engleski

Mikrozooplankton Bokokotorskog zaljeva i obalnog područja Južnog Jadrana

Microzooplankton is important component of "microbial loop" and total marine food web. The horizontal and vertical distributions of microzooplankton were studied during spring 2013 by Niskin 5‐L bottle at three stations in Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro) and a single station off Molunat Bay (Croatia). Non‐loricate ciliates were the most numerous microzooplankton (37%), with the highest values at the surface layer that was strongly influenced by the fresh water. Tintinnids abundance were low, and similar to those recorded in the open Adriatic Sea. Tintinnids species diversity was considerably high. The highest diversity was at the station in the Tivat arm of the Boka Kotorska Bay system due to specific environmental conditions caused by the strong influence of fresh water in the surface and the open sea water in the bottom layer. In total, 46 tintinnids were identified, among which 20 were estuarine‐neritic and 26 were characteristic for the open sea. Compared to few previous researches, 23 species were recorded for the first time in Boka Kotorska Bay. Stenosemella nivalis was the dominant tintinnid at all stations. Copepod nauplii were numerous and contributed with 32% in total microzooplankton abundance, followed by copepodites and small adult copepods (17%). However, nauplii densities were lower than those known from the majority of coastal Adriatic region. These results can be linked with the observed climate changes identified in the Adriatic Sea from the 1990s, where already in the winter period occurred increase of primary production with the lack of a spring peak.

non‐loricate ciliates ; tintinnids ; nauplii ; copepodites ; Southern Adriatic

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