PLANKTON AND HYDROGRAPHY IN A MODERATELY EASTERN ADRIATIC BAY (GRUZ BAY)

Gruz Bay (south-eastern Adriatic) is moderately eutrophicated, mostly by discharge from the karat river Ombla. Input of inorganic nitrogen m ight be attributed to enrichment from the open sea during strong and c ontinuous north winds in winter 1988/89. Annual succession of primary producers, herbivores and decomposers was defined by seven stages and induced by specific physical-chemical characteristics. In the period A pril-August, biological production was mostly due to small size fracti ons of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Recycling of planktonic biomass occurred in September, of allochtonous organic matter in February and March.