Ecology ofOstreopsiscf.ovataBlooms in the Northwestern Adriatic Sea

• DOI: 10.7872/crya.v33.iss2.2011.191
• Publication Date: 2013-03-02T07:20:21Z
• Authors: Stefano Accoroni; Federica Colombo; Salvatore Pichierri; Tiziana Romagnoli; Mauro Marini; Cecilia Battocchi; Antonella Penna; Cecilia Totti
• Keywords: Bloom

The ecology of Ostreopsis cf. ovata blooms was investigated to evaluate the role environmental factors (temperature, hydrodynamism, nutrient concentrations, depth and substratum) on bloom dynamics. This paper reports present knowledge O. along Conero Riviera (NW Adriatic Sea), basis samplings carried out from 2006 2010. annual maximum benthic cell abundance always observed in late-summer, reaching order magnitude 106 cells g-1 fw (corresponding 107 dw 104 cm-2) macrophyte samples. Comparing mean abundances settled seaweeds with those growing hard substrata, significantly higher were latter. Hydrodynamism plays a major blooms, as sheltered sites compared exposed ones. showed marked decrease depth. Temperature nutrients do not seem play an important effect blooms. High levels ovatoxins recorded natural samples; episodes death both invertebrates (limpets, sea urchins mussels) macroalgae commonly during