Acta Adriatica, Vol. 59 No. 1, 2018.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.32582/aa.59.1.3
Algal pigments distribution and phytoplankton group assemblages in the coastal transitional environment – Boka Kotorska Bay (Southeastern Adriatic Sea)
Slađana KRIVOKAPIĆ
; Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
Sunčica BOSAK
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Division of Biology, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Damir VILIČIĆ
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Division of Biology, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Grozdan KUŠPILIĆ
; Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šet. I. Meštrovića 63, 21000 Split, Croatia
Dragana DRAKULOVIĆ
; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro, Kotor, Montenegro
Branka PESTORIĆ
; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro, Kotor, Montenegro
Abstract
Phytoplankton assemblages and pigment distribution were determined in the transitional Boka Kotorska Bay. Samples were collected four times from three stations in the inner part of the Bay between April 2008 and March 2009. Microscopic analysis revealed that the phytoplankton was composed of marine diatoms, dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, chlorophytes and coccolithophorids. Aside from fucoxanthin as the dominant biomarker pigment, alloxanthin, 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, peridinin and chlorophyll b provided indicative contributions. Fucoxanthin and alloxanthin showed significant correlation with the phytoplankton chlorophyll a biomass throughout the investigated period. In November 2008, the diatoms were outcompeted by coccolithophorids, which probably efficiently absorbed nutrients during a period of their reduced supply. Due to the reduced nutrient input, in the summer, the phytoplankton community in the Bay was composed mostly of marine dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, and chlorophytes.
Keywords
Pigments distribution; seasonality; Boka Kotorska Bay
Hrčak ID:
204580
URI
Publication date:
9.7.2018.
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