Zooplankton responses to hydrological and trophic variability in a Mediterranean coastal ecosystem (Lesina Lagoon, South Adriatic Sea)

• Published in: Chemistry and ecology 2011-10, Vol.27 (5), p.461-480
• Main Authors: Brugnano, Cinzia, D'Adamo, Raffaele, Fabbrocini, Adele, Granata, Antonia, Zagami, Giacomo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acartia margalefi; Acartia tonsa; alien species; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aquatic crustaceans; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish water ecosystems; Calanipeda aquaedulcis; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll a; Coastal ecosystems; Coastal environments; Dissolved oxygen; Diversity indices; ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; High tide; Hydrology; Inlets; Inlets (topography); Inlets (waterways); Introduced species; Invasive species; Larvae; Lesina Lagoon; Marine; Mediterranean Sea; Oscillations; Plankton; salinity; Segregation; Spatial distribution; spatial-temporal distribution; Stations; Synecology; temperature; temporal variation; Temporal variations; Tides; Trophic state; Variability; Zooplankton; zooplankton assemblage
• ISSN: 1029-0370; 0275-7540; 1029-0370
• DOI: 10.1080/02757540.2011.579962

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.