Tracking Pre- and Post-Industrialization Changes in the Bay of Sept-Îles (Canada) using Foraminifera as Bioindicators: An Executive Summary

Joshi, N., Montero-Serrano, J.C., Lefebvre, C., and Saulnier-Talbot, É., 2024. Tracking pre- and post-industrialization changes in the Bay of Sept-Îles (Canada) using foraminifera as bioindicators: An executive summary. In: Phillips, M.R.; Al-Naemi, S., and Duarte, C.M. (eds.), Coastlines under Global Change: Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2024 (Doha, Qatar). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 113, pp. 859-863. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The analysis of a short sediment core retrieved from the Bay of Sept-Îles, a high-use coastal region in Québec, Canada, provided information on changes in geochemical composition and foraminiferal assemblages during the pre- and post-industrial period in this region (i.e., before and after 1950 CE). The vertical distribution of the major elements suggests that the effects of anthropogenic industrial activities in Sept-Îles began to be felt in the mid- 1960s. Results showed fluctuations in metal concentrations, with notable shifts in iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and calcium (Ca) levels between the pre- and post-industrial periods, accompanied by a shift from calcareous to agglutinated foraminifera. This points to a stressful environment for the calcareous species, potentially influenced by factors such as calcium limitation and carbonate dissolution. Overall, the findings show that none of the element concentrations are above the contamination threshold but the escalation in the relative prevalence of metals, especially iron, demands careful consideration, as it potentially signifies alterations within the environmental conditions.