Taxonomic composition of epiphytic diatoms (Bacillariophyta) from areas affected by invasive macroalgae Caulerpa Taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh and Caulerpa Racemosa (Forsskäl) J. Agardh (Adriatic sea, Croatia)

doctoral thesis

• Title (croatian): Taksonomski sastav epifitskih dijatomeja (Bacillariophyta) u područjima invazivnih makroalgi Caulerpa Taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh i Caulerpa Racemosa (Forsskäl) J. Agardh (Jadransko more, Hrvatska)
• Author: Ana Car; MBZ: 310186
• Mentor: Andrzej Witkowski https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1542-5373 (mentor)
• Mentor: Nenad Jasprica (komentor); MBZ: 28650
• Committee member: Zrinka Ljubešić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ante Žuljević (član povjerenstva); MBZ: 244365
• Committee member: Ivan Sondi (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Geology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2014-09-22, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences; Marine Science
• Universal decimal classification (UDC): 55 - Geology. Meteorology. Hydrology ; 57 - Biological sciences. Physical anthropology. Biodiversity

Abstract

There is a considerable lack of data on marine benthic diatoms in the Adriatic. In response to this fact the present study has been undertaken which focuses on the taxonomy of epiphytic diatoms in areas affected by invasive macroalgae representing the the genus of Caulerpa J.V. Lamouroux, 1809 on the eastern Adriatic Sea coast. Material for the study of epiphytic diatoms was collected during two years (autumn 2008 – autumn 2010) from an area influenced by Caulerpa taxifolia in the bay of Stari Grad (the Island of Hvar), and from areas influenced by Caulerpa racemosa in Dubrovnik and on the Island of Mljet (Gonoturska Bay). In order to compare epiphyte assemblages, sampling of coexisting autochthonous brown and green algae was conducted at the same stations. Light and electron microscopy examinations provide for the first time the information on the general morphology and ultrastructure of taxa, and enable a determination of the taxonomy of diatoms. The seasonal dynamics were described on a fine time scale. For the first time in the Central and Southern Adriatic Sea the composition of benthic diatoms and seasonal dynamics of taxa in areas affected by invasive macroalge Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa racemosa were determined. The results of the presented PhD thesis contribute to the knowledge of benthic diatoms in the Adriatic, as well as of a global biogeographic distribution of diatoms (chorology). The results of this study will enable a better understanding of the functioning of ecosystems dominated by macroalgae Caulerpa spp. Knowledge of the diatom community structure in the areas impacted by Caulerpa spp. is important for studies of the toxic effects of the host.

Abstract (croatian)

Morske bentoske dijatomeje u Jadranu su slabo poznate. Istraživanja u okviru disertacije su usmjerena na taksonomski sastav epifitskih dijatomeja u područjima invazivnih makroalgi roda Caulerpa uz istočnu obalu Jadrana. Materijal je sakupljan tijekom dvije godine (jesen 2008 – jesen 2010) u području s Caulerpa taxifolia u Starigradskom zaljevu na otoku Hvaru, te u područjima zahvaćenim makroalgom Caulerpa racemosa u Dubrovniku i u uvali Gonoturska na otoku Mljetu. Na istim su postajama istovremeno prikupljani uzorci autohtonih smeđih i zelenih algi radi analize odnosa epifitskih dijatomeja i domaćina. Pomoću svjetlosne i elektronske mikroskopije, po prvi se put u srednjem i južnom Jadranu odredio taksonomski sastav dijatomeja, opisala morfologija i ultrastruktura pojedinih vrsta te utvrdila sezonska na finoj vremenskoj skali. Dobivene spoznaje doprinjele su poznavanju bentoskih dijatomeja u Jadranu, ali i globalne biogeografske rasprostranjenosti dijatomeja (korologiji). Dobiveni rezultati omogućit će bolje razumijevanje funkcioniranja ekosustava u kojima dominiraju makroalge Caulerpa spp.. Saznanja o taksonomskom sastavu dijatomeja u područjima s Caulerpa spp. važna su za istraživanja toksičnog učinka domaćina.

• Keywords: marine epiphytic diatoms; killer seaweed; Caulerpa taxifolia; Caulerpa racemosa; Cocconeis caulerpacola; Adriatic Sea; biofouling; succession diatom morphology and taxonomy; valve ultrastructure
• Keywords (croatian): morske epifitske dijatomeje; alga ubojica; Caulerpa taxifolia; Caulerpa racemosa; Cocconeis caulerpacola; Jadransko more; morfologija; taksonomija; ultrastruktura valvi; obraštaj; sukcesija
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:959676
• Project: Number: 275-0000000-3186; Title: Struktura planktonskih populacija u trofičkom gradijentu u južnom Jadranu; Leader: Mirna Batistić; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funder: MZOS; Funding stream: ZP
• Study programme: Title: Interdisciplinary doctoral study in Oceanology; Study programme type: university; Study level: postgraduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica znanosti, područje prirodnih znanosti, polje interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti (znanost o moru) (doktor/doktorica znanosti, područje prirodnih znanosti, polje interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti (znanost o moru))
• Type of resource: Text
• Extent: 294 str. ; 30 cm
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Public note: This doctoral thesis has been completed in the Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik under the supervision of Prof.dr.sc. Nenad Jasprica and in the Paleooceanology Unit, Faculty of Geosciences, University of Szczecin in Szczecin, Poland under the supervision of Prof.dr.sc. Andrzej Witkowski. The doctoral thesis has been completed within the frame of the University interdisciplinary doctoral study in Oceanology at Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. This research was supported by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of Croatia (project 275-0000000-3186), Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik and the Polish National Science Centre (N306 468 538), in Cracow, Poland.
• Created on: 2017-11-22 09:52:27