Acta Adriatica, Vol. 53 No. 2, 2012.
Original scientific paper
The epiplankton community in the southern Adriatic: Multiple trophic levels along the south - north and inshore-offshore gradients
Valentina TURK
; National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Piran, Slovenia
Davor LUČIĆ
; Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Jakica NJIRE
; Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Senka TERZIĆ
; Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, RBošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Tinkara TINTA
; National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Piran, Slovenia
Adam BENOVIĆ
; Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Alenka MALEJ
; National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Piran, Slovenia
Abstract
The epiplankton community was investigated during Meduza cruises along south - north and offshore – inshore transects in the middle and southern Adriatic in spring 2002. The diel and vertical distribution of heterotrophic bacteria, phytoplankton pigment composition, micro- and mesozooplankton were assessed. At most stations we observed a thermocline at approximately 20 m and a prominent chlorophyll a peak at about 70 m depth. The integrated phytoplankton and bacterial biomass were lower at the station in the central part of the southern Adriatic, and increased gradually towards middle Adriatic and towards coastal stations. Vertical profiles of both bacterial abundance and production showed a distinct peak in the surface layer. Bacterial abundance was high also in the layer of the deep chlorophyll a maximum. Higher bacterial production was associated with elevated abundance of pico- and nanoplankton feeding zooplankton indicating that bacterial populations were generally controlled by predation.
Keywords
heterotrophic bacteria; phytoplankton pigments; microzooplankton; mesozooplankton; Adriatic Sea
Hrčak ID:
94437
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2012.
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