190
O. Sidoti et al
dominant that it characterizes the zooplankton
community. In winter, a persistent unstable
frontal system, caused by wide fluctuations of
meteo-marine conditions, prevents a clear differentiation of the mean percentage species composition between the two sub-systems.
From our analysis of the spatial distribution
of the most representative zooplankton groups,
we formulated a preliminary trophic model concerning the association of ecologically similar
species occupying the same habitat. In the
coastal zone of the neritic system. the zooplankton biocoenosis is characterized by the dominance of the fine mter feeders. e.g. tunicates
(Oikapleura, Salpa and Dolialum) and cladocerans (P. avirostris, E. spinifera and E. tergestina)
which feed on nanoplankton (Fonda Umani et
al. 1992), and mixtivorous copepods (A. clausi
and P. parvus) able to feed on nano-, microzooplankton and particulate organic matter. In the
offshore zone, in addition to the above-mentioned species but with less abundance, we
found both herbivorous copepods, e.g.
Ctenocalanus vanus and Clausocalanus Jurcatus
which mainly feed on diatoms, and carnivorous
species, e.g. Oithona similis, O. plumifera and
Centro pages typicus (Fonda Umani et al. 1992).
Close to the bottom, the zooplankton population
is characterized by herbivorous species andlor
omnivorous ones, e.g. Pseudocalanus elongatus,
Temora langicornis and Calanus helgolandicus
which generally feed on diatoms, together with
typical carnivorous species of the genera
Corycaeus, Oncaea and Podan. The predator
group, formed by chaetognaths. siphonophores
and medusas, occurs all along the water column,
but is more abundant in the layer under the pycnocline.
References
Artegiani A, Gadc M, Michelato A, Kovacevic V, Russo A,
Paschini E, Scarazzato p, Smircic A (1993) The Adriatic
Sea hydrography and circulation in spring and autumn
(1985-1987). Deep-Sea Res II 40(6): 1143-1180
Bakus GJ (1990) Quantitative ecology and marine biology.
A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam
Benovic A, Fonda Umani S, Malej A, Specchi M (1984) Net
zooplankton biomass of the Adriatic Sea. Mar BioI 49:
265-275
Buljan M. Zore-Armanda M (1976) Oceanographic properties of the Adriatic Sea. Oceanogr Mar BioI Am Rev 14:
11-98
Car 1 (1890) Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Copepoden von
'ftiest. Glas Drus 5: 313-332
Claus C (1881) Neue Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Copepoden
unter besonderer Berucksichtigung der Triester Fauna.
Arb Zool Inst Wien 3: 313-332
Fonda Umani 5 (1996) Pelagic production and biomass in the
Adriatic Sea. Sci Mar 60 Supp12: 65-77
Fonda Umani S, Franco P, Ghirardelli E, Malej A (1992) Outline
of oceanography and the plankton of the Adriatic Sea. In:
Olsen and Olsen (eds) Marine eutrophication and population dynamics, Proc 25 th EMBS, pp 347-365
Fonda Umani S, Specchi M, Cataletto B, De Olazabal A (1994)
Distribuzione stagionale del mesozooplancton
nell'Adriatico settentrionale e centrale. Boll Soc Adriat
Sci LXXV; 1: 145-176
Franco P (1973) I:influenza del Po sui caratteri oceanografici
e su1la distribuzione della biomassa planctonica
nell'Adriatico settemtrionale.Ann Univ Ferrara 1: 95-117
Franco P (1983) I:Adriatico Settentrionale: caratteri
oceanografici e problemi. In; Atti V Congr AIOl, Stresa,
pp 1-27
Franco P, Jeftic 1, Malanotte-Rizzoli P, Michelato A, OrIic M
(1982) Descriptive model of the Northern Adriatic.
Oceanol Acta 5: 379-389
Ghirardelli E, Fonda Umani S, Specchi M (1989) La zooplancton dell' Adriatico. In: n Mare Adriatico: problemi e
prospe1tive. SOGESTA Urbina 24 maggio 1989,pp 47-74
Graeffe E (1900) Ubersicht der Fauna des Golfes von Triest.
Arb Zoollnst Wien 13: 33-80
Guglielmo l, Granata A, Greco S (1998) Distribution and
abundance of postlarval and juvenile Pleuragramma
antarcticum (Pisces, Nototheniidae) off Terra Nova Bay
(Ross Sea, Antarctica). Polar BioI 19: 37-51.
Hure J, lanora A, Scotto di Carlo B (1980) Spatial and temporal distribution of Copepod communities in the Adriatic
Sea. J Plankton Res 2 (4): 295-316
Lovegrove T (1966) The determination of the dry weight of
plankton and the effect of various factors on the value
obtained. In: Barnes H (ed) Some contemporary studies
in marine science. Allen and Unwin, London. pp 429-467
Marchetti R, Pacchetti G, Provini A (1985) Tendenze evolutive
della qualitil delle acque del Po. Nova Thalassia 7 Suppl
2: 311-340
Regner D (1985) Seasonal and multiannual dynamics of copepods in the middle Adriatic. Acta Adriat 26: 11-99
Russo A, Totti C, Zagami G, Barletta D, Brancato G, Campolmi
M, Galassi M, Pariante R, Solam A (2000)
Caratterizzazione fisica e biologica delle masse d'acqua
Nord-adriatiche neIl'area Anconetana. In: XIII Congr
AI01,Ancona,28/30 Settembre 1998 (in press)
Scotto di Carlo B, Tomas CR, lanora A, Marino D, et al (1985)
Uno studio integrato dell'ecosistema pelagico costiero
del Golfo di Napoli. Nova Thalassia 7: 99-128
Specchi M, Fonda Umani S (1987) Influenza del Po sui sistema
pelagico dell'Adriatico. Bull BeoI18 (2): 135-144
Steuer A (1902a) Beobachtunger uber das Plankton des
Trieser Golfes in Jabre 1901. Zool Anz 25: 369-371
Steuer A (1901b) Quantitative Planktonstudien irn Golfes von
Triest. Zool Anz 25: 372-375
Steuer A (1910a) Plankton Copepoden aus dem Hafen von
Brindisi. Sitzb K Akad Wiss Wien Math Naturwiss KL Abt
119: 591-598
Steuer A (1910b) Adriatische Plankstoncopepoden. Ibid,
1005-1039
Zoppini A, Pettine M, Totti C, Puddu A, Artegiani A, Pagnotta
R (1995) Nutrients, standing crop and primary production in western costal waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Estuarine Coast Shelf Sci 41: 493-513
O. Sidoti et al
dominant that it characterizes the zooplankton
community. In winter, a persistent unstable
frontal system, caused by wide fluctuations of
meteo-marine conditions, prevents a clear differentiation of the mean percentage species composition between the two sub-systems.
From our analysis of the spatial distribution
of the most representative zooplankton groups,
we formulated a preliminary trophic model concerning the association of ecologically similar
species occupying the same habitat. In the
coastal zone of the neritic system. the zooplankton biocoenosis is characterized by the dominance of the fine mter feeders. e.g. tunicates
(Oikapleura, Salpa and Dolialum) and cladocerans (P. avirostris, E. spinifera and E. tergestina)
which feed on nanoplankton (Fonda Umani et
al. 1992), and mixtivorous copepods (A. clausi
and P. parvus) able to feed on nano-, microzooplankton and particulate organic matter. In the
offshore zone, in addition to the above-mentioned species but with less abundance, we
found both herbivorous copepods, e.g.
Ctenocalanus vanus and Clausocalanus Jurcatus
which mainly feed on diatoms, and carnivorous
species, e.g. Oithona similis, O. plumifera and
Centro pages typicus (Fonda Umani et al. 1992).
Close to the bottom, the zooplankton population
is characterized by herbivorous species andlor
omnivorous ones, e.g. Pseudocalanus elongatus,
Temora langicornis and Calanus helgolandicus
which generally feed on diatoms, together with
typical carnivorous species of the genera
Corycaeus, Oncaea and Podan. The predator
group, formed by chaetognaths. siphonophores
and medusas, occurs all along the water column,
but is more abundant in the layer under the pycnocline.
References
Artegiani A, Gadc M, Michelato A, Kovacevic V, Russo A,
Paschini E, Scarazzato p, Smircic A (1993) The Adriatic
Sea hydrography and circulation in spring and autumn
(1985-1987). Deep-Sea Res II 40(6): 1143-1180
Bakus GJ (1990) Quantitative ecology and marine biology.
A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam
Benovic A, Fonda Umani S, Malej A, Specchi M (1984) Net
zooplankton biomass of the Adriatic Sea. Mar BioI 49:
265-275
Buljan M. Zore-Armanda M (1976) Oceanographic properties of the Adriatic Sea. Oceanogr Mar BioI Am Rev 14:
11-98
Car 1 (1890) Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Copepoden von
'ftiest. Glas Drus 5: 313-332
Claus C (1881) Neue Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Copepoden
unter besonderer Berucksichtigung der Triester Fauna.
Arb Zool Inst Wien 3: 313-332
Fonda Umani 5 (1996) Pelagic production and biomass in the
Adriatic Sea. Sci Mar 60 Supp12: 65-77
Fonda Umani S, Franco P, Ghirardelli E, Malej A (1992) Outline
of oceanography and the plankton of the Adriatic Sea. In:
Olsen and Olsen (eds) Marine eutrophication and population dynamics, Proc 25 th EMBS, pp 347-365
Fonda Umani S, Specchi M, Cataletto B, De Olazabal A (1994)
Distribuzione stagionale del mesozooplancton
nell'Adriatico settentrionale e centrale. Boll Soc Adriat
Sci LXXV; 1: 145-176
Franco P (1973) I:influenza del Po sui caratteri oceanografici
e su1la distribuzione della biomassa planctonica
nell'Adriatico settemtrionale.Ann Univ Ferrara 1: 95-117
Franco P (1983) I:Adriatico Settentrionale: caratteri
oceanografici e problemi. In; Atti V Congr AIOl, Stresa,
pp 1-27
Franco P, Jeftic 1, Malanotte-Rizzoli P, Michelato A, OrIic M
(1982) Descriptive model of the Northern Adriatic.
Oceanol Acta 5: 379-389
Ghirardelli E, Fonda Umani S, Specchi M (1989) La zooplancton dell' Adriatico. In: n Mare Adriatico: problemi e
prospe1tive. SOGESTA Urbina 24 maggio 1989,pp 47-74
Graeffe E (1900) Ubersicht der Fauna des Golfes von Triest.
Arb Zoollnst Wien 13: 33-80
Guglielmo l, Granata A, Greco S (1998) Distribution and
abundance of postlarval and juvenile Pleuragramma
antarcticum (Pisces, Nototheniidae) off Terra Nova Bay
(Ross Sea, Antarctica). Polar BioI 19: 37-51.
Hure J, lanora A, Scotto di Carlo B (1980) Spatial and temporal distribution of Copepod communities in the Adriatic
Sea. J Plankton Res 2 (4): 295-316
Lovegrove T (1966) The determination of the dry weight of
plankton and the effect of various factors on the value
obtained. In: Barnes H (ed) Some contemporary studies
in marine science. Allen and Unwin, London. pp 429-467
Marchetti R, Pacchetti G, Provini A (1985) Tendenze evolutive
della qualitil delle acque del Po. Nova Thalassia 7 Suppl
2: 311-340
Regner D (1985) Seasonal and multiannual dynamics of copepods in the middle Adriatic. Acta Adriat 26: 11-99
Russo A, Totti C, Zagami G, Barletta D, Brancato G, Campolmi
M, Galassi M, Pariante R, Solam A (2000)
Caratterizzazione fisica e biologica delle masse d'acqua
Nord-adriatiche neIl'area Anconetana. In: XIII Congr
AI01,Ancona,28/30 Settembre 1998 (in press)
Scotto di Carlo B, Tomas CR, lanora A, Marino D, et al (1985)
Uno studio integrato dell'ecosistema pelagico costiero
del Golfo di Napoli. Nova Thalassia 7: 99-128
Specchi M, Fonda Umani S (1987) Influenza del Po sui sistema
pelagico dell'Adriatico. Bull BeoI18 (2): 135-144
Steuer A (1902a) Beobachtunger uber das Plankton des
Trieser Golfes in Jabre 1901. Zool Anz 25: 369-371
Steuer A (1901b) Quantitative Planktonstudien irn Golfes von
Triest. Zool Anz 25: 372-375
Steuer A (1910a) Plankton Copepoden aus dem Hafen von
Brindisi. Sitzb K Akad Wiss Wien Math Naturwiss KL Abt
119: 591-598
Steuer A (1910b) Adriatische Plankstoncopepoden. Ibid,
1005-1039
Zoppini A, Pettine M, Totti C, Puddu A, Artegiani A, Pagnotta
R (1995) Nutrients, standing crop and primary production in western costal waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Estuarine Coast Shelf Sci 41: 493-513