Eutrophication impact on the species composition in a natural phytoplankton community

Abstract

      An attempt has been made to estimate the proportion of dinoflagellate group in the total phytoplankton production of coastal middle Adriatic waters (Kaštela Bay) on the basis of long - term data series on the phytoplankton cell counts and level of primary organic production. The results of this analysis show considerable changes in the coastal sea (Kaštela Bay). These changes are manifested in the relationship between phytoplankton groups within the phytoplankton community which from a community of markedly diatom type has gradually been transformed into a community of dinoflagellates.

       An increase of dinoflagellate proportion is accompanied with a respective increase of primary production. These results have also been compared to the results of eutrophication trend in the Kaštela Bay. It has been established that these parameters are closely related.