Original scientific paper
The benthos of the northern part of the Velebit Channel (Adriatic Sea, Croatia)
M. Novosel
T. Bakran-Petricioli
A. Požar-Domac
P. Kružić
I. Radić
Abstract
Infralittoral and circalittoral hard bottom communities in the northern part of the Velebit Channel were investigated. The benthos was collected along six transects: three on Prvić Island (Šilo, Samonjin and Stražica) and three facing them along the Velebit mountain coast (Grmac, Žrnovnica and Kola). Three benthic biocoenoses were noted: the biocoenosis of photophilic algae, precoralligenous facies and a climax of coralligenous biocoenosis, and the biocoenosis of semi-dark caves. A total of 431 taxa were recorded: 60 taxa of algae and 371 taxa of fauna. Along the three coastal transects under Mt Velebit numerous submarine freshwater springs (vruljas) are present. The results were compared using two statistical methods: the application of the Sørensen index of similarity and cluster analysis. The most topographically and geomorphologically similar transects were Šilo and Samonjin, while StraŽica and Žrnovnica were the most distant.
Keywords
benthic biocoenoses; floristic and faunistic similarity; vruljas; Velebit Channel; Adriatic Sea
Hrčak ID:
13444
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2002.
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