The intense shipping traffic characterising the Adriatic Sea favours the spread of marine organisms. Yet, a study of 12 Adriatic ports (4 on the western side and 8 on the eastern side of the basin) found that non-indigenous species (NIS) accounted for only 4% of the benthic communities settled on hard substrates. The cirripeds Amphibalanus amphitrite and Balanus trigonus, found in 8 harbours, were the most common invaders followed by Amphibalanus eburneus, the ascidian Styela plicata, and the bivalve Magallana gigas. The highest percentage of NIS was recorded in Venice and Ploče, the harbours with the least rich native communities; the lowest percentage was retrieved in Trieste, Koper, Pula, and Rijeka, the harbours hosting the highest species diversity. In contrast, the ports of Bari and Ancona showed both high NIS percentages and highly diversified communities.
The present paper presents a collection and synthesis of d~ta found in numerous publications on Adriatic Sea nematofauna, as well as unpublished data mentioned in annotations. For this purpose, a chronological order ol investigations and a general survey of the species that occurred in the Adriatic Sea are given. In all, 281 free-living nematode species comprised in 133 genera and 34 families were discerned and listed in a taxonomic review, according to their spatial distribution. In special cases, descriptions at habitat features were noted. The position of species characterized by high population densities, their importance, and contribution to the faunistic composition of certain parts of the Adriatic were also discussed. The summary of the results of prevailing research on free-living marine nematodes serw.~s ds a tool for making distinctions concerning the research level and state of nemdtofaun~ knowledge in different parts of the Adriatic Sea. Northern Adriatic nemato{auna has been consi(terably more intensively inw.~stigated than that of the Central and South Adriatic.
Port baseline surveys (PBS) provide species inventories in and around ports, with a focus on non-indigenous species that may have been introduced by vessels, primarily via ballast water. PBS are an essential tool to support effective management strategies for non-indigenous as well as native harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens (HAOP). This paper describes the methodology of PBS that were conducted in 12 Adriatic ports. The PBS employed existing protocols that were adapted to meet the characteristics of the Adriatic sites. Their results are reported in several papers included in this special issue, each of which is devoted to a specific community. An overview of existing surveys protocols-which provide valuable support to decision-making and to design effective monitoring of non-indigenous species-is also supplied.
Non-indigenous species (NIS) in the Mediterranean Sea. It presents a report on the softbottom macrobenthos from the five Adriatic ports: Bari, Ancona (Italy), Koper (Slovenia), Pula, Rijeka (Croatia), with a focus on the presence and contribution of NIS to native assemblages. Out of 451 species identified, only four were common to all ports. A total of eight NIS were recorded, five in surveyed ports and three in the lagoon connected to the Port of Koper. The highest number of NIS was recorded in Bari, and the highest abundance in Ancona and Bari. Generally, the number, abundance and contribution of NIS seems too low to cause a substantial impact on native communities in surveyed ports. The suitability of methods adopted for PBS for soft-bottom NIS was discussed and suggestion for methodological improvement is provided.
SUMMARY:The qualitative and quantitative composition of epibiontic meiofauna were studied in the C. taxifolia settlement recently recorded in the Malinska port (Krk Island, northern Adriatic Sea). The samples were taken monthly, from May 1998 till June 1999 covering the complete life cycle of C. taxifolia. In total, 14 meiofaunal taxa were recorded. The meiofauna assemblage was characterized by the dominance of Copepoda (58%), the subdominant position of Nematoda (25%), and the low single participation of other taxa. The results of monthly monitoring indicated a seasonal trend in meiofaunal distribution. The beginning of the summer was a period of a low meiofaunal abundance (139 ind. sample -1 ), and also a start of its exponential increase. The autumn was characterized by a fairly high abundance (~1000-1500 ind. sample -1 ) and moderate variation of the constituent taxa levels. During the winter exponential growth (to about 10000 ind. sample -1 ) and high faunal diversity was detected. In subsequent months meiofaunal abundance reached over 19.000 ind. sample -1 -remaining extremely high until May when C. taxifolia fronds disappeared. The increase of meiofaunal abundance was positively correlated with the increase of the algal frond's length during the summer-autumn period, and with the increasing quantity of sediment particles and detritus accumulated on algal fronds during the C. taxifolia vegetative cycle. This study has shown that C. taxifolia can provide a suitable habitat for numerous benthic invertebrates, although it is known as a species that reduces the benthic biodiversity. -Se estudió la composición cualitativa y cuantitativa de la meiofauna epibionte en la implantación de Caulerpa taxifolia recientemente registrada en el puerto de Malinska (isla de Krk, mar Adriático septentrional). Se tomaron muestras mensuales, desde mayo de 1998 a junio de 1999, cubriendo el ciclo biológi-co completo de C. taxifolia. En total, se registraron 14 táxones de meiofauna. La comunidad de la meiofauna se caracterizó por la dominancia de copépodos (58%), la posición subdominante de los nemátodos (25%) y la participación reducida de los demás grupos. Los resultados del seguimiento mensual indicaron una tendencia estacional en la distribución de la meiofauna. El inicio del verano fue un período de abundancia reducida de la meiofauna (139 ind. muestra -1 ), y también el comienzo de su aumento exponencial. El otoño se caracterizó por una abundancia relativamente elevada (~ 1000-1500 ind. muestra -1 ) y por la variación moderada de los niveles taxonómicos constituyentes. Durante el invierno se detectó un crecimiento exponencial (hasta cerca de 10.000 ind. muestra -1 ) y una elevada diversidad faunística. En los meses siguientes la abundancia de la meiofauna alcanzó unos 19.000 ind. muestra -1 , y siguió muy alta hasta mayo, cuando desaparecieron los frondes de C. taxifolia. El aumento en la abundancia de la meiofauna estuvo correlacionado positivamente con el aumento de la longitud de los frondes algales durante el período de...
Temporal changes in biomass, rate of photosynthetic activity and chemical composition of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (Ucr.) Asch., under the influence of various environmental factors, were followed in the Faborsa Bay, Northern Adriatic. Throughout the year the estimated average biomass was about 130 g dry wt m -2 with annual production of 80 g C m -2 . In general, leaf length, biomass and production showed clear seasonality, with maximum values during the summer period (July-September) and clear minima in winter. Net oxygen production was closely related to biomass, leaf length, chlorophyll concentration, water temperature and incident light intensity. No clear seasonality was observed in the chemical composition (protein, fats, total phosphorus) of C. nodosa. Over the annual cycle, the range of measured variables was 10-16% for protein, 1.7-3.1% for fat, 0.3-0.8% for phosphorus, 1.6-2.6 for nitrogen in leaves, and 5-17% for protein, 0.9-3.2% for fat, 0.1-0.6% for phosphorus and 0.9-2.8 for nitrogen in roots.
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