Phytoplankton Dynamics in the Middle Adriatic Estuary, with a Focus on the Potentially Toxic Genus Pseudo-nitzschia

• Published in: Journal of marine science and engineering Vol. 8; no. 8; p. 608
• Main Authors: Arapov, Jasna, Bužančić, Mia, Skejić, Sanda, Mandić, Jelena, Bakrač, Ana, Straka, Maja, Ninčević Gladan, Živana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-08-2020
• Subjects: Adriatic Sea; Ammonia; Aquaculture; Blooms; Dangerous organisms; Diatoms; Domoic acid; Dynamics; Electron microscopy; Environmental factors; Estuaries; Estuarine dynamics; Freshwater; Inflow; Inland water environment; Intoxication; Light microscopy; Microorganisms; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Oceanic analysis; Optical microscopy; Phosphates; Phytoplankton; Plankton; Pore size; Pseudo-nitzschia; Rivers; Salinity; Scanning electron microscopy; Seawater; SEM; Shellfish; Species; Species diversity; Toxicity; Water inflow; United States > US; Germany
• ISSN: 2077-1312; 2077-1312
• DOI: 10.3390/jmse8080608

The Krka River estuary is a karstic, permanently stratified estuary due to the strong freshwater inflow. It is a special environment in which to study the phytoplankton community, especially because this area is an important aquaculture site. Among other potentially toxic phytoplankton species, the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia occurs frequently and is a potential source of domoic acid (DA), causing shellfish toxicity and human intoxication. The main objective was to examine the dynamics of the phytoplankton community and, in particular, the genus Pseudo-nitzschia in the upper part of the Krka estuary, through monthly sampling over two years. The phytoplankton community was analysed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to determine the diversity of Pseudo-nitzschia species and characterise the environmental parameters associated with a high abundance of Pseudo-nitzschia species. Seven Pseudo-nitzschia species were identified in the investigation, with higher frequencies and abundances in the less variable layer, at a 7 m depth. Blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia were noted in the late summer/early autumn, dominated by P. delicatissima/arenysensis. Winter assemblages were characterised by P. pseudodelicatissima/cuspidata, P. calliantha, and P. subfraudulenta, and were associated with domoic acid occurrence in shellfish.