Inter-annual variations of planktonic food webs in the northern Adriatic Sea

Umani, Serena Fonda; Milani, Luisella; Borme, Diego; Olazabal, Alessandra de; Parlato, Stefania; Robert, Paul; Kraus, Romina; Lučić, Davor; Njire, Jakica; Totti, Cecilia; Romagnoli, Tiziana; Pompei, Marinella; Cangini, Monica

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.09.016

Cited by 48 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In such environments, groups may need to rely on individuals with long-term knowledge about spatio-temporal distribution of prey sources, which might explain lack of sex segregation and greater population connectedness (Lusseau et al 2003). The northern Adriatic is characterised by large spatio-temporal variability in nutrient input and productivity (Fonda Umani et al 2005; Mozetič et al 2010, 2012), and our study area contains relatively uniform bottom topography. With lack of major prey-aggregating bottom features, spatio-temporal distribution of prey is likely highly variable, which may promote network connectedness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural and temporal partitioning of dolphin social groups in the northern Adriatic Sea

Genov

Centrih²,

Kotnjek³

et al. 2018

Mar Biol

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Complex social structure is a prominent feature in several mammal species. Such structure may lead to behavioural diversity not only among populations, but also within a single population, where different subsets of a population may exhibit different types of behaviour. As a consequence, understanding social structure is not only interesting biologically, but may also help conservation and management efforts, because not all segments of a population necessarily respond to or interact with human activities in the same way, or at the same time. In this study, we examined the social structure of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Trieste and adjacent waters (northern Adriatic Sea), based on a 9-year dataset, using social network metrics and association indices. We assessed whether different segments of the population show differences in behaviour and interactions with fisheries. Dolphin social network was structured into distinct social clusters of mixed sexes. We found no evidence of male alliances. The two largest social clusters overlapped spatially, but not temporally, as they used the same area at different times of day. Such diel temporal partitioning does not appear to have been documented in cetaceans previously. The two clusters also differed in ways they interact with fisheries, as one regularly interacted with trawlers, while the other did not. This study demonstrates how different segments of animal populations can interact differently with human activities and in turn respond differently to anthropogenic impacts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural and temporal partitioning of dolphin social groups in the northern Adriatic Sea

Genov

Centrih²,

Kotnjek³

et al. 2018

Mar Biol

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“…The increased intensity and frequency of the phenomenon coincided with the phosphate ban in detergents in the eighties [5] and the diatom dominance in phytoplankton populations as a consequence. A relationship between phytoplankton biomass, dissolved carbohydrate concentrations and mucilage episodes is at present still not clarified [6–9]. Many studies have already been published that relate diatom extracellular polymer production with the phenomenon of macroscopic gel formation in the northern Adriatic Sea, in particular diatom species Cylindrotheca closterium [10–12], which is being regularly observed as a dominant species in the macroaggregates [11,13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymer Networks Produced by Marine Diatoms in the Northern Adriatic Sea

et al. 2011

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Using high resolution molecular technique of atomic force microscopy, we address the extracellular polymer production of Adriatic diatom Cylindrotheca closterium analyzed at the single cell level and the supramolecular organization of gel phase isolated from the Northern Adriatic macroaggregates. Our results revealed that extracellular polysaccharides freshly produced by marine diatoms can self-assemble directly to form gel network characteristics of the macroscopic gel phase in the natural aquatorium. Based on the experiments performed with isolated polysaccharide fractions of C. closterium and of macroaggregates gel phase, we demonstrated that the polysaccharide self-assembly into gel network can proceed independent of any bacterial mediation or interaction with inorganic particles.

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“…Mucilage is made of exopolymeric compounds with highly colloidal properties that are released by marine organisms [7] through different processes, including phytoplankton exudation of photosyntetically-derived carbohydrates produced under stressful conditions [8], [9] (e.g., P-limited diatoms that produce large amounts of polysaccharides [10]–[14]) and through death and decomposition of cell-wall debris [15], [16]. Such a release can be coupled with a limited ability of prokaryotes to hydrolyze these exopolymers by means of extracellular enzymes [17]–[18] leading to the release and accumulation of large molecular weight compounds in the system [19]–[26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change and the Potential Spreading of Marine Mucilage and Microbial Pathogens in the Mediterranean Sea

2009

Self Cite

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BackgroundMarine snow (small amorphous aggregates with colloidal properties) is present in all oceans of the world. Surface water warming and the consequent increase of water column stability can favour the coalescence of marine snow into marine mucilage, large marine aggregates representing an ephemeral and extreme habitat. Marine mucilage characterize aquatic systems with altered environmental conditions.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe investigated, by means of molecular techniques, viruses and prokaryotes within the mucilage and in surrounding seawater to examine the potential of mucilage to host new microbial diversity and/or spread marine diseases. We found that marine mucilage contained a large and unexpectedly exclusive microbial biodiversity and hosted pathogenic species that were absent in surrounding seawater. We also investigated the relationship between climate change and the frequency of mucilage in the Mediterranean Sea over the last 200 years and found that the number of mucilage outbreaks increased almost exponentially in the last 20 years. The increasing frequency of mucilage outbreaks is closely associated with the temperature anomalies.Conclusions/SignificanceWe conclude that the spreading of mucilage in the Mediterranean Sea is linked to climate-driven sea surface warming. The mucilage can act as a controlling factor of microbial diversity across wide oceanic regions and could have the potential to act as a carrier of specific microorganisms, thereby increasing the spread of pathogenic bacteria.

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Inter-annual variations of planktonic food webs in the northern Adriatic Sea

Cited by 48 publications

References 22 publications

Behavioural and temporal partitioning of dolphin social groups in the northern Adriatic Sea

Behavioural and temporal partitioning of dolphin social groups in the northern Adriatic Sea

Polymer Networks Produced by Marine Diatoms in the Northern Adriatic Sea

Climate Change and the Potential Spreading of Marine Mucilage and Microbial Pathogens in the Mediterranean Sea

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