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Résumé :
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The saltmarshes of Hyeres (Provence; France) are Mediterranean lagoons and wetlands deeply altered since Antiquity; they are an example of a socio-ecosystem characterized by industrial activities since 1848 for salt production and artisanal fishing. After the end of the industrial exploitation in 1995, saltmarshes of Hyeres became property of the Conservatoire du Littoral (Coastal Protection Agency) in 2001 and managed by the Toulon Provence Mediterranee metropolitan area. Since then, access to the sites is still restricted in order to preserve the historical heritage of the site and biodiversity of birds. The present work aims to localize and map Magnoliophyta aquatic meadow habitats in order to: (i) better understand the water management of the saltmarshes, inducing the presence or absence of Magnoliophyta and (ii) assess the health status of macrophytes community. The main observed Magnoliophyta was Ruppia spiralis, Linnaeus ex Dumortier, its presence in such brackish waters can be considered as an indicator of good conservation status. Our results show a relatively high abundance of R. spiralis, strongly related with environmental conditions and water management. This study is the first step of an ecosystem-based approach; R. spiralis, as a primary producer, belongs to a major functional compartment of the ecosystem, which constitutes the saltmarshes.
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