title: Transparent exopolymeric particles' distribution in the northern Adriatic and their relation to microphytoplankton biomass and composition.
abstract: Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are generated during transformation processes within the non-living organic matter continuum in the seawater. Seasonal dynamics of TEP along the Po River Delta-Rovinj transect was followed during the 3-year period, using a spectrophotometric method of determination of TEP. Relationships between TEP and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a), abundance and composition, as well as phaeophytin, were analysed. Microphytoplankton spring blooms are confirmed to be an important source of TEP, with some species more related to TEP concentration dynamics, such as Chaetoceros sp. and Skeletonema costatum. Notable spatial west to east gradient of autotrophic biomass and consequently of TEP was observed, as well as gradual decrease with depth. In addition, TEP concentration increments were observed up to 2 months before the mucilage events followed by the decrease of TEP concentration during the event itself. Pattern of TEP dynamics in the years with mucilage events was the most pronounced in 2002, when the event was spatially and temporally the most extended.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Marine Research, Ruder Bosković Institute, G. Paliage 5, 52 210 Rovinj, Croatia. radic@cim.irb.hr
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Radić
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Dragica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuks
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radić
authors.forename: Osvin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pecar
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000254:growth & development*; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000254:growth & development*; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A