Marginal areas of semi-enclosed seas are particularly vulnerable to climate changes. Our research into changes of thermohaline characteristics of the northernmost Mediterranean gulf showed significant decadal trends. Interannual comparison indicated rise of surface temperature between 0.12 – 0.23 oC/year (±0.05 oC/year). Increase of summer temperatures at 10m was 0.22 – 0.23 oC/year (± 0.08 oC/year), almost an order of magnitude higher then predicted by the IPCC. Positive trend for salinities (0.28 – 0.34/lyear) imply a significant reduction of freshwater inputs.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1641807
Dramatic increases of jellyfish populations in many marine ecosystems worldwide created serious economic impacts. The effect of jellyfish blooms on classical pelagic food web has been demonstrated in many areas, while links of jellyfish to the microbial food web were not explored. Using field manipulative experiments we were able to demonstrate the cascading effects of jellyfish on microbial plankton. With plausible further increases of jellyfish populations stimulated by climatic change our findings have important implications, changing the current paradigm of jellies as “trophic dead end”.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1738063
The use and values of coastal environment may be significantly impacted by marine-borne threads that include constrained resource use due to presence of toxic phytoplankton. Adequate process studies and monitoring of toxic species may reveal human health risk and minimise danger of consumption of contaminated shellfish. Our research identified ecological preferences of DSP-causing phytoplankton, pattern of their seasonal appearance and gave important guidelines for preventive monitoring.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1646415
The hypertrophic production of mucilaginous material forming surface and water column accumulations have been observed in many marine systems, however, the mechanisms of formation have not been revealed yet. Using a novel technique of chemotaxonomic determination of phytoplankton we were able to show that in contrast to previous beliefs that mucilage initial formation were connected to diatoms, the role of small flagellates, in particular Prymnesiophytes, was crucial. These results are important for future studies and management of the mucilage phenomenon.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1844815
Benthic macrophytes along the Slovenian coast were studied in order to delineate water body boundaries, to select sampling points for a surveillance monitoring program, and to assess Ecological Status Classes (ESC) within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). The assessment of the ESC using the Ecological Evaluation Index (EEI) agreed well with existing human pressures in the area. In view of the present results, benthic macrophytes and EEI could be regarded as valuable tools for the implementation of the WFD within the Mediterranean eco-region.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1827663