Checklist of phytoplankton in the eastern Adriatic Sea

According to recent insights, the phytoplankton of the eastern Adriatic Sea is composed of 888 determined species. The diatoms were composed of 518 species (330 pennates, 174 centric diatoms), dinoflagellates 264, prymnesiophytes 101, chrysophyceae 2, raphidophyceae 1 and euglenophyceae 2 species. The list is accompanied by data on the general distribution of species in the northern, central and southern part of the eastern Adriatic Sea. The sources of data were samples collected in naturally eutrophic areas (bays, highly stratified karstic estuaries), in areas with anthropogenic influence (harbours), as well as in the oligotrophic southern Adriatic. The old published data were supplemented with more recent infromation from the period 1981–2000

Phytoplankton composition and abundance assessment in the Nador lagoon (Mediterranean coast of Morocco)

We evaluated phytoplankton abundance, composition and trophic state of the Nador lagoon (Morocco) on the basis of data taken in the period November 2007 to August 2008. Sampling was performed at 11 stations (bottle samples at 0.5 m depth and horizontal plankton net tows with mesh size of 20 mm). Among seven identified phytoplankton classes, diatoms and dinoflagellates dominated with 133 and 169 species, respectively. Frequent phytoplankton blooms were contributed by one to three species in the lagoon. Abundance and seasonality of phytoplankton characterized the Nador lagoon as a highly eutrophicated environment

Exceptional dense water formation on the Adriatic shelf in the winter of 2012

In this paper we document dense water formation throughout the Adriatic shelf and coastal area in January/February 2012, resulting in record-breaking densities observed during and after the event. The unprecedented dense water generation was preconditioned by a dry and warm year which resulted in a significant reduction of coastal freshwaters, superimposed on a long-term basin-wide salinity increase. The final event that triggered the dense water formation was an extended period of cold weather with strong and severe winds. Record-breaking potential density anomalies (above 30 kg m⁻³) were measured at several formation sites. Accumulated surface net heat and water losses in some coastal regions exceeded 1.5 GJ m⁻² and 250 kg m⁻² over 21 days, respectively. Excessiveness, importance of shelf-type dense water formation and effects on the thermohaline circulation and deep aquatic systems are discussed

Seasonal and spatial changes in water and sediment quality variables in Bafa Lake

The brackish Bafa Lake located in the southwestern part of Turkey is under stress because of both natural and untreated wastewater effluents. The purpose of this research is to determine spatiotemporal distributions of some physicochemical variables in water column (temperature, salinity, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, oPO(4)-P, TPO4-P, chlorophyll-a, total suspended solids) and sediment (TN, TC, TOC, TP) and their relationships at coastal stations. In the water column, nitrate and phosphate concentrations showed seasonal variations with high values recorded in winter period. Ammonium was determined as a main source of TIN component. During summer period, a large amount of total phosphorus was found as dissolved organic form. However, in the winter period, inorganic phosphate levels increased at sampling stations. N limitation was a common feature throughout the lake where P-limitation was only observed in summer period. The total phosphorus levels which showed hypereutrophic condition at the western part of the lake changed between 1.55 and 4.99 mu M and did not remain in the range for uncontaminated condition. In the lake sediment, a strong relationship was found between TOC and TC levels. Generally, the mean TOC concentrations constitute small amount of TC values in the sampling stations. The results also indicated that a strong correlation exists between TOC and TN values, and TN was greatly regulated by organic sources. In the lake, TOC: TN ratios changed between 5 and 13; the ratio greater than 10 could be an indicator of algal and land plant sources mixing as an organic matter