First marine record of marble trout Salmo marmoratus

A specimen of marble trout Salmo marmoratus, of 955 mm total length (L_T) and weighing 10 220 g, was caught on 26 December 2008 by a commercial fisherman near the coast of Igrane (eastern Adriatic Sea). This represents the first marine record of this species.     

Ecology and taxonomy of potentially toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species in Lim Bay (north-eastern Adriatic Sea)

The population dynamics of Pseudo-nitzschia in relation to environmental factors was investigated from March 2002 to July 2008 in Lim Bay, in the north-eastern Adriatic Sea. Domoic acid was monitored in the breeding population of Mytilus galloprovincialis from 2005 to 2008. The principal-component analysis of environmental parameters showed that the system is mostly temperature driven. The phytoplankton community was mainly composed of diatoms. Pseudo-nitzschia was the dominant diatom, present in 60% of samples, with a maximum (1.6 × 10⁶ cells L⁻¹) contribution up to 97% of the total diatom abundance. Morphological analysis revealed Pseudo-nitzschia manii and potentially toxic Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima, Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, Pseudo-nitzschia fraudulenta and Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha as the dominant species in blooms. Pseudo-nitzschia abundance positively correlated to temperature, phosphate and ammonia in accordance with its maximal abundance in the summer/autumn period when fish farms had a maximum impact on the environment. Domoic acid was detected in M. galloprovincialis in concentrations below regulatory limits, ranging from 0.097 to 0.8721 μg g⁻¹ in five cases from April to October 2005 in Lim Bay, but so far it is not clear which of the species was responsible for DA production. This study is also the first record of P. manii, P pungens and P. fraudulenta species in the Adriatic Sea.     

The Chrysopogono grylli-Nerietum oleandri association in Croatia as compared with other Rubo ulmifolii-Nerion oleandri communities (Tamaricetalia,Nerio-Tamaricetea) in the Mediterranean

Abstract

A new association, Chrysopogono grylli-Nerietum oleandri, situated in the south of Croatia, is proposed. According to its floristic structure, physiognomy and ecology, it belongs to the Rubo ulmifolii-Nerion oleandri alliance (Tamaricetalia, Nerio-Tamaricetea). It is the only association with Nerium oleander in Croatia. This community has developed along a temporary watercourse as a vegetation exclave (extrazonal stand) within the climazonal evergreen forest vegetation of the Oleo-Ceratonion alliance. The association has a thermophilous character and a large number of companions from the Quercetalia ilicis and Scorzonero-Chrysopogonetalia communities. This report compares the floristic composition of this association with others of the Rubo ulmifolii-Nerion oleandri alliance from other Mediterranean areas. The Croatian association is most similar to the Spartio-Nerietum oleandri association from the Ionian side of Calabria (south Italy). The syntaxonomic status of the Montenegrin association Andropogono distachyi-Nerietum oleandri was determined, and the status of the stands with Nerium oleander is discussed.     

Reproductive cycles of Mugil cephalus, Liza ramada and Liza aurata (Teleostei: Mugilidae)

Carbohydrates in photoreceptor segments in the retina of the firemouth cichlid Thorichthys meeki are described and compared. The present periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and lectin results revealed the occurrence of neutral carbohydrates, composed mainly of glycosamine and mannose and glucose, in the light absorbing segments in rods and cones in this species. Unlike in mammals, the retina in this teleost seems to be poor in galactose and galactose-galactosamine units in the light absorbing segments.     

First record of the Norway goby in the Adriatic Sea

One male and four female Norway gobies Pomatoschistus norvegicus are reported from the Adriatic Sea.     

First record of Cyclopterus lumpus L., 1758 (Osteichthyes: Cyclopteridae) in the Mediterranean Sea

The Atlantic lumpsucker Cyclopterus lumpus (343 mm total length) is recorded for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. The specimen was collected in the night between 16 and 17 September 2004 off Molunat Bay, Croatia, southern Adriatic Sea. This record may present a case of a vagrant specimen.     

Seasonal changes in physiological responses and evaluation of "well-being" in the Venus clam Chamelea gallina from the Northern Adriatic Sea

Chamelea gallina is an infaunal bivalve, widespread in sandy bottoms along Mediterranean coasts. It is an important economic resource for fisheries in the Adriatic, although in recent years over-fishing, and other concurrent factors, have dramatically decreased clam harvesting. In this context, it is of great interest to gain information on seasonal variations in the physiological performance of clams, for an overall evaluation of their well-being. In this study, laboratory experiments were performed to define allometric relationships and effects of temperature on clearance and respiration rates of C. gallina. The mean values of b coefficients were calculated and used to correlate physiological measurements to 'standard' body mass, when seasonally collected clams were analysed. The highest clearance rate (0.42 L h(-1)) was measured in clams collected in July 2000; the highest respiration rate (12.22 micromol O2 h(-1)) was observed in July 2001, leading to a negative scope for growth (-2.8 J h(-1)). The influence of environmental and endogenous factors, mostly reproduction, was discussed. Survival in air and condition indices, showing higher stress conditions in December 2000 and July 2001, were in good agreement with the other physiological measurements. The physiological responses examined in this study appear to be suitable for providing detailed indications on the well-being of C. gallina and may be useful for future studies aimed at eco-sustainable management of the resource.     

Dimorphic growth in male and female cuttlefish<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sepia orbignyana</Emphasis> (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae) from the Adriatic Sea

The relationships between mantle length and number of cuttlebone chambers (or septa), and between weight and number of cuttlebone chambers were studied in Sepia orbignyana collected in the south-western Adriatic Sea. Weight-at-chamber count and mantle length-at-chamber count were statistically higher in females than in males. As the available literature suggests that the rate of cuttlebone septum formation is the same in both sexes of Sepia species, it follows that in S. orbignyana females have higher growth rates than males. Received in revised form: 6 February 2001 Electronic Publication     

Assessment of nutrient limitation in Rijeka Bay, NE Adriatic Sea, using miniaturized bioassay

In this paper we consider the trophic state and ambient nutrient limitation by the trophic index (TRIX) calculation and nutrient enrichment bioassay using the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum at two differently eutrophicated NE coastal Adriatic locations (in the Rijeka Bay area). The first station in Rijeka Port had significantly higher concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients and TRIX indices (up to 7.53) than the station near Opatija. The DIN/TP ratios in Rijeka Port were lower (11.03 to 44.47) than those in Opatija (38.67 to 82.00), indicating P limitation in Opatija. The nutrient enrichment bioassays revealed P as the key limiting nutrient for the diatom growth at both sites. In addition, silica limitation was found in all water samples with the exception of the surface water samples in Rijeka Port. Nitrogen limitation was rarely evident.     

A new species of Allium (Alliaceae) from Dalmatia,Croatia

Allium croaticum , a new species from the island of Vis in Central Dalmatia (Croatia) is described and illustrated. Its relationships with allied species belonging to the A. stamineum group (Allium section Codonoprasum) are discussed. It is a diploid species (2n = 16), colonizing calcareous screes and flowering in early summer. Its morphology, leaf anatomy, karyology, palynology, ecology and taxonomic position are examined. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 106–114.