Seasonal freshening of NW Mediterranean surface water impacts microbial heterotrophic activity and dissolved organic matter

The Rhone river represents the most important source of freshwater, nutrients and organic matter to the northwestern (NW) Mediterranean Sea and riverine input markedly affects biogeochemistry and ecosystem functioning in the estuarine and coastal zone. Structures of low salinity waters (LSW) originating near the river plume can also be transported along the continental shelf and offshore. The objective of the present study was to investigate the...