Publication Date:
2012-04-28
Description:
Changes in the tintinnid community were studied in the neritic area of the middle Adriatic Sea from January 1998 until November 1999. Variability in tintinnid abundance showed a clear seasonal pattern with winter–spring and autumn maxima. The vertical distribution of tintinnid populations was affected by their taxonomic structure. A total of 51 taxa belonging to 11 families and 20 genera were identified. Helicostomella subulata , Codonellopsis schabi , Stenosemella nivalis and Salpingella decurtata were the dominant species. Species richness was positively related to overall abundance temporally at each station, and was also affected by environmental trophic state. The total tintinnid abundance, the dominant species abundance and the dominance grade increased significantly with increasing trophic state, while the diversity indices decreased. Hence we conclude that abundance and dominance may be straight indicators of ecosystem trophic state. In addition to environmental trophic state and food availability, tintinnid species distribution was strongly affected by temperature, which was the most important environmental factor determining their seasonality.
Print ISSN:
0142-7873
Electronic ISSN:
1464-3774
Topics:
Biology
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