Physical, biochemical and biological characterization of two opposite areas in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

The temporal variations of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, dissolved oxygen concentration, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and of chemical (nutrients, chlorophyll a) and biological (phytoplankton composition) parameters in the Boka Kotorska Bay were observed during two periods (May and June 2008). CDOM regulates the penetration of UV light into the sea and therefore plays an important role in many hydrological and biogeochemical processes on the sea surface layer including primary productivity. In the framework ADRICOSM-STAR it was possible to investigate the Boka Kotorska Bay during May and June 2008 in order to increase the understanding of optical and chemical characteristics and their evolution through these periods. Owing to the Karst river inputs and the reduced water exchange with the open sea, in both periods station KO (located furthest from the open sea) presented different physical, chemical and biological characteristics with respect to the other stations inside the Boka Kotorska Bay due to the Karst river inputs and reduced water exchange with the open sea. A positive correlation was found between CDOM and chlorophyll a (R=0.7, P!0.001, n=15) and this implies that in this area, similarly to the open sea, the primary source of CDOM should be the 1 biological production from phytoplankton. This is probably due to the fact that the rivers entering the Boka Kotorska Bay are not severely impacted by man.