. Duiven, P. Duiven, P. Esselink, Abou Gueye, A. Meijboom et al.

    Pages 151-163

15. The trawlfauna of the Mauritanian shelf (Northwest Africa): density, species composition, and biomass

    • G. C. A. Duineveld, M. S. S. Lavaleye, G. J. van Noort

    Pages 165-173

16. Food items of the grey mullet Mugil cephalus in the Banc d’Arguin area (Mauritania)

    • H. Michaelis

    Pages 175-183

17. The distribution and abundance of young fish in the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania

    • Zwanette Jager

    Pages 185-196

18. Seabirds in the shelf edge waters bordering the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, in May

    • M. F. Leopold

    Pages 197-210

19. The functioning of the ecosystem of the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania: a review

    • W. J. Wolff, J. van der Land, P. H. Nienhuis, P. A. W. J. de Wilde

    Pages 211-222

This volume on the ecology of Mauritanian coastal waters and in particular the Banc d'Arguin, allows us to understand the functioning of this remarkable coastal wetland. Major questions concern the interaction between the Banc d'Arguin ecosystem on the one hand and the adjoining systems of the open ocean with its intensive upwelling phenomena and the Sahara desert on the other. Is the Banc d'Arguin ecosystem relatively isolated from its surroundings and does it function as a tropical pocket in a more temperate surrounding, as suggested by Sevrin-Reyssac (1983); or does it interact with both the Sahara and the Atlantic Ocean?
At the Banc d'Arguin, the area between the estuarine parts and the open ocean is extremely shallow and largely uncharted. Large research vessels cannot penetrate the shallows, whereas small vessels are often unable to negotiate the outer part of the shallow area due to rough weather conditions. Hence, separate teams report on work at the seaward side of this shallow sill and at the landward side. In addition, other teams address different questions, such as the productivity of the seagrass beds and the benthic fauna, the number of birds spending the summer at the Banc d'Arguin, and the distribution of several taxonomic groups of flora and fauna.

• biomass
• desert
• ecology
• ecosystem
• fauna
• fish
• invertebrates
• ocean
• plankton
• pollution
• sponges
• temperature
• wetland
• wind

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