engleski

Tropical green alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl.) C. Ag. in the northern Adriatic Sea (Malinska, Krk Island)

The alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl.) C. Ag. (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) was for the first time noted in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the coastal zone of Malinska (Krk Island), in 1994. The cartography of the C. taxifolia settlement in the littoral zone of Malinska was carried out at four stations: Haludovo, Lukobran, Luka and Kupalište. The standard cartographic procedure was applied once a year, in 1998, 2000 and 2002. During 1998 the total affected area, covered with a uniform settlement of C. taxifolia, was 7988 m2 and by the year 2000 had increased to 13 252 m2. In 2002 the latent condition of Caulerpa was recorded up to the middle of July, at which time Caulerpa began sporadic growth. At the station Lukobran, Caulerpa settled on a silty sandy bottom (4-15 m depth). Algae were collected monthly by SCUBA divers, using a square method, from October 1997 to November 1999. In the laboratory, the seaweeds were subjected to morphometric analyses and biomass measurements. In the autumn-winter period the greatest standing crop of 295 g d.w./m2 was noted. On the algal thalli in the winter-spring period a greater variety of epiphytes occurred. In Caulerpa settlements 30 seaweeds, 2 seagrasses and 32 different macrobenthic species were observed. In sediment inside the Caulerpa settlement a total of 115 invertebrates species was noted, with a higher diversity within the groups of Gastropoda, Bivalvia and Polychaeta.

Caulerpa taxifolia; morphometry; biomass; flora and fauna

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