Description of a Multimetric Phytoplankton Index (MPI) for the assessment of transitional waters.

A Multimetric Phytoplankton Index (MPI) is proposed to support management policies for the assessment of transitional ecosystems and the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. The MPI incorporates Hulburt's dominance index, bloom frequency and Menhinick's diversity index, calculated on the basis of phytoplankton species composition. Chlorophyll a concentrations were also included, to provide biomass data and to guarantee continuity and comparison with past evaluations.

Integrated evaluation of environmental parameters influencing Vibrio occurrence in the coastal Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy) facing the Venetian lagoon.

In the marine environment, the persistence and abundance of Vibrio are related to a number of environmental parameters. The influence of the different environmental variables in determining the Vibrio occurrence could be different in the specific geographic areas around the world. Moreover, oceanographic parameters are generally interdependent and should not be considered separately when their influence on bacterial presence and concentration is tested.

Phytoplankton size-distribution and community structure in relation to mucilage occurrence in the northern Adriatic Sea.

The spatial and temporal variations of pico-, nano- and microphytoplankton abundance and composition were investigated over a 37 month period, focusing on the ecological role of different size classes of phytoplankton, and on the changes of the community structure that might occur during periods when large mucilage macroaggregates appear. Samples were collected monthly from June 1999 to July 2002 at 11 stations, along three transects covering the northern Adriatic basin. Highest abundances were observed in late-winter/spring for microphytoplankton (mainly diatoms), in spring-summer for nanophytoplankton, and in summer for picophytoplankton.