Diversity and Distribution of the Bryozoa along Underwater Cliffs in the Adriatic Sea with Special Reference to Thermal Regime |
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| Authors: | Maja Novosel Antonieta Po&#;ar-Domac & Mira Pasari&#; |
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| Institution: | Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Dept. of Biology, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.; Andrija MohorovičićGeophysical Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac bb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. The diversity and distribution of bryozoans have been surveyed at two localities, Cape Struga on Lastovo Island (South Adriatic) and Cape Šilo on Prvić Island near Senj (North Adriatic), with similar characteristics of topography and exposure but markedly different sea temperature conditions. Continuous measurements over one year have shown that temperature conditions differ in two aspects. First, the annual range of temperature is much larger in the North. Second, in the South during summer, marine life within the thermocline layer is exposed to large high-frequency temperature oscillations, partly due to an internal diurnal tide, a phenomenon recorded for the first time in the Adriatic. Altogether, 78 species have been recorded, 57 in Lastovo and 50 in Prvić, and 29 in both localities. The comparison of mean zooid lengths of 14 bryozoan species occurring at both localities indicates no consistent difference in zooid size between northern and southern sites. Seventeen bryozoan species have been recorded in the Eastern Adriatic Sea for the first time. |
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| Keywords: | Bryozoa zooid length rocky bottom sea temperature internal tide Adriatic Sea |
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