Microzooplankton in the open waters of the northern Adriatic Sea from 1990 to 1993: the importance of copepod nauplii densities

摘要: Zooplankton was sampled during 39 cruises, from 1990 to 1993, at four fixed stations in the open northern Adriatic. Hydrographic factors were important determining abundance of smallest and largest components Adriatic food chain this period. Nauplii—especially those size fractions—were major mediators material transfer between primary producers higher trophic levels. There a significant difference vertical distribution nauplii fractions eastern western parts Adriatic, but not their population density. According multiple correlation analyses, naupliar area correlated strongly with temperature certain biological factors. This study confirms influence Po River mid-Adriatic waters on planktonic ecosystem