hrvatski

Morem preplavljena jama uz otočić Iški Mrtovnjak, srednji Jadran, s ekološkim karakteristikama sličnim batijalu

Due to the geomorphologic characteristics of the Eastern Adriatic coast and the Holocene sea transgression, submarine caves and pits are numerous in Croatia. We undertook the research of marine pit near Iški Mrtovnjak Island, Middle Adriatic, in the period of three years. The pit is bottle shaped: narrow entrance is at 7 meters depth and bottom of the pit is at approx. 30 meters. The bottom is covered with fine sediment. Cold winter seawater is trapped inside the pit, and temperature in it is stable throughout the year. Mixing of water is possible only during cold part of the year, when temperatures of sea inside and outside the pit become equal. There is practically no light penetration into the pit. These bathyal-like ecological conditions inside the pit are suitable for development of deep-sea organisms like deep-sea Hexactinellid sponge Oopsacas minuta. The living community there is biocenosis of dark caves in which we found so far 13 species of organisms. Poorly developed community of semi-dark caves inhabits short entrance part of the pit, where there is some light penetration and seasonal variability in seawater temperature.

morske špilje i jame; dubokomorski organizmi; Oopsacas minuta; Iški Mrtovnjak

nije evidentirano

engleski

A marine pit near Iški Mrtovnjak Island, middle Adriatic, with bathyal-like ecological characteristics

Due to the geomorphologic characteristics of the Eastern Adriatic coast and the Holocene sea transgression, submarine caves and pits are numerous in Croatia. We undertook the research of marine pit near Iški Mrtovnjak Island, Middle Adriatic, in the period of three years. The pit is bottle shaped: narrow entrance is at 7 meters depth and bottom of the pit is at approx. 30 meters. The bottom is covered with fine sediment. Cold winter seawater is trapped inside the pit, and temperature in it is stable throughout the year. Mixing of water is possible only during cold part of the year, when temperatures of sea inside and outside the pit become equal. There is practically no light penetration into the pit. These bathyal-like ecological conditions inside the pit are suitable for development of deep-sea organisms like deep-sea Hexactinellid sponge Oopsacas minuta. The living community there is biocenosis of dark caves in which we found so far 13 species of organisms. Poorly developed community of semi-dark caves inhabits short entrance part of the pit, where there is some light penetration and seasonal variability in seawater temperature.

marine caves and pits; deep-sea organisms; Oopsacas minuta; Iški Mrtovnjak

nije evidentirano