Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T23:28:00.189Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Hydrography, nutrients, and plankton along the longitudinal section of the Ombla Estuary (south-eastern Adriatic)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2012

Marina Carić*
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, PO Box 83, HR-20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Nenad Jasprica
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, PO Box 83, HR-20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Frano Kršinić
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Setaliste I. Mestrovica 63, PO Box 500, HR-21000 Split, Croatia
Ivica Vilibić
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Setaliste I. Mestrovica 63, PO Box 500, HR-21000 Split, Croatia
Mirna Batistić
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, PO Box 83, HR-20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: M. Carić, Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, PO Box 83, HR-20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia email: marina.caric-gluncic@unidu.hr

Abstract

Abundance and structure of phytoplankton and zooplankton, along with their relationship to hydrographic conditions were determined in the highly stratified estuary of the karstic Ombla River, south-eastern Adriatic. Sampling was carried out during 17 cruises within a one year period. River discharge lowered surface salinity and enriched the estuary with NO3 and SiO4. Nutrient ratios suggested that PO4 was the most likely limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth in the estuary. Diatoms were present in low numbers and dominated the winter–early spring period. Dinoflagellates dominated from the end of May to August. Phytoplankton and zooplankton were composed mostly of marine species and their abundance decreased in seaward direction. Planktonic populations are controlled by the river runoff, temperature, salinity, nutrient concentrations and grazing. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that no algal blooms have been recorded due to short renewal time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bérard-Therriault, L., Poulin, M. and Bossé, L. (1999) Guide d'identification du phytoplancton marin de l'estuaire et du Golfe du Saint-Laurent incluant également certains protozoaires. Ottawa: CNRC–NRC.Google Scholar
Bode, A. and Dortch, Q. (1996) Uptake and regeneration of inorganic nitrogen in coastal waters influenced by the Mississippi River: spatial and seasonal variations. Journal of Plankton Research 18, 22512268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bojanić, N., Šolić, M., Krstulović, N., Šestanović, S., Marasović, I. and Ninčević, Ž. (2005) Temporal variability in abundance and biomass of ciliates and copepods in the eutrophicated part of Kaštela Bay (Middle Adriatic Sea). Helgoland Marine Research 59, 107120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonacci, O. (2001) Analysis of the maximum discharge of karst spring. Hydrogeology Journal 9, 328338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braunschweig, F., Martins, F., Chambel, P. and Neves, R. (2003) A methodology to estimate renewal time scales in estuaries: the Tagus estuary case. Ocean Dynamics 53, 137145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bresnan, E., Hay, S., Hughes, S.L., Fraser, S., Rasmussen, J., Webster, L., Slesser, G., Dunn, J. and Heath, M.R. (2009) Seasonal and interannual variation in the phytoplankton community in the north east of Scotland. Journal of Sea Research 61, 1725.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burić, Z., Viličić, D., Cetinić, I., Caput, K., Carić, M. and Olujić, G. (2005) Taxonomic composition of phytoplankton in the Zrmanja estuary (Adriatic Sea). Periodicum Biologorum 107, 305312.Google Scholar
Burić, Z., Cetinić, I., Viličić, D., Caput Mihalić, K., Carić, M. and Olujić, G. (2007) Spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton in a highly stratified estuary (Zrmanja, Adriatic Sea). Marine Ecology 28, 169177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cassie, R.M. (1962) Frequency distribution models in the ecology of plankton and other organisms. Journal of Animal Ecology 31, 6592.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cetinić, I., Viličić, D., Burić, Z. and Olujić, G. (2006) Phytoplankton seasonality in a highly stratified karstic estuary (Krka, Adriatic Sea). Hydrobiologia 555, 3140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chícharo, L., Chícharo, M.A. and Ben-Hamadou, R. (2006) Use of a hydrotechnical infrastructure (Alqueva Dam) to regulate planktonic assemblages in the Guadiana estuary: basis for the sustainable water and ecosystem services management. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 70, 318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christian, R.R., Boyer, J.N. and Stanley, D.W. (1991) Multi-year distribution patterns of nutrients within the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina. Marine Ecology Progress Series 71, 259274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cloern, J.E., Alpine, A.E., Cole, B.E., Wong, R.L.J., Arthur, J.F. and Ball, M.D. (1983) River discharge controls phytoplankton dynamics in northern San Francisco Bay estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 16, 415429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cloern, J.E. and Jassby, A.D. (2010) Patterns and scales of phytoplankton variability in estuarine–coastal ecosystems. Estuaries and Coasts 33, 230241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costa, L.S., Huszar, V.L.M. and Ovalle, A.R. (2009) Phytoplankton functional groups in a tropical estuary: hydrological control and nutrient limitation. Estuaries and Coasts 32, 508521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Creswell, J., Karasack, R., Johnson, R. and Shayler, H. (2001) Nitrogen and phosphorus limitation in Mill and Green Ponds and the effects of nutrient enrichment. An Electronic Journal on Environmental Studies. Macalester Environmental Review. Available at: http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/macenvreview/nitro_phos.htm (accessed 3 April 2001).Google Scholar
Cupp, E.E. (1943) Marine plankton diatoms of the west coast of North America. Bulletin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography 5, 1238.Google Scholar
Daly Yahia-Kéfi, O., Souissi, S., Gómez, F. and Daly Yahia, M.N. (2005) Spatio-temporal distribution of the dominant diatom and dinoflagellate species in the Bay of Tunis (SW Mediterranean Sea). Mediterranean Marine Science 6, 1734.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Day, J.W., Hall, C.A.S., Kemp, W.M. and Yanez-Arancibia, A. (1989) Estuarine ecology. New York: John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
Domingues, R.B., Barbosa, A. and Galvão, H. (2005) Nutrients, light and phytoplankton succession in a temperate estuary (the Guadiana, south-western Iberia). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 64, 249260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Domingues, R.B. and Galvão, H. (2007) Phytoplankton and environmental variability in a dam regulated temperate estuary. Hydrobiologia 586, 117134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dong, L.F., Nedwell, D.B. and Stott, A. (2006) Sources of nitrogen used for denitrification and nitrous oxide formation in sediments of the hypernutrified Colne, the nutrified Humber, and the oligotrophic Conwy estuaries, United Kingdom. Limnology and Oceanography 51, 545557.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dorth, Q. and Whitledge, T.E. (1992) Does nitrogen or silicon limit phytoplankton production in the Mississippi River plume and nearby regions? Continental Shelf Research 12, 12931309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dyer, K.R. (1991) Circulation and mixing in stratified estuaries. Marine Chemistry 32, 111120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, T.R., Harding, L.W., Stanley, D.W. and Ward, L.G. (1988) Phytoplankton, nutrients and turbidity in the Chesapeake, Delaware and Hudson estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 27, 6193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glé, C., Del Amo, Y., Sautour, B., Laborde, P. and Chardy, P. (2008) Variability of nutrients and phytoplankton primary production in a shallow macrotidal coastal ecosystem (Arcachon Bay, France). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 76, 642656.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gobler, J.C., Cullison, L.A., Koch, F., Harder, T.M. and Krause, J.W. (2005) Influence of freshwater flow, ocean exchange, and seasonal cycles on phytoplankton-nutrient dynamics in a temporarily open estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 65, 275288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, D.C. Jr,Boudreau, P.R., Mann, K.H., Ong, J.-E., Silvert, W.L., Smith, S.V., Wattayakorn, G., Wulff, F. and Yanagi, T. (1996) LOICZ Biogeochemical Modelling Guidelines. LOICZ Reports and Studies No 5, 196.Google Scholar
Grasshoff, K., Ehrhardt, M. and Kremling, K. (1983) Methods of seawater analysis. 2nd editon. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie GmbH.Google Scholar
Gržetić, Z. (1990) Basic hydrologic and chemical properties of Krka estuary. PhD thesis. Institute Rudjer Bošković, Zagreb, Croatia.Google Scholar
Hasle, G.R. and Syvertsen, E.E. (1996) Marine diatoms. In Tomas, C.R. (ed.) Identifying marine diatoms and dinoflagellates. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, pp. 5385Google Scholar
Heimdal, B.R. (1993) Modern coccolithophorids. In Tomas, C.R. (ed.) Marine phytoplankton: a guide to naked flagellates and coccolithophorids. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, pp. 147247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ho, A.Y.T., Xu, J., Yin, K., Jiang, Y., Yuan, X., He, L., Anderson, D.M., Lee, J.H.W. and Harrison, P.J. (2010) Phytoplankton biomass and production in subtropical Hong Kong waters: influence of the Pearl River outflow. Estuaries and Coasts 33, 170181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holm-Hansen, O., Lorenzen, C.J., Holmes, R.W. and Strickland, J.D.H. (1965) Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. Journal du Conseil, Conseil Permanent International pour l'Exploration de la Mer, Copenhague 301, 315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horner, R.A. (2002) A taxonomic guide to some common phytoplankton. Dorchester: Biopress Limited, Dorset Press.Google Scholar
Hustedt, F. (1930) Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Österreichs und der Schweiz mit Berücksichtigung der übrigen Länder Europas sowie der angrenzenden Meeresgebeite. Rabenhorst's Kryptogramen-Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der SchweizBand VII. Leipzig: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft m. b. H.Google Scholar
Ibaňez, C., Pont, D. and Prat, N. (1997) Characterization of the Ebre and Rhone estuaries: a basis for defining and classifying salt-wedge estuaries. Limnology and Oceanography 42, 89101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ICES (2007) Report of the Working group of zooplankton ecology (WGZE), 26–29 March 2007, Riga, Latvia. ICES CM 2007/OCC, 04, 68 pp.Google Scholar
Ivančić, I. and Degobbis, D. (1984) An optimal manual procedure for ammonia analysis in natural waters by the indophenol blue method. Water Research 18, 11431147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jasprica, N. and Carić, M. (1997) A comparison of phytoplankton biomass estimators and their environmental correlates in the Mali Ston Bay (Southern Adriatic). P.S.Z.N.: Marine Ecology 18, 3550.Google Scholar
Jasprica, N. and Carić, M. (2001) Planktonic diatoms and their relation to environmental factors at three stations in the Southern Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea. In Jahn, R., Kociolek, J.P., Witkowski, A. and Compère, P. (eds) Lange-Bertalot-Festschrift: Studies on Diatoms. Berlin: Gantner, Ruggell, pp. 517536.Google Scholar
Jeong, H.J., Yoo, Y.D., Park, J.Y., Song, J.Y., Kim, S.T., Lee, S.H., Kim, K.Y. and Yih, W.H. (2005) Feeding by phototrophic red-tide dinoflagellates: five species newly revealed and six species previously known to be mixotrophic. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 40, 133150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kasai, A., Kurikawa, Y., Ueno, M., Robert, D. and Yamashita, Y. (2010) Salt-wedge intrusion of seawater and its implication for phytoplankton dynamics in the Yura Estuary, Japan. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 86, 408414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kimmerer, W.J. (2002) Physical, biological, and management responses to variable freshwater flow into the San Francisco estuary. Estuaries 25, 12751290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kimmerer, W.J. (2005) Long-term changes in apparent uptake of silica in the San Francisco estuary. Limnology and Oceanography 50, 793798.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klausmeier, C.A., Litchman, E., Daufresne, T. and Levin, S.A. (2004) Optimal nitrogen-to-phosphorus stoichiometry of phytoplankton. Nature 429, 171174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kohl, J.G. and Niklisch, A. (1988) Ökophysiologie der Algen. Berlin: Akademie Verlag.Google Scholar
Kocum, E., Nedwell, D.B. and Underwood, J.C. (2002) Regulation of phytoplankton primary production along a hypernutrified estuary. Marine Ecology Progress Series 231, 1322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kršinić, F. (1980) Comparison of methods used in micro-zooplankton research in neritic waters of the Eastern Adriatic. Nova Thalassia 4, 91106.Google Scholar
Kršinić, F., Viličić, D., Jasprica, N., Carić, M. and Mikuš, J. (1991) Ekološke karakteristike i onečišćenje Gruškog zaljeva. Pomorski Zbornik 29, 355381.Google Scholar
Lehman, P.W. (2007) The influence of phytoplankton community composition on primary productivity along the riverine to freshwater tidal continuum in the San Joaquin River, California. Estuaries and Coasts 30, 8293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lemaire, E., Abril, G., De Wit, R. and Etcheber, H. (2002) Distribution of phytoplankton pigments in nine European estuaries and implications for an estuarine typology. Biogeochemistry 59, 523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lionard, M., Muylaert, K., Hanoutti, A., Maris, T., Tackx, M. and Vyverman, W. (2008) Inter-annual variability in phytoplankton summer blooms in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Schelde estuary (Belgium). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 79, 694700.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lopes, C.B., Lillebo, A.I., Dias, J.M., Pereira, E., Vale, C. and Duarte, A.C. (2007) Nutrient dynamics and seasonal succession of phytoplankton assemblages in a Southern European estuary: Ria de Aveiro, Portugal. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 71, 480490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mallin, M.A., Paerl, H.W. and Rudek, J. (1991) Seasonal phytoplankton composition, productivity and biomass in the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 32, 609623.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malone, T.C., Crocker, L.H., Pike, S.E. and Wendler, B.W. (1988) Influence of river flow on the dynamics of phytoplankton production in a partially stratified estuary. Marine Ecology Progress Series 48, 235249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marshall, H.G., Burchardt, L. and Lacouture, R. (2005) A review of phytoplankton composition within Chesapeake Bay and its tidal estuaries. Journal of Plankton Research 27, 10831102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nedwell, D.B., Dong, L.F., Sage, A. and Underwoodl, G.J.C. (2002) Variations of the nutrient loads to the mainland UK estuaries: correlation with catchment areas, urbanization and coastal eutrophication. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 54, 951970.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neill, M. (2005) A method to determine which nutrient is limiting for plant growth in estuarine waters—at any salinity. Marine Pollution Bulletin 50, 945955.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nixon, S. (1995) Coastal marine eutrophication—a definition, social causes, and future concerns. Ophelia 41, 199219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olujić, G., Mihanović, H., Carić, M. and Gržetić, Z. (2007) Exchange of water in the stratified Zrmanja Estuary (Adriatic Sea). In Ozhan, Erdal (ed.) Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal: MEDCOAST 07 Ankara: MEDCOAST Secretariat, 1-1473-1-1473, pp. 12451252.Google Scholar
Pennock, J.R. and Sharp, J.H. (1986) Phytoplankton production in the Delaware estuary: temporal and spatial variability. Marine Ecology Progress Series 34, 143155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Polat, S. and Piner, M.P. (2002) Nutrients and phytoplankton in the Babadillimani Bight, northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences 31, 188194.Google Scholar
Redfield, A.C., Ketchum, B.H. and Richards, A. (1963) The influence of organisms on the composition of sea water. In Hill, M.M. (ed.) The sea, volume 2. New York: Wiley Interscience, pp. 2677.Google Scholar
Rocha, C., Galvão, H. and Barbosa, A. (2002) Role of transient silicon limitation in the development of cyanobacteria blooms in the Guadiana estuary, south-western Iberia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 228, 3545.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saraiva, S., Pina, P., Martins, F. and Santos, M. (2007) Modelling the influence of nutrient loads on Portuguese estuaries. Hydrobiologia 587, 518.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sierra, J.P., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., González Del Río, J., Flos, J., Movellán, E., Mösso, C., Martínez, R., Rodilla, M., Falcoand, S. and Romero, I. (2002) Spatial distribution of nutrients in the Ebro estuary and plume. Continental Shelf Research 22, 361378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sin, Y., Wetzel, R.L. and Anderson, I.C. (2000) Seasonal variations of size-fractionated phytoplankton along the salinity gradient in the York River estuary, Virginia (USA). Journal of Plankton Research 22, 19451960.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, V.H. (2006) Responses of estuarine and coastal marine phytoplankton to nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment. Limnology and Oceanography 51, 377384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soetaert, K., Middelburg, J.J., Heip, C., Meire, P., van Damme, S. and Maris, T. (2006) Long-term change in dissolved inorganic nutrients in the heterotrophic Sheldt estuary (Belgium, The Netherlands). Limnology and Oceanography 51, 409423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sommer, U. (1991) The application of the Droop-model of nutrient limitation to natural populations of phytoplankton. Verhandlungen des Internationalen Verein Limnologie 24, 791794.Google Scholar
Steele, J.H. (1974) The structure of marine ecosystems. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steidinger, K.A. and Tangen, K. (1996) Dinoflagellates. In Tomas, C.R. (ed.) Identifying marine diatoms and dinoflagellates. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, pp. 387584.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stonik, V. and Selina, M.S. (2001) Species composition and seasonal dynamics of density and biomass of euglenoids in Peter the Great bay, Sea of Japan. Russian Journal of Marine Biology 27, 174176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strickland, J.D.H. (1958) Solar radiation penetrating the ocean. A review of requirements, data and methods of measurements with particular reference to photosynthetic productivity. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 15, 453493.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strickland, J.D.H. and Parsons, T.R. (1972) A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 167, 1311.Google Scholar
Šolić, M., Krstulović, N., Kušpilić, G., Ninčević Gladan, Ž., Bojanić, N., Šestanović, S., Šantić, D. and Ordulj, M. (2010) Changes in microbial food web structure in response to changed environmental trophic status: a case study of the Vranjic Basin (Adriatic Sea). Marine Environmental Research 70, 239249.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Throndsen, J. (1993) The planktonic marine flagellates. In Tomas, C.R. (ed.) Marine phytoplankton: a guide to naked flagellates and coccolithophorids. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, pp. 7145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UNESCO (1973) International Oceanographic Tables, Volume II. Paris: NIO–UNESCO.Google Scholar
Utermöhl, H. (1958) Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-Metodik. Mitteilungen Internationale Vereinigung für Limnologie 9, 138.Google Scholar
Vidjak, O., Bojanić, N., Kušpilić, G., Grbec, B., Ninčević-Gladan, Ž., Matijević, S. and Brautović, I. (2009) Population structure and abundance of zooplankton along the Krka river estuary in spring 2006. Acta Adriatica 50, 4558.Google Scholar
Vieira, M.E.C. and Bordalo, A.A. (2000) The Douro estuary (Portugal): a mesotidal salt wedge. Oceanologica Acta 23, 585594.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viličić, D., Jasprica, N. and Carić, M. (1995a) The Ombla River estuary: phytoplankton blooming, eutrophication and protection. In Tropan, L. (ed.) The Proceedings of 2nd Croatian Conference on Waters, Dubrovnik, 24–27 May, Zagreb: Hrvatsko društvo za zaštitu voda i mora, pp. 497506.Google Scholar
Viličić, D., Kršinić, F., Carić, M., Jasprica, N., Bobanović-Ćolić, S. and Mikuš, J. (1995b) Plankton and hydrography in a moderately eutrophicated eastern Adriatic bay (Gruž Bay). Hydrobiologia 304, 922.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viličić, D. (2002) Fitoplankton Jadranskog mora. Biologija i taksonomija. Zagreb: Školska knjiga.Google Scholar
Weiss, R.F. (1970) The solubility of nitrogen, oxygen and argon in water and seawater. Deep-Sea Research 17, 721735.Google Scholar
Williams, J.A. and Muxagata, E. (2006) The seasonal abundance and production of Oithona nana (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in Southampton Water. Journal of Plankton Research 28, 10551065.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yin, K., Quian, P.Y, Wu, M.C.S., Chen, J.C., Huang, L., Song, X. and Jian, W.J. (2001) Shift from P to N limitation of phytoplankton biomass across the Pearl River estuarine plume during summer. Marine Ecology Progress Series 221, 1728.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhou, M.J., Shen, Z.L. and Yu, R.C. (2008) Responses of a coastal phytoplankton community to increased nutrient input from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. Continental Shelf Research 28, 14831489.CrossRefGoogle Scholar