Picoplanktonic cyanobacteria in different Adriatic brackish environments

Abstract

1 - We investigated picoplanktonic cyanobacteria (PC) distribution related to some physical-chemical parameters (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) in seven transitional systems all along the Italian coast of the Adriatic Sea. 2 - PC mean abundances were generally more than one order of magnitude higher (>5x10⁷ cells L^-1) than those found in coastal and offshore waters of the Adriatic Sea. 3 - PC populations appeared well adapted to ample variations in salinity (5-87) and even oxygen concentrations close to hypoxia did not seem to negatively affect PC abundances. 4 - Because of their ability in adapting to extreme conditions, PC may become the prevailing fraction of the phototrophic plankton in these transitional systems like lagoons, marshes and solar salterns.