NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT AND BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE IN THE ADRIATIC COASTAL SEA

The studies of chemical hydrography, nutrients, chlorophyll a and phyt oplankton density point to the fact that, ibr the past decade, an incr ease in the eutrophication level has persisted in all the areas of the eastern Adriatic coast, except in the area of Dubrovnik that is still affected by the open sea. The areas of Sibenik and Ploce are also cha racterized by a markedly high phytoplankton biomass, presumably due to the effects of fresh water inputs by the rivers Krka and Neretva resp ectively and to urban sewage and effluent disposal.