Zooplankton responses to hydrological and trophic variability in a Mediterranean coastal ecosystem (Lesina Lagoon,South Adriatic Sea) |
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Authors: | Cinzia Brugnano Raffaele D'Adamo Adele Fabbrocini Antonia Granata Giacomo Zagami |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy cinzia.brugnano@unime.it;3. CNRISMAR - Istituto di Scienze Marine , Lesina , Italy;4. Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy |
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Abstract: | Spatial and temporal variability in zooplankton was studied at eight stations located in the Lesina Lagoon (South Adriatic Sea) Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a (in the lagoon) at these stations were also assessed. The zooplankton community was characterised by clear seasonal oscillations and mostly represented by copepods and their larvae. The dominant copepod species were Calanipeda aquaedulcis and Acartia tonsa, which exhibited spatial–temporal segregation in the lagoon. C. aquaedulcis copepodites seemed to be better adapted to oligotrophic and oligohaline conditions compared with the A. tonsa population. The invasive species A. tonsa has completely replaced the formerly abundant Acartia margalefi. A positive correlation was found between abundances, total species numbers and trophic state. An increasing abundance trend was shown from the lagoon towards the sea. The highest diversity indices were recorded at the two channel inlets, during high tide due to the absence of a clear dominance of one or more coastal species and the co-occurrence of species of lagoon and marine origin. |
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Keywords: | Lesina Lagoon Mediterranean Sea zooplankton assemblage spatial–temporal distribution trophic state alien species |
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