Response of Nereis diversicolor population (Polychaeta, Nereididae) to the pollution impact – Authie and Seine estuaries (France)

A survey within the French National Programme of Ecotoxicology was carried out in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to study the response of Nereis diversicolor populations (Polychaeta, Nereididae) to the impact of pollution in the Authie estuary (non-contaminated site) and in the Seine estuary (contaminated site). In the period studied, the density varied from 672 ind. m−2 to 3584 ind. m−2 in the Authie estuary and from 80 ind. m−2 to 920 ind. m−2 in the Seine estuary. Biomass varied from 3.94 g m−2 (dry weight) in February 2004 to 38.0 g m−2 in August 2003 in the Authie estuary and from 3.4 g m−2 in February 2002 to 0.6 g m−2 in February 2004 in the Seine estuary. Density and biomass of the populations of N. diversicolor were consistently lower in the Seine estuary than in the Authie estuary. Size frequency histograms permit the analysis of the cohorts as well as the elaboration of the growth curves. For the individuals from the Authie estuary, the relation between dry weight (DW) and length L3 (prostomium, peristomium and chaetiger 1) was DW = 4.2205 L32.9832. For those from the Seine estuary, the relation between dry weight and L3 was DW = 0.4697e1.7209L3. The individuals of N. diversicolor should belong to eight cohorts in Authie estuary (two cohorts each year) instead of six cohorts for those from the Seine estuary. These differences can be attributed to the effect of pollution on the population of N. diversicolor.