Impact of environmental factors on phytoplankton composition and their marker pigments in the northern Adriatic Sea

Eker-Develi, Elif

Phytoplankton composition, abundance and carbon biomass were investigated at monthly intervals during 2006—2007 at a coastal site, “Acqua Alta”an oceanographic tower, in the northern Adriatic Sea. Results were compared with chlorophyll a concentrations of phy- toplankton classes attributed by HPLC-CHEMTAX analysis. Changes in the taxonomic structure were associated with environmental parameters. The total carbon biomass of phytoplankton was positively correlated with the temperature and negatively correlated with silicate concen- trations. Nutrient concentrations were higher in the winter—spring period than in the summer- autumn period. The highest carbon biomass and abundance of phytoplankton were observed during summer—autumn months. Diatoms were the group that had the highest contributi...