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Open AccessArticle
Phytoplankton Assemblage over a 14-Year Period in the Adriatic Sea: Patterns and Trends
1
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 63, 21000 Split, Croatia
2
Department of Marine Studies, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 37, 21000 Split, Croatia
3
National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station Piran, 6330 Piran, Slovenia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biology 2024, 13(7), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070493 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 31 May 2024
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Revised: 28 June 2024
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Accepted: 29 June 2024
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Published: 2 July 2024
Simple Summary
This study of the phytoplankton community in the Adriatic Sea shows increasing species diversity over a 14-year period despite the effects of climate change in terms of increased sea surface temperature and increasing solar radiation in summer. Fluctuations in the dynamics of the different phytoplankton groups were observed in the studied area. The dominant groups were diatoms and phytoflagellates, but their proportions varied depending on the proximity to the coast as shown by the distribution of chlorophyll a.
Abstract
Considering the role of phytoplankton in the functioning and health of marine systems, it is important to characterize its responses to a changing environment. The central Adriatic Sea, as a generally oligotrophic area, is a suitable environment to distinguish between regular fluctuations in phytoplankton and those caused by anthropogenic or climatic influences. This study provides a long-term perspective of phytoplankton assemblage in the central eastern Adriatic Sea, with 14 years of continuous time series data collected at two coastal and two offshore stations. The predominant phytoplankton groups were diatoms and phytoflagellates, but their proportion varied depending on the vicinity of the coast, as evidenced also by the distribution of chlorophyll a. In the coastal environment, the phytoplankton biomass was substantially higher, with a higher proportion of microphytoplankton, while small phytoplankton accounted for the majority of biomass in the offshore area. In addition, a decreasing trend in diatom abundance was observed in the coastal waters, while such trend was not so evident in the offshore area. Using a neural gas algorithm, five clusters were defined based on the contribution of the major groups. The observed increase in diversity, especially in dinoflagellates, which outnumber diatom taxa, could be a possible adaptation of dinoflagellates to the increased natural solar radiation in summer and the increased sea surface temperature.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Skejić, S.; Milić Roje, B.; Matić, F.; Arapov, J.; Francé, J.; Bužančić, M.; Bakrač, A.; Straka, M.; Ninčević Gladan, Ž.
Phytoplankton Assemblage over a 14-Year Period in the Adriatic Sea: Patterns and Trends. Biology 2024, 13, 493.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070493
AMA Style
Skejić S, Milić Roje B, Matić F, Arapov J, Francé J, Bužančić M, Bakrač A, Straka M, Ninčević Gladan Ž.
Phytoplankton Assemblage over a 14-Year Period in the Adriatic Sea: Patterns and Trends. Biology. 2024; 13(7):493.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070493
Chicago/Turabian Style
Skejić, Sanda, Blanka Milić Roje, Frano Matić, Jasna Arapov, Janja Francé, Mia Bužančić, Ana Bakrač, Maja Straka, and Živana Ninčević Gladan.
2024. "Phytoplankton Assemblage over a 14-Year Period in the Adriatic Sea: Patterns and Trends" Biology 13, no. 7: 493.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070493
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