Naslov
Distribution of the diatom Cocconeis scutellum in the karstic estuary (Zrmanja, eastern Adriatic Sea)

Autori
Burić, Zrinka ; Caput, Katarina ; Viličić, Damir

Izvornik
Biologia (Bratislava) (0006-3088) 59 (2004), 1; 1-7

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Cocconeis scutellum; periphytic diatoms; phytoplankton; halocline; stratified estuary; Adriatic Sea; Croatia

Sažetak
The small karstic river Zrmanja (69 km) discharges into the eastern– central Adriatic Sea, forming shallow, highly stratified, oligotrophic estuary. The abundance of periphytic pennate diatoms (attached to artificial substrates) and their presence in the plankton community were analysed in the upper estuary, in July 2000. Attached diatoms were most abundant in the halocline, while Cocconeis scutellum EHRENBERG competed for space with other algae that accumulated in the halocline. Suspended pennate diatoms were composed of freshwater species transported from the river and epiphytic diatoms detached from estuarine aquatic plants. The abundance of detached estuarine Cocconeis scutellum cells decreased downstream in the estuary, due to the absence of the host vegetation. This diatom rapidly sank and accumulated along the halocline, died in the strong gradient of salinity and continued to sink to the bottom. Such a fate of diatoms may be linked with the problem of silica cycling in the estuary that should be quantified during the forthcoming research.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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