Open AccessBiological components of Greek lagoonal ecosystems: an overview
Author(s) -
A. Nicolaidou,
Sofia Reizopoulou,
Drosos Koutsoubas,
Sotiris Orfanidis,
Theodoros Kevrekidis
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
mediterranean marine science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1791-6763
pISSN - 1108-393X
DOI - 10.12681/mms.184
Subject(s) - zooplankton , ecosystem , meiobenthos , phytoplankton , environmental science , ecology , marine ecosystem , aquatic ecosystem , fish <actinopterygii> , oceanography , nutrient , fishery , biology , abundance (ecology) , geology
The paper summarises the available information on the main biological components – phytoplankton, zooplankton, phytobenthos, zoobenthos and fish – of Greek lagoonal ecosystems. Meiobenthos was also studied in one of the lagoons. All components show great variability both in space and time, which is attributed to the variability of environmental conditions. The most important variable influencing species distribution and diversity is the degree of communication with the sea and the nutrient load introduced through fresh water inputs. Certain new methods, which have been applied for evaluation of the ecological quality state of the lagoons, are also presented.