engleski

Horizontal distribution of tintinnids in the open waters of the South Adriatic (Eastern Mediterranean)

The horizontal distribution of oceanic tintinnids was investigated in the Southern Adriatic Sea during 11 cruises undertaken between 1980 and 1990. Of 70 species identified, 47 were surface, 16 subsurface, 4 mid-water, and 3 deep-sea species. The dominant surface and subsurface species were Dictyocysta mitra, Codonella aspera, and Undella claparedei. Parundella lohmanni predominated in the mid-water layers and Xystonellopsis scyphium in the deep-sea. Ingression of water masses from the Ionian Seas and formation of cyclonic gire are important in determining the horizontal distribution of tintinnids in the Southern Adriatic. Periods of strong advection of waters from the Ionian Sea impose a longitudinal type of distribution on tintinnids characterized by high species diversity, low abundance, and the transport of southern species to the Middle and North Adriatic. This differs from the "eddy type" distribution, in which species diversity is lower, population density is greater in all layers, and the transport of species northward ceases. It may be assumed that mesopelagic and deep-sea tintinnids apparently depend on food resurces transported by sinking Middle Adriatic dense waters (MadDW).

ciliates; tintinnids; distribution; Adriatic Sea

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