Climatological, hydrological and planktonical research studies, measurements of primary production and photosynthetic efficiency from December 1976 to December 1978 have been carried out in two brackish lakes: Lake Etang de Berre and Lake Etang de Vaine l
Hydrological and biological studies on ecosystems of the lakes 'etang de Berre' and 'etang de Vaime', the four rivers flowing into these lakes, and the Mediterranean Sea are carried out during the whole two-year period. The phytoplankton population of the