engleski

Phytoplankton in the area of the Neretva River mouth, NE Mediterranean (2003-2005)

Despite recent work on the phytoplankton ecology of eastern Adriatic coastal waters, there remain sites that have not yet been investigated. Among these is the area of the Neretva River mouth (Middle Adriatic). Phytoplankton structure and abundance were investigated at one station at monthly intervals from March 2003 to July 2005. There were two peaks of microphytoplankton (cells longer than 20 μm) abundance in each year, one in spring (March 2004 and April 2005), and the other in July 2004 and 2005. Diatoms dominated the microphytoplankton abundance throughout the year. A main feature of the assemblages was the dominance of more than one species. This likely is owed to the frequent and rapid environmental changes typical of this dynamic ecosystem.

phytoplankton; ecology; taxonomy; the Neretva River; NE Mediterranean

DOI: 10.1080/09670262.2011.613156