Naslov
The response of phytoplankton community to anthropogenic pressure gradient in the coastal waters of the eastern Adriatic Sea

Autori
Ninčević-Gladan, Živana ; Bužančić, Mia ; Kušpilić, Grozdan ; Grbec, Branka ; Matijević, Slavica ; Skejić, Sanda ; Marasović, Ivona ; Morović, Mira

Izvornik
Ecological indicators (1470-160X) 56 (2015); 106-115

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

Ključne riječi
Water quality assessment; Chlorophyll a; Phytoplankton; Diversity; WFD; MSFD

Sažetak
In order to test the response of phytoplankton to anthropogenic pressure, data of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton abundance, and composition are analyzed in relation to anthropogenic pressure gradient and environmental variables such as temperature, salinity and nutrients. Investigated sites encompassed wide tropic range according to a preliminary determination of anthropogenic pressure, quantified through the LUSI index. Statistical analyses indicated nitrates and silicates as proxies of freshwater influence, and phytoplankton single metrics such as concentrations of chlorophyll a and abundances as indicators of anthropogenic pressure. Boundary values for different water quality classes for coastal waters under indirect freshwater influence (Type II) are obtained according to gradient between concentration of chlorophyll a and pressure index (LUSI), which empirically fit to exponential equation. The response of phytoplankton diversity was not linear, as the highest diversity was observed in the area with intermediate disturbance level. CCA analysis identified Skeletonema marinoii, Scrippsiella trochoidea, Guinardia flaccida, Leptocylindrus spp., Prorocentrum spp., Proboscia alata, Eutreptiella spp., and Pseudonitzschia spp. as local eutrophication indicators, whose abundances increased with nutrients loads.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA