GENERAL FEATURES OF PHYTOPLANKTON Cor·1MUNITIES AND PRIMARY.
PRODUCTION IN THE GULF OF NAPLES AND ADJACENT WATERS
D.MARINO, M.MODIGH and A.ZINGONE
Stazione Zoologica, 80121 Naples, Italy
I. Introduction
The Gulf of Naples and that of Salerno are adjacent coastal emba}~ents with differing basin morphology which open onto the oligotrophic Tyrrhenian Sea (fig. 1). The Gulf of Salerno is open with
full access to external waters and has an average depth (260 m)greater
than the Gulf of Naples (170 m). The latter Gulf has a more diversified
coastline and depth profile. Excluding the Sorrentine peninsula, these
regions are characterized by a high anthropogenic load from urban, industrial and agricultural origins. This is particularly true for the
Gulf of Naples which is one of the most densely populated areas of the
world.
The highly diversified morphology in addition to social-economic
structures of these regions produces a strikingly complex hydrographic
and biological situation. Moreover, the rapid transition existent from
inner coastal to open ocean waters within the both Gulfs makes them a
stimulating site for ecological research studies.
Most of the studies conducted at the Stazione Zoologica since its
foundation (1872) regarded marine organisms of the Gulf of Naples from
a morphological and physiological viewpoint. Therefore, only fragmentary ecological information was available until ten years ago (see Carrada and Rigillo Troncone, 1973, for a review) when research aimed at
studying the Gulf of Naples as an integrated ecosystem was undertaken.
More recently (1980-1983), such investigations have been extended to
the adjacent waters of the Gulf of Salerno.
PRODUCTION IN THE GULF OF NAPLES AND ADJACENT WATERS
D.MARINO, M.MODIGH and A.ZINGONE
Stazione Zoologica, 80121 Naples, Italy
I. Introduction
The Gulf of Naples and that of Salerno are adjacent coastal emba}~ents with differing basin morphology which open onto the oligotrophic Tyrrhenian Sea (fig. 1). The Gulf of Salerno is open with
full access to external waters and has an average depth (260 m)greater
than the Gulf of Naples (170 m). The latter Gulf has a more diversified
coastline and depth profile. Excluding the Sorrentine peninsula, these
regions are characterized by a high anthropogenic load from urban, industrial and agricultural origins. This is particularly true for the
Gulf of Naples which is one of the most densely populated areas of the
world.
The highly diversified morphology in addition to social-economic
structures of these regions produces a strikingly complex hydrographic
and biological situation. Moreover, the rapid transition existent from
inner coastal to open ocean waters within the both Gulfs makes them a
stimulating site for ecological research studies.
Most of the studies conducted at the Stazione Zoologica since its
foundation (1872) regarded marine organisms of the Gulf of Naples from
a morphological and physiological viewpoint. Therefore, only fragmentary ecological information was available until ten years ago (see Carrada and Rigillo Troncone, 1973, for a review) when research aimed at
studying the Gulf of Naples as an integrated ecosystem was undertaken.
More recently (1980-1983), such investigations have been extended to
the adjacent waters of the Gulf of Salerno.