Master in Marine Sciences

This project was carried out as part of the "Measurements in Biological Oceanography" course within the Master 1 in Marine Sciences program at Aix-Marseille University. It is based on a series of six oceanographic day-trips conducted aboard the research vessel Antedon II at the SOMLIT Frioul station.

The study aimed to correlate the physicochemical parameters of the water column with the dynamics of planktonic communities. By combining in situ measurements and laboratory analyses, we sought to better understand the functioning of this coastal ecosystem under the influence of seasonal environmental variations.

The project is structured around the following axes of analysis:

• Water mass dynamics: Characterization of temperature and salinity via CTD probe to highlight stratification and vertical mixing phenomena.
• Dissolved oxygen cycle: Evaluation of respiration and bioturbation processes to measure the impact of the ocean-atmosphere system.
• Turbidity study: Analysis of suspended particulate matter (SPM) profiles to identify factors influencing water column clarity.
• Phytoplankton monitoring: Assessment of biomass and biological activity using chlorophyll-a indicators and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) measurements.