The Influence of Mucous Aggregates on the Microphytobenthic Community in the Northern Adriatic Sea

Abstract. An extended reappearance of mumus aggregates in the Northern Adriatic Sea in 1991 gave rise to the hypothesis of a possible influence of the mucus, settled on the bottom, on benthic flora and fauna.
This work investigates the variations in the microphytobenthic community in three stations of the Gulf of Trieste (AA1, AA2, AA3) during 1991, when mucous aggregates were present, and during the two following years, when no such aggregates were observed.
Water samples were collected by N iskin bottle in the bottom layer for nutrient analysis, and sediment samples were collected by divers. The diatom species and cell densities were determined under an inverted microscope. All the data were processed with the aim to evaluate community composition and possible relations with the presence of mucous aggregates in 1991.
The results showed a general decrease of benthic diatoms from 1991 to 1993, both in quality and quantity, for all the investigated sites. Statistical analyses on microphytobenthos, hydrological parameters, and nutrient concentrations indicated differences among the considered years. The microphytobenthic community in summer 1991 appeared to be quite different from those of the other years. The density of benthic diatoms was apparently not correlated with nutrient availability in the bottom layer, but was rather influenced by changes in temperature.
The presence of a dense microphytobenthic community in 1991 might be explained by a combination of adequate conditions related to the presence of mucous aggregates, including a more undisturbed substratum caused by the interruption of dredging, decreased grazing pressure due to a declined filtering capacity of epifauna, and nutrient-rich sediment for extra nutrient disposal remineralized at the mucus-sediment interface. The mucilage aggregates therefore apparently stimulated the microphytobenthic community, in contrast to the effects on the benthic macrofauna, which were perturbed by the mucus.     

Structure and photosynthetic properties of phytoplankton assemblages in a highly dynamic system, the Northern Adriatic Sea

The photosynthetic properties of phytoplankton populations as related to physical–chemical variations on small temporal and spatial scales and to phytoplankton size structure and pigment spectra were investigated in the Northern Adriatic Sea off the Po River delta in late winter 1997. Large diatoms (fucoxanthin) dominated the phytoplankton in the coastal area whereas small phytoflagellates (mainly 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, chlorophyll b, 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin) occurred outside the front. The front was defined by the steep gradient in density in the surface layer separating low-salinity coastal waters from the offshore waters.Physical features of the area strongly influenced phytoplankton biomass distributions, composition and size structure. After high volumes of Po River discharge several gyres and meanders occurred in the area off the river delta in February. Decreasing river discharge and the subsequent disappearance of the gyres and the spreading dilution of the river plume was observed in March. The dynamic circulation of February resulted in high photosynthetic capacity of the abundant phytoplankton population (>3.40 mg m⁻³). In March, the slow circulation and an upper low-salinity water layer, segregated from the deeper layers, resulted in lack of renewal of this water mass. The huge phytoplankton biomass, up to 15.77 mg chl a m⁻³, became nutrient depleted and showed low photosynthetic capacity. In February, an exceptionally high P_max^B, 20.11 mg C (mg chl a)⁻¹ h⁻¹ was recorded in the Po River plume area and average P_max^B was three-fold in February as compared to the March recordings, 10.50 mg C (mg chl a)⁻¹ h⁻¹ and 3.22 mg C (mg chl a)⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively.The extreme variability and values of phytoplankton biomass in the innermost plume area was not always reflected in primary production. Modeling of circulation patterns and water mass resilience in the area will help to predict phytoplankton response and biomass distributions. In the frontal area, despite a considerable variability in environmental conditions, our findings have shown that the phytoplankton assemblages will compensate for nutrient depression and hydrographic constraints, by means of size and taxonomic composition and, as a result, the variability in the photosynthetic capacity was much less pronounced than that observed for other parameters.     

Genesis of the Northern Adriatic Sea (Northern Italy) since early Pliocene

The Northern Adriatic Sea is a shallow and very flat shelf area located between the northern Apennines, the southern Alps and the Dinarides; its present day physiography is the result of the filling of a relatively deep Quaternary foredeep basin, developed due to the northeastward migration of the Apennine chain. Multichannel seismic profiles and well data have allowed documenting the stratigraphic architecture, the depositional systems and the physiographic evolution of the Northern Adriatic sea since early Pliocene time. In particular, three main depositional sequences bounded by regional unconformities were recognized. The Zanclean Sequence 1 documents first the drowning of late Messinian incised valleys and then the southward progradation of a shelf-slope system, which is inferred to be related to a tectonic phase of the Apenninic front. The Piacenzian-Gelasian Sequence 2 records a relatively rapid transgressive episode followed by minor southward progradation; the top of the sequence is associated with a major late Gelasian drowning event, linked to the NE-ward migration of the Apennine foredeep. The Calabrian to upper Pleistocene Sequence 3 testifies the infilling of accommodation previously created by the late Gelasian drowning event, and it initially accumulated in deep-water settings and then in shallow-water to continental settings. The upper part of Sequence 3, consisting of the paleo-Po deltaic system, is composed of seven high-frequency sequences inferred to record late Quaternary glacio-eustatic changes. These high-frequency sequences document the stepwise filling of the remaining accommodation, resulting in the development of the modern shelf.     

Distribution of surface-active substances in the northern Adriatic Sea

Spatial distribution and seasonal variability of surfactant activity (SA) of seawater were studied in the northern Adriatic Sea and compared to the temperature and salinity patterns in the 2-year period from February 1998 to January 2000, based on monthly surveys. Surface-active substances (SAS) were determined with alternating current voltammetry (in-phase mode) using o-nitrophenol as an electrochemical probe. A general characteristic of the SA seasonal variability for the northern Adriatic is the sinusoidal change of SA within the period of 1 year; similar behaviour was observed for the seasonal variations of temperature. Maximum SA values appeared during the summer period, while minimum SA values were measured in winter, during the period of well-mixed water layers and lower phytoplankton production. In May and October, the highest SA values were obtained in the upper seawater layer, which was ascribed to the influence of high inflow of nutrient-rich Po River freshwater. Riverine inputs indirectly favour autochthonous production processes, which result in increased concentration of organic matter (OM), particularly surface-active substances.     

Coralligenous habitat in the northern Adriatic Sea: an overview

The rocky outcrops irregularly scattered in the sandy‐muddy sea bed of the Northern Adriatic, formed by a base rock and a superimposed concretion of vegetal and animal organisms, are considered an infralittoral coralligenous habitat, according to the most recent definition. In the last four decades, research has mainly concentrated on their geology because of the question of the origin of the base rock – very similar to beachrock – which has only recently been attributed to sedimentary cementation induced by methane seeps. Studies on their macrobenthic assemblages have also been published recently, but true comparisons among them are difficult because they mostly refer only to a few selected phyla or to short‐term observations. Very few papers deal with the whole of the animal and plant communities, including all taxonomic groups and the most important environmental variables. On the basis of the literature data concerning several outcrops in the Gulf of Venice, we suggest that the Adriatic reefs differ slightly from the classic deeper coralligenous assemblages around the Mediterranean coast because they have smaller concretions of algae builders. We also suggest that the Northern Adriatic coralligenous reefs are younger than the other reefs occurring in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Disturbance and Community Pattern of Polychaetes Inhabiting Valle Magnavacca (Valli di Comacchio,Northern Adriatic Sea,Italy)

Abstract. Polychaete community structure in Valle Magnavacca, the largest basin of the Valli di Comacchio (Northern Adriatic Sea) lagoonal ecosystem, was analyzed in a three‐year study. Three shallow‐water stations were sampled at about 3‐month intervals. Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized to investigate community structure changes in relation to natural and man‐induced disturbance. The polychaete community at station 3, in the central area of the lagoon, was the most disturbed, while that of station 2 was the most well structured. We hypothesize that polychaete community structure results from regular seasonal disturbances which lead to almost predictable fluctuations in species abundance. Superimposed on these regular cycles are acute disturbance events that further reduce species abundance or exclude species from the habitat.     

Analyses of the Relationship Between Mucous Aggregates and Phytoplankton Communities in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) by Multivariate Techniques

Abstract. Multivariate techniques (cluster analysis and Principal Component Analysis) applied on phytoplankton data collected in June, July, August, and September 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993 in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) highlighted a clear temporal pattern from 1990 to 1993. In the summer of 1991, phytoplankton communities showed a dramatic increase in the dinoflagellatddiatom ratio. In particular, during June and July 1991 only few specimens of diatoms ( Cylindrorhecu closreriurn. Probosciu alata, Nirzschio longissimu , and Nitzschiu spp.) were collected; this confirmed the diatom scarcity in the phytoplankton communities before and during the appearance of large mucous aggregates (mucilage) in July 1991 in the Gulf of Trieste. The differences observed between the structure of the phytoplankton communities inside the aggregates and in the ambient waters suggested two hypotheses: 1) the aggregates were not produced in the gulf, but were carried ints the gulf by the eastern bordering current; 2) the aggregates were produced by a few, scarce species with a high exudate production that are capable of quickly reaching a high reproductive rate within the aggregates.     

The Role of a Macroalgal Covering Event on the Microphytobenthos Community in Intertidal Sediment (Marano Lagoon, Northern Adriatic Sea)

Abstract. This study examines the variation in microphytobenthos structure and functioning in an intertidal lagoon during a macroalgal covering event. Multivariate techniques, applied on the recorded data, highlighted a clear seasonal pattern except for the July sample. The sudden macroalgae ( Cladophora sp.) development, which occurred in that month, enabled us to identify the massive covering as a disturbance factor on the benthic ecosystem. This biotic anomaly affected benthic microalgal production and community respiration, shifting the ecosystem from a highly photoautotrophic to an heterotrophic condition as shown by the BTS Index. This trophic index is therefore a useful tool for identifying episodic stress events mainly in intertidal habitats.     

The Ecology of Amorphous Aggregations (Marine Snow) in the Northern Adriatic Sea:

Abstract. In the water-column of the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) flocculent, amorphous aggregates known as marine snow reach maximum density and dimensions up to 20cm in diameter during summer months. Sampling of these fragile macro-aggregates was carried out by SCUBA-divers.
A large detrital component was found to be embedded in an organic matrix together with a large array of intact phytoplankton species. Heterotrophic bacterial density ranged from 2–65 × 10⁸ cells-g^-1 (marine snow dry wt) and is therefore of the same order of magnitude as in the surface layer of the sediments of the Gulf. In terms of biomass, bacteria reached only 30–95% of heterotrophic microflagellates.
A mean abundance of marine snow of 5g (marine snow dry wt) m^-3 was obtained for the water-column above the pyenolinc. At this boundary layer, however, a mean abundance of about 10g (marine snow dry wt) m^-3 led to the formation of a distinct, 10-50cm thick layer. Based on these data and sedimentation rates of marine snow to the pyenoclinc (38 g [marine snow dry wt] m^-2 d^-1) the potential ecological significance of these macro-aggregates for the pelagic system of the Gulf of Trieste is discussed.     

The onset of fish colonization in a coastal defence structure (Chioggia,Northern Adriatic Sea)

Coastal defence structures constitute the most extensive hard substrates of the Northwestern Adriatic Sea and are known to sustain rich benthic and nektonic communities. To appreciate the pattern of colonization, we studied the fish assemblage of a recently deployed breakwater. We compared observations from two years, the different sides (landward and seaward) of the barrier, and the two fringes, characterized by timing of work completion. The results indicate that colonization, still in process, follows different patterns among species. Benthic and necto-benthic species presented a striking increase in abundance and richness in the second year of colonization, while more mobile species did not evince any variation between years. Differences in mobility among species suggest that the latter group may have reached the breakwater from nearby artificial substrates, whereas the former colonized the new structure as recruits. In addition, fish assemblages differed between the two sides, likely due to variation in the environmental characteristics, and according to depth, reflecting species preferences.     

Decadal Climatic Anomalies in the Northern Adriatic Sea Inferred from a New Oceanographic Data Set

Abstract. In 1997, Artegiani et al. depicted for the first time the seasonal climatology of the Adriatic Sea; they used the ATOS data set, formed by 5540 oceanographic stations sampled over this continental basin from 1911 to 1980. Lately, two Italian institutes working on the Adriatic Sea for long time, IBM and IRPEM, merged their recent data sets for the northernmost part of the basin. This yielded 3600 new oceanographic stations, concentrated in an area where 809 ATOS stations were located. The new data were quality checked, and then a seasonal climatology was drawn up as a first analysis step. The new climatology differed significantly from the ATOS results; this could be explained, at least partially, by the climatic changes that have occurred on this area. For example, air temperature increased significantly over northern Italy starting from 1988. Variations of the observed air temperature and Po River runoff qualitatively agree with sea surface temperature and salinity variations. A preliminary computation of heat fluxes based on ECMWF reanalysis confirms an increased heat flux to the Northern Adriatic Sea starting from 1988.     

Bioconstructional features of the coral Cladocora caespitosa (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) in the Adriatic Sea (Croatia)

The Mediterranean endemic Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767) is a colonial scleractinian coral belonging to the family Faviidae and the only zooxanthellate coral from Mediterranean whose colonies may fuse in reef‐like structures (hermatypic). Recent surveys are focused on three locations where banks occur in the Adriatic Sea (Croatia): near Prvi? Island in the northern Adriatic, near Pag Island in the central Adriatic and in Veliko jezero (Mljet National Park) in the southern Adriatic. The C. caespitosa bank in Veliko jezero covers an area more than 650 m² and is thus the largest bank of C. caespitosa found to date. The strong sea currents, which occur as a result of tidal exchange in the channel, appear to favour the growth of the bank. The goal of the study was to present the influence of major environmental factors upon the build‐up process of the coral bank. Biometrical parameters in the C. caespitosa colonies like diameter of the calyces, polyp ash free dry weight (AFDW), corallite linear growth rate and index of sphericity were investigated and compared from these three locations. The morphology of coral banks from the Adriatic Sea and the disposition of the biometrical values are affected by the sea currents, temperature and sedimentation.     

On the Occurrence of Oceanic Tintinnines with Particular Consideration of the SpeciesAmphorides laackmanni(Jörgensen, 1924), (Ciliophora, Oligotrichida, Tintinnina) in the Northern Adriatic Sea

Abstract. Investigations into the occurrence of oceanic tintinnines in the northern Adriatic Sea were carried out during 62 cruises between November 1979 and September 1995. A contribution to the knowledge of the ecological conditions behind the occurrence of oceanic tintinnines, particularly a consideration of the species Amphorides luuckmanni (Tintinnina) in the northern Adriatic Sea, is presented in this paper. Oceanic tintinnines are usually very rare organisms and their occurrence in the northern Adriatic is connected with the inflow of oligotrophic water masses from the southern Adriatic in autumn. After exceptionally high freshwater discharge from the Po River caused an intensive diatom bloom (October 1993), in early November, with an intrusion of water of high salinity from the south, the mass occurrence of the rare species A. luuckmunni in northern Adriatic open waters was noted, with a maximum of 890 indiv., I^-1. This numerical abundance is the highest ever registered for oceanic tintinnines in the Adriatic Sea. Therefore it may be assumed that oceanic tintinnines occasionally play an important role in the food web in the northern Adriatic pelagic community.     

Changes in biomass structure and trophic status of the plankton communities in a highly dynamic ecosystem (Gulf of Venice,Northern Adriatic Sea)

The changes in the plankton biomass structure in relation to nutrient inputs were studied in the Gulf of Venice (Northern Adriatic Sea), an area characterized by a very marked trophic state variability. The investigation was carried out at two stations, in March, May and July 2005 and 2006, considering the whole water column. The size structure (from picoplankton to mesozooplankton) of both autotrophs and heterotrophs was analysed. Signals of diluted waters and nutrient inputs were more marked in 2005 than in 2006. In 2005, the total plankton biomass was almost double (87 ± 37 μg·C·l^?1) that in 2006 (44 ± 26 μg·C·l^?1). The variations were determined mainly by phytoplankton, with a 70% decrease, and a shift from a community dominated by microphytoplankton (49 ± 12%) in 2005 to one dominated by bacteria (43 ± 11%) in 2006 was observed. The relationship between the heterotrophic (H) and autotrophic (A) biomass indicated a rapid decline of the H/A ratio with increasing phytoplankton biomass. This study, although temporally limited, is consistent with the results reported for other marine environments and it seems to confirm the importance of nutrient inputs in structuring the biomass of plankton community.     

Recolonization and recovery dynamics of the macrozoobenthos after sand extraction in relict sand bottoms of the Northern Adriatic Sea

The long-term effects of sand extraction on macrozoobenthic communities were investigated in an offshore area in the Northern Adriatic Sea characterised by relict sands formed during the last Adriatic post-glacial transgression. Surveys were carried out before, during and 1, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months after extraction at three impacted and seven reference stations. The operations did not influence the physical characteristics of the sediment, but they caused almost complete defaunation at dredged sites. Univariate and multivariate analyses highlighted that the macrozoobenthic community responses to the dredging operations were (1) a rapid initial recolonisation phase by the dominant taxa present before dredging, which took place 6-12 months after sand extraction; (2) a slower recovery phase, that ended 30 months after the operations, when the composition and structure of the communities were similar in the dredged and reference areas. This pattern of recolonisation-recovery fits well with the commonly encountered scenario where the substratum merely remains unchanged after marine aggregate extraction.     

Factors affecting habitat occupancy of fish assemblage in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea)

Species composition, richness and abundance of the fish assemblage were studied over six different inshore macrohabitats in the southern part of the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) using the visual counts technique. Fifteen environmental variables were taken into consideration in order to determine microhabitat preferences of fish species, using canonical correspondence analysis and electivity indices. The results suggest that the structure of the fish assemblage in shallow habitats is affected by a large number of interplaying factors. Depth, type of bottom and vegetation cover – incorporating both abiotic and biotic variables – are some of the factors responsible for coastal fish distribution. Microhabitat preferences for 29 fish species are presented in the depth range from 0.5 to 3 m.     

The Distribution of Midwater Fish Maurolicus muelleri (GMELIN) Eggs in the Jabuka Pit Region of the Adriatic Sea

Abstract. The distribution of M. muelleri eggs throughout the Adriatic Sea were studied in relation to environmental conditions. Eggs were present in all seasons, with the highest concentrations in the small region of the Jabuka pit (273m depth). The authors point out that the geomorphological, hydrographic and trophic conditions in this small region of the Adriatic are favourable for the presence of greater M. muelleri populations.     

Ecology of the Symbiotic Coral Cladocora caespitosa (L.) (Faviidae, Scleractinia) in the Bay of Piran (Adriatic Sea): I. Distribution and Biometry

Abstract. Cladocora caespitosa is a relatively common, colonial, symbiotic, scleractinian coral in the Mediterranean Sea. It inhabits a wide ecological range: hard and soft bottoms, shallow waters or depths to about 50m, calm water or sites exposed to strong currents and wave action. The present study compares the distribution of this coral at two sites, one shallow (3m — wave exposed) and one deeper (12m — soft bottom).
Different parameters including dry weight, volume, and skeletal growth rates were investigated. The polyp biomass, carbon content, and overall area of fully expanded polyps were also measured. Equations are given for the relationship of skeleton diameter to polyp tissue dry weight as well as skeleton diameter to the possible filter area of fully expanded polyps.
C. caespitosa harbors a rich community of vagile and sessile organisms within the skeleton. The cryptofauna was sorted to higher taxonomic levels and their biomass determined. Several highly significant linear relationship were found between skeleton dry weight, volume and cryptofauna biomass. Thus, the determination of colony volume allows the prediction of cryptofauna biomass.
The interstitial space is dominated by sponges - many of them borers - which erode the corallites close to the living tissue until they break off from the colony. At the deeper sampling site, 26% of all colonies are smaller than 2 cm and 48% are smaller than 5 cm. The fragmentation process is discussed with respect to reproduction.