[Characterisation and correlation of biotic and non biotic parameters of Nahr El Bared waters]

Nahr el Bared is one of the main Lebanese coastal rivers. It crosses down a rather deep valley and passes by several urban agglomerations and industrial zones, which use its water as a discharge system of their waste. This study shows the impact of the anthropic activities on the water quality of this river. The application of the diversity and the similarity index, and the biological normalized index IBGN, as well as the statistical analyses of correlation permit to characterize a sector close to the source free of pollution whereas most of the course downstream is subjected to strong anthropic disturbances which degrade the quality of water to more or less high intensities according to the inputs and the self-purification. A positive correlation of the chemical, biological and bacteriological pollution indicators is highlighted

[Impact of phosphogypsum and other factory effluents on Meiofauna communities of Batroun coastal region]

Meiofauna assemblages were sampled in summer 2007 and winter 2008 at ten stations along Batroun coastal region in North Lebanon, offshore from the fertilizer factory. A survey of the major meiofaunal taxa was made in order to study the impact of chemical discharges [phosphogypsum] on meiofaunal population composition and density. There were significant changes in the community density and composition in the stations located in front of the plant [S5 to S8]. Total meiofauna abundance was the lowest in the stations located in front of the plant, ranging between 8.7 +/- 5.5 [S6] and 161.1 +/- 35.3 [S5] individuals 10 cm[-2] in August and between 10.5 +/- 9.4 [S6] and 42.3 +/- 31.2 [S5] individuals 10 cm[-2] in January. The highest densities were recorded at the stations located at the south and the north of the discharge pipe [S1 to S4 and S9 to S10]. At these stations total meiofauna abundance ranged between 344 +/- 68.4 and 827.1 +/- 58.2 individuals 10 cm[-2] in August and 167.6 +/- 31.3 and 758.6 +/- 274.2 in January. Nematodes, followed by copepods exhibited the greatest densities among the 22 meiofauna taxa recorded at the 10 stations. The diversity within meiofaunal assemblages was low at the stations located near the plant [2 to 6 taxa] and higher at the other stations [9 to 19 taxa]

Cd and Pb extractability with EDTA in sediments of three contrasted sites of the Lebanese coast

Cd and Pb extractability with EDTA were measured from sediment samples collected at three contrasted sites along the Lebanese coastal zones: Akkar, Dora and Selaata. Akkar is located away from any direct source of contamination, while Dora and Selaata receive respectively urban and industrial wastes. The extractability of Cd and Pb from sediments of the aforementioned sites was studied by applying kinetic and equilibrium extractions with EDTA 0.05M. The adjustment of Pb kinetic extractions curves to a two-first order reactions model permitted to kinetically fractionate Pb in the studied sediments into three fractions [readily extractable, less extractable and non extractable] and allowed to conclude that Pb in Selaata represents the highest environmental risk

[Oligoelements and lipids in pterocladia from the lebanese coast]

While pursuing our studies on marine algae growing on the Lebanese coast, our attention was drawn by an important type: ''Pterocladia''. Its presence was noted on the coast of Beirut, Manara. Careful analysis showed that it contained proteins and carbohydrates in adequate amounts, as well as twenty five types of oligoelements and some fatty acids such as palmitic, stearic, myristic and lauric acids. Among these various substances, Si [Silicium] and palmitic acid were present in large amounts, which led us to suggest that organic Si could be isolated and used in treating various diseases and conditions. As an example, it could be used in topical application for its analgesic effect. The remaining algae extract could be used as a supplement to infant's diet [milk] in order to contribute to development and growth of various organs that need fatty acids and other lipids

[Haliplectidae [chromadorida: Nematoda] of the eastern mediterranean: description of three species of Lebanon odds owned haliplectus gender and setoplectus]

Three species of the family Haliplectidae from Lebanese sandy beaches are described; one of which is new to science. The description of Haliplectus bibulbosus [Schulz, 1935] valids the citations of this species in Mediterranean Sea by Gerlach [1953a, 1954a, 1954b] in Italy, Tunisia and Algeria. Haliplectus schulzi [De Coninck, 1943] is mentioned for the first time in Mediterranean Sea. Setoplectus libani sp.n. is distinguished from the other four species of the genus by the high number of preanal supplements by the position of cephalic setae. A key for the identification of species of the genus Setoplectus Vitiello, 1971 is proposed